By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
An official from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts declared on 03 September that his ministry will provide $400 to each artist as a compensation for the swapping of the Bassac Theater to a private company.
On 03 September, at the Chaktokmouk conference center, Khim Sarith, the secretary of state of the Ministry of Culture (MoC), clarified to all the artists that the Bassac Theater was not sold by the MoC, but that the MoC rented it to a private company, and that this allows the MoC to pay each artist $300 each. Furthermore, Hun Sen is adding another $100 to the amount to bring the total to $400.
Khim Sarith said: “I want to stress to a number who people who are still insisting on saying that the theater was sold to Okhna Kith Meng, I am confirming that my position still remains the same: this theater was not sold, if it were to be sold, Oknha Kith Meng can consider himself as the winner of the lottery jackpot. He must spend $400,000 right now, in addition to the construction cost and the $300 paid to each of you.”
Ieng Sithol, president of the Association of Artists in Cambodia which represents 315 members from the Bassac Theater, said during the conference at the Chaktokmouk center on the same day, that in the name of all the protesting artists, he accepted the $400 offer.
Ieng Sithol said: “I don’t have any idea of opposing the government, or acting as the demonstration leader, or the opposition leader, I am not, but I support all these actions, however, now we must accept the arrangement.”
Even though Ieng Sitol accepted the $400 offer, a number of other artists are still undecided about whether to accept this offer or not, and they are still deciding on what to do next because they want up $700 in compensation each: “I will follow up on the thumb printing to see how it goes. I want to know for sure whether (it was actually) the recommendation of the prime minister (Hun Sen) telling us to accept the $400 or not. I don’t trust it, now they (protesting artists) still follow up (on this case).”
Khim Sarith also indicated that those artists who had already retired, the MoC will not pay them any compensation, and the MoC will only pay to 315 artists.
On 31 August, the Bassac Theater artists have demonstrated by burning tires in front of the theater, to demand that the MoC pay them $700 each in compensation for the swapping of the theater which took place in July. These artists claimed that the MoC sold the theater to Kith Meng’s company.
On 03 September, at the Chaktokmouk conference center, Khim Sarith, the secretary of state of the Ministry of Culture (MoC), clarified to all the artists that the Bassac Theater was not sold by the MoC, but that the MoC rented it to a private company, and that this allows the MoC to pay each artist $300 each. Furthermore, Hun Sen is adding another $100 to the amount to bring the total to $400.
Khim Sarith said: “I want to stress to a number who people who are still insisting on saying that the theater was sold to Okhna Kith Meng, I am confirming that my position still remains the same: this theater was not sold, if it were to be sold, Oknha Kith Meng can consider himself as the winner of the lottery jackpot. He must spend $400,000 right now, in addition to the construction cost and the $300 paid to each of you.”
Ieng Sithol, president of the Association of Artists in Cambodia which represents 315 members from the Bassac Theater, said during the conference at the Chaktokmouk center on the same day, that in the name of all the protesting artists, he accepted the $400 offer.
Ieng Sithol said: “I don’t have any idea of opposing the government, or acting as the demonstration leader, or the opposition leader, I am not, but I support all these actions, however, now we must accept the arrangement.”
Even though Ieng Sitol accepted the $400 offer, a number of other artists are still undecided about whether to accept this offer or not, and they are still deciding on what to do next because they want up $700 in compensation each: “I will follow up on the thumb printing to see how it goes. I want to know for sure whether (it was actually) the recommendation of the prime minister (Hun Sen) telling us to accept the $400 or not. I don’t trust it, now they (protesting artists) still follow up (on this case).”
Khim Sarith also indicated that those artists who had already retired, the MoC will not pay them any compensation, and the MoC will only pay to 315 artists.
On 31 August, the Bassac Theater artists have demonstrated by burning tires in front of the theater, to demand that the MoC pay them $700 each in compensation for the swapping of the theater which took place in July. These artists claimed that the MoC sold the theater to Kith Meng’s company.
2 comments:
Fucking country, where is the law?
Hun Sen and his croany sells every government properties and private properties. There is no law to protect it. they sell Angkor Wat to private company and let them run and share the profit with Hun Sen. Do other countries like Hun Sen country let the private own and operate national monument or building? Only uneducated Hun Sen does.
Next Hun Sen will sell his Boravy Hun Sen and his daughters to Hanoi men whoever gives a higher bid.
Hun Sen's daughters are not bad, Diem Lam, Chet Roy, Srouy Srouy Chhing Chhing.
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