The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 543
“Phnom Penh: Samdech Akak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen ordered the municipal authorities to take action to crack down on all big and small gambling sites in Phnom Penh, for the citizens’ safety for the New Year 2008.
“A source from the Phnom Penh authorities said that Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen’s order has already reached all officials’ hands and the authorities have also started to meet with each other in order to plan a schedule to conduct a big crackdown in Phnom Penh.
“In the letter, Samdech Prime Minister noticed eight main targets for the campaign to be conducted successfully. However, it is not stated in which districts the eight targets are. A military police official said that the main sites to be suppressed are not big casinos but a number of guesthouses and hotels that secretly operate drug trafficking. Looking from the outside, some guesthouses seem to have guests entering to stay as normal, but inside, drug trafficking and sex trafficking is operated illegally. Some big casinos have even small children entering to gamble, badly affecting the society.
“A Municipal official said that some sites have some tacit agreements with local authorities. Generally, they hide something from the higher levels to keep their individuals’ interests. As for officials of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, they said that they do not know whether the sites are legal or illegal; they just know that the sites operate and pay taxes to the state – that is all.
“The official added that in some hotels they put up signs as massage and karaoke parlors, but actually they operate sex trafficking and gambling.
“A police official of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Commission told Kampuchea Thmey that the police has already received the order, they are just waiting for the time to start the suppression. According to Samdech Hun Sen’s order, gambling at hotels and guesthouses will be suppressed, and if evidence is found that owners of the hotels and guesthouses commit crimes, they will be arrested and brought to the courts for punishment. The new year campaign to crack down on gambling, drug trafficking, and sex trafficking is named ‘Lightning Campaign 2008’.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1548, 18.1.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 18 January 2008
Areyathor, Vol.14, #1301, 18-19.1.2008
- A Report Says [National Assembly President] Samdech Ponhea Chakrey Heng Samrin Signed a Letter for the Suspension of Pumping of Soil to Fill Boeng Kak Lake [the Phnom Penh governor and vice-governor allegedly also disagree with each other about pumping of soil to fill Boeng Kak lake]
Boeng Kak Lage in Phnom Penh – 16.1.2008
The BoengKak Lake in Phnom Penh is contracted to an hardly known Korean company for “development” – 90% are to be filled in and built up. For a long time, it served as a reservoir to take in flood water. Several hundred families would be displaced…
Chakraval, Vol.16, #2748, 18.1.2008
- Head of the Royal Government Orders Suppression on Illegal Gambling and Gambling Which Is Sheltered by CamboSix Club [gambling company for football match betting]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1548, 18.1.2008
- Preparations to Start the Lightning Campaign 2008
- AK-47 Gun Robbers Rob People in Their House and Take More Than $10,000 [Angk Snuol, Kandal]
Khmer Amatak, Vol.9, #548, 18.1.2008
- It Is Time Hun Sen Should Save the Nation by Taking Action against Corrupt Nhek Kosal Vithyea [Director of Telecom Cambodia]
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #94, 18-19.1.2008
- Government Should Take Urgent Action over Issue That Yuons [Vietnamese] Use Picture of Khmer Angkor Wat to Print on Shoes
- Corruption in Educational Institutions Is a Bad Model for Society
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6248, 18.1.2008
- The International Children Education Organization [a non-profit organization established with the aim to upgrade the standard of education in remote areas] Constructs Four School Buildings [one in Prey Veng and three in Kompong Chhnang] and Asks that Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen’s Name Be Used as the Name of the Schools
- More than 10,000 Complaints Submitted to Khmer Rouge Tribunal for Hearings in 2008 [says Chhang Youk, Director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3367, 18.1.2008
- When Sam Rainsy Party Wins 2008 Election, There Will Be No Grabbing of Citizens’ Land
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4492, 18.1.2008
- Samdech Krom Preah Has Submitted a Complaint to the Supreme Court [against the verdict to detan him over the sale of the Funcinpec headquarters]
Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #603, 18.1.2008
- Sim Hong [Commander of Stung Treng Military Police] Uses Ambulance Which Was Donated by [the CambodianRed Cross President] Bun Rany Hun Sen to Transport Luxury Wood from Stung Treng to Phnom Penh
- Sam Rainsy: Citizens Must Change the Government So That Gasoline Prices Decline
Very Great article.