Cambodian schoolchildren can now access the Internet through wireless-enabled PCs.

THE ORGANIZATIONS behind the Motoman project, buoyed by its initial success in Ratanakiri, are planning to bring it to other provinces. One possible site is Pailin in the west that was once the stronghold of the Khmer Rouge. "Our focus," says AafC/JRfC country director Nuon So Thero, "is really on remote, isolated areas largely underserved by government."

That could mean most of Cambodia. Fortunately for the Motoman project funders, others have picked up the slack elsewhere in the country. For instance, the CICs sponsored jointly by the Asia Foundation, local NGOs, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), can now be found in all of Cambodia's 22 provinces and municipalities. Located in the provincial capitals, the CICs are providing Khmers outside of Phnom Penh an alternative source of information — for free — in areas where the traditional media like newspapers have very limited or no presence at all.

Depending on the population density of the province, the centers typically have from four to 10 computers, all with Internet connectivity either via a satellite uplink or dial-up lines. Apart from free Internet and e-mail access, the CICs also provide library service with its collection of donated books, magazines, newspapers and other publications in both English and Khmer. Since their launch in 2003, the centers have welcomed students, teachers, government officials and employees, NGO workers, businesspeople, monks, and even farmers. The smaller centers like the one in Ratanakiri average 25 visitors a day, while the bigger ones attract from 100-150 visitors daily.

Run by a well-trained support staff, the CICs are able to provide other services like training on basic computer literacy and computer applications as word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel), and yes, the Internet and e-mail. The staff also pays routine visits to the remote districts and communes, bringing with them printed news, information and other downloaded materials that may be of use to them.

"We certainly acknowledge that locating the centers in the provincial capitals means there's still a lot of people in rural areas who won't be able to come in.," says Tweedie. "That's why we try to go to the communes to deliver the information."

In Kandal, for instance, rice millers in the farther districts who cannot go the center alternatively get market information and other data relevant to their enterprise needs from the visiting staff of SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) Cambodia that operates the CIC in the province. An NGO promoting the development of the enterprise capacity of the private sector, SME Cambodia also manages CICs in the provinces of Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang, and Prey Veng.

"One time, we gave them information retrieved from the Internet about the existing alternative technologies like biomass and biogas which they can use to produce electricity for their mills," says Un Roeurn, SME Cambodia provincial manager.

The CIC in Kampong Cham province — hosted by the Khmer Institute of Democracy — meanwhile also sponsors commune council meetings and holds lecture-discussions on democracy, human rights, the Constitution, land laws, politics and government to people who come from as far the Vietnam border.

The CIC project has also come up with a Khmer-language web portal that provides user-friendly access to a wide array of news and development-oriented information like Mekong River flood levels, human rights contacts, profile and contact details of national and local government officials, prices of goods and services, job listings, tourism data, and a lot more. Through the portal, the CICs are thus providing a network for information-sharing among government offices, NGOs and communities across the country.

Another recent development spawned by the setting up of the CICs is the publication of local independent newspapers, also under the auspices of the Asia Foundation, in the provinces of Battambang, Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, and Sihanouk Ville. Bearing the name Somne Thmey (New Writing), the newspapers are published twice a week and sold for only 1,000 riels (25 U.S cents or about P14).