A scene during the blaze (Photo: Koh Santepheap)
Aftermath of the fire (Photo: Koh Santepheap)By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
04 January 2008
Representatives of Leu Market vendors called on the cabinet of Prime Minister Hun Sen Friday, following a fire that destroyed all but four stalls in the Sihanoukville market but injured no one early Thursday morning.
The representatives were allowed to enter the prime minsiter's residence in Takhmau district, Kandal province, just outside Phnom Penh, though Hun Sen himself was not there, vendors said.
Officials gave vendors a signed document promising they would be allowed to rebuild at the same site at Leu Market, which was all but destroyed in a fire late Wednesday and early Thursday.
"We're extremely happy" to receive official permission to rebuild, one vendor said Friday, "because we have hope."
The fire destroyed more than 1,000 stalls, authorities said.
Government officials said the blaze was started from the blown embers of a vendor's charcoal brazier, but investigators from the rights group Licadho said circumstances surrounding the fire were suspicious enough to warrant further investigation.
Officials said the market could cost up to $1 million to rebuild.
The representatives were allowed to enter the prime minsiter's residence in Takhmau district, Kandal province, just outside Phnom Penh, though Hun Sen himself was not there, vendors said.
Officials gave vendors a signed document promising they would be allowed to rebuild at the same site at Leu Market, which was all but destroyed in a fire late Wednesday and early Thursday.
"We're extremely happy" to receive official permission to rebuild, one vendor said Friday, "because we have hope."
The fire destroyed more than 1,000 stalls, authorities said.
Government officials said the blaze was started from the blown embers of a vendor's charcoal brazier, but investigators from the rights group Licadho said circumstances surrounding the fire were suspicious enough to warrant further investigation.
Officials said the market could cost up to $1 million to rebuild.
12 comments:
One top senior official of the city denied the rumor that arson might have been involved in burn down the market(PSALEU) in order to force vendors to move to a new established market, which was built, completed and sat idol for months. It has been occupied with only handful vendors.
Look at the track records, (regardless admit or deny is not the point), The issue is there were well documented patterns of conspiracy (direct or indirect)to commit shameful act.
In future, any hint/rumor/plain warning that people may learn from any level in this administration, people beware that something is going to be happened least better but likely yet a worse situation to come.
We have to change the name of the city ( Sihanouk Ville) because Sihanouk worked with the vietcong to kill 2 millions khmers people and destroyed the country to year zero.
For sure it's Say Hak the governor who ordered the arson in order to move vendors to the new market.
But frankly the current maeket is very dirty and disgusting. It's not a safe place, either.
It's time to move!
I also hate Psar Leu because it's very disgusting. Burn it down.
Burn also the governor's villa which is too big.
vendors get sticks and carrots. they forget the disster and lost things but are happy when they get promise from PM officials. it is clear PM can give promise because election is coming soon.
All Cambodian Psar or Market is a fucken place of health hazard, the disease, and the stench of foul smell...Whoever or whatever has the concept of Psar or market has no concept of proper hygienic, proper plumbing, proper walking space, proper ventilation, and proper fire hazard protection and proper exit in time of danger...
I recommend the burning down of all Cambodian Psar for the health and the safety of dirt poor Cambodian people! Just burn it all down and build everything up to a new safety standard!
I have to concur that the market is certainly needs to be rebuilt, and the merchants who lost their belongings need to receive some sort of compensation from the government, or perhaps through government low-interest loans, thus allow the affected people to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the ill-fated conflagration.
Khmer Angkor Wat forever! Yuon needs to leave our Khmer soil!
Khmer forever! Yuon out of Cambodia!
Khmer forever! Yuons out of Cambodia so us khmer can kill khmers again just like the Khmer rouge did decades ago, killing close to 2 millions of us. This time Yuons please don't come to rescue us again. We khmers love our own so much that we killed each other in the millions and we usually blame it on someone else. Even the Nazis didn't kill their own people like that. We, khmers are very special people. We hate the Chinese, Thais, Yuons, Barangs and we only love our own people that's why we like to kill each other so that we can blame it on someone else. You see, we are very smart people.
10:22 PM
Khmer do not kill Khmer -- only ignorance kills Khmer. Also, ignorance is responsible for the massacre.
What have we learned from "killing fields?": Nothing! What can we do to ameliorate the current situation in Cambodia ... and amalgamate our patriotic Khmer people to spearhead changes in Cambdodia? Nothing!
It is sad, but it is true, the truth of the matter is everyone is afraid of dying; however, we are not averse of tell others to die for the cause. Again, the question is: "how many of us are will to die for our cause?" Not too many!
Personally, I have come in contact with Prime Minister Hun Sen and other high-ranking officials that I can be a catalyst of change, but I chose not be. However, if I elected to be an agent of change, would that change Cambodia under new leadership? Maybe or maybe not.... I do not know the ANSWER. However, what I do care is the tribulations of people throughout Cambodia.
Or need I change to differenct slogan: "Khmer forever? Yuon out of Cambodia?
Khmer forever! Yuon out of Cambodia!
10:22PM
Only Khmer trained in Hanoi who dares to kill Khmer! This is indisputable fact!
Your leader AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave got his PhD from Hanoi!
10:22 PM
In addition to my previous comment, shall I add that due to the fact that of our pregnability and ignorance, which led us to succumb to foreign support and ultimately asked to have colonial and imperialist administrations intalled in our country. Therefore, we should not lambaste anyone axcept ourselves for our failure. Further, we need to accept our failure and mistakes, and learn from them, thus enable us to resolutely make better decision in the future.
Khmer forever! Yuon out of Cambodia!
They started with a fire in Sihanoukville and continued to politics...racism and then cursed each other.
When are they going to be matured? No one knows. This is what we call KPK (Krom Pol Kdouch).
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