The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 554
“Phnom Penh: Social turmoil might be created due to a demonstration led by political parties which will compete in the 27 July 2008 election, even though they demand that the government decrease the price of goods or to increase the salary for government officials and workers, commensurate with the inflation of the price of goods. Observers said that this is not a solution, because it just like muddying the water or to pollute a pond to make the fish die.
“On 1 April 2008, the Sam Rainsy Party issued a letter, calling for the participation in a non-violent mass demonstration led Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers on 6 April 2008. Actually, this call indicates an intention to conduct demagogy by taking advantage of the current situation, when the increase in the price of goods is a global phenomenon. What is the use of such activities which attempt to pollute the social environment, while the government has been trying to solve the problems step by step? What is the point for which these people are trying to cause social instability? Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen has rejected criticism concerning the request that the government should fix the price of goods. Responding to some ideas about setting the price of goods, Samdech Dekchor said that in order to set fixed prices for goods, ‘first of all, political measures would have to be taken to dissolve all political parties and non-governmental organizations, so that they will not protest, and to arrest all demonstrators. Secondly, Cambodia would have to cut off relation with ASEAN. Then, Cambodia would have to withdraw itself from the World Trade Organization, and cut off its relations with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Asia Development Bank; only after that, we could fix the price of goods. Is this possible? If anyone would dare to do so, they would die, because it is contrary to the law of the progress of human society. Therefore, it is time for those who lie to stop telling lies, and it is also time for those who got cheated to stop accepting to get being cheated.’
“‘Mr. Sam Rainsy is not stupid, he boasted that he is an economist. For the time being, no one knows on what ground he relies as he declares to conduct a mass demonstration, besides sating that corruption and incapacity are the reason behind the problem. All these points sound beautiful, but they do not have a clear basis for making any accusations. If they accuse the government of incapacity, under what conditions would they considering the government to have capacity? The government makes progresses in many respects in terms of social infrastructure and development. The price of land is skyrocketing. Increasing land prices indicate that investments arrive, while the progress of the construction sector clearly indicates that the living standard of people have improved, not like in times of war. Corruption is nothing new, but they try to accuse the government. Why is it so important for them to try to make the society suffer by such acts of incitement, to obtain political gains?’
“Some observers said that the reason is that Mr. Sam Rainsy is running out of supporters – from top to low-ranking officials – as many defected to join the Cambodian People’s Party. Regarding Mr. Sam Rainsy’s panic, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesperson, warned that Mr. Sam Rainsy would be held responsible if the demonstration became violent. Observers said that Mr. Sam Rainsy should not try to take political advantage from this situation. This is not a good way, because to demonstrate does not lead to a solution to decrease the price of goods. In fact, the government is not interested to see such things happening during its mandate, but this is a global issue that has serious effects on everyone.
“They should not kindle a fire to satisfy their political ambition, while Cambodian citizens are looking forward to celebrating the Khmer New Year soon.
“During the inaugural ceremony of Seila Nimith Temple, known as Wat Da, in Kriel, Baray, on 25 March 2008, Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen criticized such psychological warfare, which will fail by itself. On the Cambodian markets, there is an increase in the price of rice, fuel, utility items, and particularly construction materials. What is the cause of these increasing prices? One must review the common context of the whole world to reflect what the situation in Cambodia is. Some of the factors that the world is facing are global issues. First of all, concerning the US economy, the engine of global economic growth, is suffering from serious deficits and this seriously affects the economies of Cambodia, Europe, and Japan. These points should be taken into consideration.
“Concerning the increasing oil price, the USA can not control such a situation, even though the US is a country which has many oil reserves. Some regions in the USA do not do business in oil, but the USA does business overseas.
“As for the increasing oil price, the global demand is increasing on a large scale. Particularly in Cambodia, the oil consumption demand is increasing, as there is an increase in the number of cars and motorbikes. The global demand relates also to energy security, as some countries use fuel to produce electricity. Oil producing countries do not increase their oil production, sometimes they even reduced production. This leads to an increase in the price of oil, and it makes other goods follow. The enormous global needs of all kinds are interconnected.
“As for the rising price of rice, Samdech Dekchor said that the rice price should have risen in 2000 and 2001, because then there were big floods. However, at that time, the price of rice in the markets remained stable, and the state did not intervene in the market. Thailand and Vietnam bought rice from Cambodia, because the rice price level in Thailand and in Vietnam is higher than in Cambodia. If Cambodian rice were more expensive than Vietnamese and Thai rice, they would not buy rice from Cambodia, and we would import rice back to Cambodia.
“Final Information: According to a report, officials of the Sam Rainsy Party went to distribute leaflets to call people to participate in the demonstration. A lawmaker from the Sam Rainsy Party, stated that they would conduct the demonstration, and it is just enough to inform the municipality. ‘Therefore, there is not need to wait for a permission.’” Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6313, 3.4.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Chuoy Khmer, Vol.2, #77, 3.4.2008
- If Yuon [Vietnam] Would Agree to Send Troops to Maintain Security during Khmer [Cambodian] Election Day, It Would Be an Abuse of Sovereignty
- [Former Phnom Penh Police Commissioner] Criminal Heng Pov Asks for Intervention from [Hun Sen’s Advisor] Om Yentieng to Withdraw US$200,000 from Canadia Bank
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1609, 3.4.2008
- [Minister of Meteorology and Water Resources] Lim Kean Hor: Collapse of River Embankment in Russey Keo Not because of Sand Dredging [Phnom Penh]
- Phnom Penh Municipality Prepares to Use More Than 4,000 Armed Forces to Protect the Fourth Term Parliamentary Elections
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6313, 3.4.2008
- Water Should Not Be Stirred up to Be Dirty; Demonstration against Increasing Prices of Goods Is Not a Solution
- Ministry of Defense Rejects Rumor about Request for Vietnam to Help Protect Security during Elections
- Man Beat His Seven-Months-Pregnant Wife; Police Surrounded and Arrested Him while Villagers Were Astonished [Ba Phnom, Prey Veng]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3429, 3.4.2008
- Sam Rainsy Party Announces that There Will Be 5,000 People Attending Non-Violent Demonstration
Have a look at last week’s editorial: “using an iron fist to administer justice”
Recent Comments