Beggars in front of Watt Langka in 2004 (Photo: Rasmei Kampuchea)Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Beggars Removed From City Before Pchum Ben
By Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Hundreds of beggars in Phnom Penh have been rounded up after a municipal directive issued last week calling for their removal from pagodas during the Pchum Ben festival.
The provincial poor who have traveled to Phnom Penh to beg say the holiday is a lucrative time for them, but City Hall officials argue that their presence is a threat to public order.
Municipal Governor Kep Chuktema said that though hundreds have been rounded up so far, the number of homeless people and beggars in the city has decreased this year.
"Some people who are not really poor definitely understand they are at risk of being arrested and sent to centers for re-education and training," he said.
He added that provincial families who own land should farm rather than beg.
Beggars are being sent to the municipal Social Affairs Center along National Road 3, and those with drug problems to the municipality's new Mondul Ponleu Khnhom, or My Bright Center, for re-education, Daun Penh district Deputy Governor Pich Socheata said.
She added that more than 40 people taken from three pagodas in her district have been sent for re-education.
Chamkar Mon district Governor Lou Yuy said that first-time beggars have been re-educated by authorities on the spot. Only beggars who have been apprehended by authorities many times will be taken away to centers, he said.
Chum Bunseab, 53, a widow from Svay Rieng province who traveled to Phnom Penh to beg during Pchum Ben, said that there was little difference between being taken to a re-education center and being put in jail.
"I need to feed six children. I left them [in Svay Rieng] planting rice...while I am in Phnom Penh begging for money," she said.
Heng Bona, 37, who came from Kompong Cham province to beg, said that people are more generous with donations during Pchum Ben and Khmer New Year.
"They are hopeful that the money they give us will please their ancestors," he said.
Kim Eng, social affairs bureau chief for Meanchey district, said that beggars in his district will be confined to a small area of the pagoda but will not be detained or sent to reeducation centers.
"Anyone who wants to donate money for beggars, they must walk to a corner where beggars are assembled," he said.
The provincial poor who have traveled to Phnom Penh to beg say the holiday is a lucrative time for them, but City Hall officials argue that their presence is a threat to public order.
Municipal Governor Kep Chuktema said that though hundreds have been rounded up so far, the number of homeless people and beggars in the city has decreased this year.
"Some people who are not really poor definitely understand they are at risk of being arrested and sent to centers for re-education and training," he said.
He added that provincial families who own land should farm rather than beg.
Beggars are being sent to the municipal Social Affairs Center along National Road 3, and those with drug problems to the municipality's new Mondul Ponleu Khnhom, or My Bright Center, for re-education, Daun Penh district Deputy Governor Pich Socheata said.
She added that more than 40 people taken from three pagodas in her district have been sent for re-education.
Chamkar Mon district Governor Lou Yuy said that first-time beggars have been re-educated by authorities on the spot. Only beggars who have been apprehended by authorities many times will be taken away to centers, he said.
Chum Bunseab, 53, a widow from Svay Rieng province who traveled to Phnom Penh to beg during Pchum Ben, said that there was little difference between being taken to a re-education center and being put in jail.
"I need to feed six children. I left them [in Svay Rieng] planting rice...while I am in Phnom Penh begging for money," she said.
Heng Bona, 37, who came from Kompong Cham province to beg, said that people are more generous with donations during Pchum Ben and Khmer New Year.
"They are hopeful that the money they give us will please their ancestors," he said.
Kim Eng, social affairs bureau chief for Meanchey district, said that beggars in his district will be confined to a small area of the pagoda but will not be detained or sent to reeducation centers.
"Anyone who wants to donate money for beggars, they must walk to a corner where beggars are assembled," he said.
3 comments:
I praise Kim Eng for his spirit of humanity and compassion. A true Buddhist. Some people do not understand, they give problem to the poor but they call themselves Buddhist because they go to offer food to the dead and keep their eyes close to those needing hand around them. People like Kep Chutema have totally lost his sense of humanity and what it means to be a buddhist. People like this doesn't earn the right to call themselve servants of the people. Need to step down.
It is so sad to see these Cambodian beggars with baby in their arms and there is no sense of dignity as human being! This is what I don't understand! Mr. HUN SEN can allocate land for all kinds of purpose but he can't allocate a small plot of land for rehabilitation center, low income housing or homeless shelter?
I understand that some Cambodian people had become homeless cause by all the land grabbing and soon more Cambodian people will become more homeless!
I don't believe these Cambodian people want to be beggar or homeless! Please give these people some means to stand on their feet for God sake!
Mr. HUN SEN! Mr. HUN SEN! Mr.HUN SEN! I know you have one eye left and why can you see the needs of Cambodian people?
This is a serious issues under the CPP Hun Sen government and corruption.
Note the term "have been sent for re-education" is a term used from the Khmer Rouge era. This person :Chamkar Mon district Governor Lou Yuy" is definately a former KR and CPP itself is former KR.
What benefit do people gain from your "re-education"?.
The CPP and ah Hun Sen government should be reforming how donated money should be distributed properly...or creat some sort of centre for the poor to give them temporary place to stay food to eat while at the same time provide help in finding them real job that they can depend on....not brush them under the carpet and make excuses that they are perceived as threat to the community.
Understand that they are the Khmer community....so except the fact and find a long term solutions...it doesn't you got one eye you cant see with the other...Hun Sen.
Unless someone blind your other eye then your action is just.
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