Cambodians increasingly know their rights since 1993, according to Yeng Virak, Executive Director of Community Legal Education Center.

“What makes us proud is that villagers can now argue and debate laws with law enforcement officers,” Yeng Virak said, as a guest on "Hello VOA."

People sometimes know and understand the law better than the officials, he said.

“This is exactly what we want people to know in a democratic society," he said.  "Sometimes law enforcement officials just tell people that they are only enforcing the existing laws, without telling people what kind of laws. But when people know the laws, the officers cannot lie.