Crossing Cambodia

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Next up: motorcycle repair shops and wash places.

From KI Media, a translated article on the ongoing suppression of all activities irrelevant to the rich, high and mighty:
The Phnom Penh municipality plans to close motorcycle repair shops and motorcycle washing shops set up along roadsides in Phnom Penh, because these shops destroy public order, cause traffic jam, plug sewers, and create a lot of noise to the neighborhood. The Koh Santepheap newspaper reported that the plan to close all these activities was concocted during a meeting at the Phnom Penh city hall, presided by Chreang Sophan, the deputy governor of the city of Phnom Penh. During the meeting, the roadside shop owners were accused of destroying public order as described above. An official from the city hall indicated that currently, in the city of Phnom Penh, there are thousands of such motorcycle repair and washing shops, and that most of these shops are set up along roadsides causing daily traffic jams. These shops do not have the city authorization to operate. The city will set up a committee to review and teach the shop owners, if they still persist in their activities after one or two summons, the shop will be closed down.
Have the rulers of the new Khmer Republic ever considered asking the population what they want? Would they support a decree to get motorcycle repair shops to clear off (where to?). Do the haphazardly parked SUV's and Landcruisers outside Lucky's supermarket on Sihanouk Boulevard not result equally in traffic jams? What about the racket produced by passing senior officials complete with sirens? And blocking all transport on major streets of Phnom Penh when the PM needs to use his car for a change?

One country, one people, one set of laws, two ways of interpretation. Those above the law and those oppressed by the law.
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