The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 652
“An opposition party parliamentarian asked the Prime Minister to take action to check and have Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) number plates removed from private vehicles, but the Ministry of Defense said that there will be no more removals of such number plates.
“A Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian from Kompong Thom, Mr. Men Sothavarin, told Rasmei Kampuchea by phone on 16 February 2010, ‘I asked the Prime Minister to take action to have RCAF number plates removed from private vehicles, because there have been a lot of irregularities occurring related to RCAF or police number plates. After the Prime Minister had ordered to take measures in this case, such cases almost disappeared. But recently, there appear again several cars using RCAF number plates, and such number plates are used even on some foreigners’ cars and on private trucks for [private] businesses; this can be considered as an illegitimate use of state cars for business, and driving for personal pleasure.
“Mr. Men Sothavarin added that before, he had asked the Ministry of Defense, but the Ministry did not respond. Therefore, this time he decided to ask the Prime Minister, because previously, after the Prime Minister had given orders, such number plates were removed.
“Mr. Men Sothavrin’s letter to the Prime Minister, sent through the president of the National Assembly, says that after the land traffic law had became valid, together with a public statement by the Prime Minister regarding private vehicles using state, police, and RCAF number plates, related ministries had effectively taken action to stop these trespasses, but recently, many private vehicles are again found using such number plates, which seriously violates the law.
“His letter mentions also some RCAF number plates, such as 2.8168, 2.0098, and 2.4191. The letter says that most of those plates are used by officials from units of armed personnel. Some others are used by civil servants and civilians, and some even by foreigners. The spokesperson, an Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Chhum Socheat, spoke to Rasmei Kampuchea, saying that following the Prime Minister’s order, the Ministry of Defense had already taken action and there is no illegal use of number plates, as claimed by the opposition party parliamentarian. He added that the rest of cars with such number plates still being used are mostly contracted as state cars, or as cars volunteered to be used as state property, that have proper legal documents at the Department of Supplies [it is interesting that the Website of this one department of the Ministry of National Defense is registered under the general Internet domain .info and not under the Cambodian country domain .kh]
“Mr. Chhum Socheat went on to say that after there was an order from the Prime Minister, all persons applying for RCAF number plates to be used on private vehicles had to make contracts, putting those vehicles up as state vehicles, so that they can receive military number plates. He emphasized that he also sees many vehicles with RCAF number plates, but if one questions them, they all have proper legal documents.
“This spokesperson added that formerly, the Ministry of Defense had taken actions to remove many number plates and practically, there were really many vehicles affected. But at present, there is only a small number of vehicles using such number plates, and they all have proper legal documents – they do not use fake number plates or use them illegally as it was before. He claimed that all those cars have been taxed and are recognized as belonging to the state.
“Though there is such a claim from the Ministry of Defense, many citizens said that many cars of powerful officials are parked illegally and they do not obey the traffic law.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2179, 17.2.2010
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2179, 17.2.2010
- The Ministry of Defense Rejected a Parliamentarians’ Request to Remove Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Number Plates [from private vehicles]
- [San Rainsy Party] Parliamentarians Asked the Government to Explain the Position for the Setting of Four Temporary Border Markers [at the Cambodian-Vietnamese border – Mr. Sam Rainsy had published data, based on satellite based GPS verification, showing that the border markers are set inside of Cambodian territory]
- Siamese [Thai] Army Commanders Told Khmer Army Commanders that Thai Politicians Are Attracting Troop Loyalties [to support them; according to the Cambodian General Srey Dek in the Preah Vihear region]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.43, #6886, 17.2.2010
- In 2009, the Municipality Closed 1,152 Gambling Sites and Intercepted 243 Felonies
- During a Travel to Visit Relatives during the Chinese New Year, a Boat Sank by Rough Waters in the Sea so that Seven People Died and Five Were Rescued [Koh Kong]
- Thirty Five People Were Prevented [by the authorities] from Climbing the Dangrek Mountains [in Thai territory] to [illegally] Cut Kronhoung Trees [as they might be shot by Thai soldiers]
Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #113, 17.2.2010
- 106 Garment and Shoes Factories Closed [making more than 45,000 workers unemployed in 2009 due to the global economic crisis; according to the Ministry of Labor]
- More Than 700 Khmer Workers and Beggars Were Brought by Thailand to the Border [and sent back to Cambodia on Monday, 15.3.2010. A Thai government spokesperson said this was done implementing Thai immigration law; it is reported that in 2010, already 16,253 Cambodians had been repatriated, after returning 91,268 Cambodians in 2009]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5128, 17.2.2010
- The Japanese Government Adds US$5.5 Million for the Cambodian Mine Action Center
- [Six] Gunmen with Paramilitary Uniforms Robbed a Commune Chief and Took Away Nearly US$50,000, then Burnt Their Own Car [used for the robbery – Banteay Meanchey]
- A Cambodian-Israeli Chamber of Commerce Is Established in Phnom Penh [according to an economic official of the Israeli Embassy, this shows the effort of the Israeli government to strengthen commercial, economic, and political ties with Cambodia]
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