If Siem Reap governor Sou Phirin's order were to be followed, Hun Sen, the most notorious beggar of Cambodia, will no longer be welcome in Siem Reap in order not to bring shame to the historical Cambodian city.October 25, 2006
Cambodia to remove beggars from Siem Reap ahead of cultural fair
The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia Cambodian authorities announced Wednesday that they will round up beggars from the streets of Siem Reap — Cambodia's main tourist destination — in order to burnish the country's image ahead of a regional exposition.
Already the country's most popular site for visitors, an increase in tourists is expected during the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo, which will run from Nov. 21 to Jan. 9, 2007. The event is a joint Cambodia-Korean cultural festival.
"We need to protect our nation's honor. It's shameful for us to see beggars chasing tourists for money," said Siem Reap provincial governor Sou Phirin.
He said that beginning Sunday, police and social workers will comb the streets and markets of the tourist town for beggars, who will be gathered in a designated area before being taken away by trucks to their hometowns.
Sou Phirin was unable to give estimate of how many beggars are now in Siem Reap town.
Tourism is a major revenue earner for the cash-strapped government. There were 1.4 million foreign arrivals last year, with the largest numbers coming from South Korea, Japan and the United States. More than half of the tourists visited the Angkor temples in Siem Reap, 230 kilometers (143 miles) northwest of the capital Phnom Penh.
Cambodia is one of the world's poorest countries. Thirty-five percent of the country's 14 million people live on less than US$0.50 (€.40) a day.
Already the country's most popular site for visitors, an increase in tourists is expected during the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo, which will run from Nov. 21 to Jan. 9, 2007. The event is a joint Cambodia-Korean cultural festival.
"We need to protect our nation's honor. It's shameful for us to see beggars chasing tourists for money," said Siem Reap provincial governor Sou Phirin.
He said that beginning Sunday, police and social workers will comb the streets and markets of the tourist town for beggars, who will be gathered in a designated area before being taken away by trucks to their hometowns.
Sou Phirin was unable to give estimate of how many beggars are now in Siem Reap town.
Tourism is a major revenue earner for the cash-strapped government. There were 1.4 million foreign arrivals last year, with the largest numbers coming from South Korea, Japan and the United States. More than half of the tourists visited the Angkor temples in Siem Reap, 230 kilometers (143 miles) northwest of the capital Phnom Penh.
Cambodia is one of the world's poorest countries. Thirty-five percent of the country's 14 million people live on less than US$0.50 (€.40) a day.
6 comments:
sorry to hear that a country leader felf ashamed of his own people. Naturally no one wishes to beg but has to when stomach is empty!!
Tourism contributes a hug part of GDP,so why still 35 of population live on less than $0.5? come on,countryleader. don't blame our people, look at miro to see whose picture is !!!
OH I am Kwack three side!
Hun Xen
Where are keeping all those beggers. It is shame to have you animal Hun Sen to be PM of Cambodia who have created these beggers. They have suffered from all your friends who have stolen tehir lands.
Ah Hun Sen!! If you are not supporting by Vietcong, you, your wife and your children will also join this group of beggers too. See yourself!!! What can you do if you don't sell your country to Vietcong? Without Vietcong support, your family will be out from Cambodia just in 30 mn by Cambodian nationlists. Therefore, I urge you to spend some of your stolen monies to build houses and lands and give back to these beggers instead of exporting them to Thailand and Vietnam. If they are going out there Cambodian is even shamefull for cannot look after their own citizen. These begggers have made no mistake but their government have stolen their lands !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think the KI news headline is right. If they are to be removed that should be Hun Sen the first removed from his PM post and ban from visiting Angkor... He is the father of beggars and the the one that put us into such a shameful status.
what a shameful PM. please please have someone boot him to the curb.
Post a Comment