Sunday, January 21, 2007

Sam Rainsy's threat of a massive demonstration against high gasoline price forces Hun Sen himself to take action: open policy for oil import ordered

Government seeks way to lower gasoline price

20 Jan 2007
By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia

Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The government spokesman said that Cambodia welcomes any oil company that can import cheap gasoline to Cambodia. The call was made after the price of gasoline in Cambodia still remains high while on international market, oil price has been steadily decreasing.

Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, made this call after an important meeting held at the council of minister in which Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an urgent order to open up the oil market business in order to seek for a lowering of gasoline price.

Khieu Kanharith said: “The longer it takes [to resolve the gasoline price crisis], the more the opposition party can take advantage [of the situation]. Right now, Prime Minister Hun Sen also said that if the local Cambodian oil companies are hesitating like this, then he has to authorize for whoever who can import gasoline at a cheap price from wherever they want, but we guarantee the [quantity?] of gasoline. Secondly, there is a fulfillment imposed by the [Ministry of] Finance, but now, it no longer makes any distinction between local and foreign companies anymore, whoever can import gasoline at a cheap price, can start the import.”

Khieu Kanharith said that in the past, local oil companies were using various pretexts to maintain gasoline price extremely high. He said that now, oil companies will have compete with each other to lower the price of gasoline.

Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA) and President of the Federation of Trade Union of Camabodia, said that he is happy about this news, but that he is afraid that this [government] declaration may not last long.

Rong Chhun said: “We will wait and see if this declaration will be effective or not. If it is not effective, then we will continue our demand because we saw in the past that the government leader always made declarations during various inaugurations of buildings and bridges, however his declaration never took effect.”

The declaration for the open policy for the oil business is made immediately after Sam Rainsy, the opposition leader, recently warned that he will organize a massive demonstration if the government still does not take care of this issue.

In the past 6 months, the international price of oil had been steadily decreased, but the price of a liter of gasoline has been maintained at 3,900 riels per liter (approximately $0.95 per liter or $3.60 per US gallon). Sam Rainsy demands that the price be reduced to 3,200 riels (approximately $0.78/liter or $2.97/US gallon) to keep it in par with gasoline price in Thailand and Vietnam.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would be most interesting if it were true the PM is distroying the oil cartel in Cambodia that has benefited CPP leadership a great deal.

The PM's lip service is second to none.

SiS

Anonymous said...

The jungle man who never did go to school hanging his phony certificiates all over in his bedroom does not know how hard it is to achieve a degree in school.

Anonymous said...

Yes, and idiots does not know how
hard it is to keep themselves from
being brainwashed by spins,
euphamisms, and propagandas.

Anonymous said...

It is a political move to declare the open oil policy. First, to soften the stance of Mr. Rainsy for the massive protest; therefore will gives him(HUN SEN) time to prepare to subdue the rally should it happens by mass. Second, retaining Mr. Rainsy from gaining more support. Third, if the rally does take place, it could overrun his government by the people. Sure he worry and sure he would worry and would please MR. Rainsy and the people to declare this open policy. I agreed it would not last long. There are a lot of enemies around him his government; it is within the feasibility of doable.

Anonymous said...

Hey, when you got it, you got it.
That is why we are better fit to
run the country, and not Sam
Rainsy, especially when the guy
will flee the country from the
first sound of every little pop
and crack such opening a champagne
bottle or coca-cola. Who will want
that as a leader?

Anonymous said...

Hi 2:52 AM,
I am feeling sorry for you and the CPP who cannot find an educated person to have a productive debate among others around the world, rather you write or express like a childish. Yes you are going to come up with the one in power is the best, but you do not see Hun Sen is one of the notoriosuly killer since from KR to today.
Tell us what Hun Sen has done beside abusing power?

Now tell the public if you were Hun Sen's Opponent and you know for a fact that Hun Sen will abuse his power and will order to shoot you as he always threatened everybody. Will you escape to save your life so you can live on to help your country? Hun Sen has attempted to kill his opponent many times inclduing throwing the grenades.

I don't who you are and why are you embracing the traitors/criminals who gave Khmer land to Yuan and who has destroyed Cambodia for 3 decades.

Anonymous said...

Hey, if you open up your eye, you
will see that Cambodia is no
Iraq and that is fact, unless
you are in wonderland like you
usually are.

Anyway, you are the one who
charged us with the crime;
therefore, it is you who have the
burden of proof. That is the rule,
and the proof must be real, not
bullshit that you have been
spraying all over KI Media. Get it?

Anonymous said...

Hi 9:05 AM,
Too many crimes Hun Sen and his thugs have been committed, just to list a few: murdered Piseth Pilika, Grenade attack on his rival,...Heng Pov's transcript is in the FBI now, collborated with drug dealers and the Yuan guy Nguyen Van Son aka Hoc Lundi carried the crimes...

Yes Real. Do you know what real Is?
You are inside the Ring of mafia and what makes you think you can WRONG Hun Sen? Unless you want the bullet from Hun Sen's bodyguards running into your head.

The topics condemning the criminal Hun Sen is not only in KI, it's been spreading all over around the world including the foreign forums.

You must be kiddin' for not knowing about this.

Anonymous said...

FBI? WTF? did they find WMD in iraq
yet?

Anonymous said...

No WMD in Iraq, but Saddam was hung. Thanks god. One less dictatorship. Afew more to go.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, dark and sad day for Iraq,
the devil claimed one of their
great leader.

Allah will be with you, Saddam.