Sam Rainsy plans to hold a demonstration to protest the soaring price of goods

30 March 2008
By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

During the commemoration of the victims of the 30 March 1997 grenade attack, opposition leader Sam Rainsy took the opportunity to comment on various daily issues affecting the livelihood of the majority of people, such as the soaring price of goods for example.

Sam Rainsy said: “The main cause of the increase in the price of goods in Cambodia is due to corruption, due to dishonest merchants and cunning companies which create storms and thunders to set the price of merchandise any way they want, to increase the price of goods as they please because these dishonest merchants and these cunning companies paid bribes to the current leaders. The current leaders are colluding with these dishonest merchants and cunning companies to allow these cunning merchants and dishonest companies to increase the price of goods as they please. Because of corruption, Cambodian people are suffering, their living condition worsens because of the increasing price of goods. Their incomes remain the same while the price of goods doubles and even triples in some areas, we cannot accept it. The Sam Rainsy Party will organize a mass demonstration next week, I am calling all the victims of the current corrupt and unfair administration of the country which causes the soaring price of goods, to please come and join a mass demonstration organized by the Sam Rainsy Party next week.”

In response to Sam Rainsy’s criticisms, Khieu Kanharith, minister of information and government spokesman, said that inflation and the increasing price of all goods is not just happening in Cambodia alone.

Khieu Kanharith said: “Regarding the increasing price of goods, I am asking H.E. Sam Rainsy if he saying this to cheat Cambodian people? But, he didn’t think that foreigners will laugh to death, can’t he see: is there any country where the price of goods didn’t increase now and in the past few months? Therefore, he is cheating on Cambodians, and he is acting cheap in front the foreigners, and for himself, does he have a personal standard to act as a state leader responsible for the country or not? Therefore, by the way he talks and if people still vote for him, people will think that Cambodians are very mediocre.”

Sam Rainsy also plans to demonstrate to demand that the government resolve about the will of the people. When asked if the Ministry of Interior or the city of Phnom Penh does not allow this demonstration to take place, Sam Rainsy responded: “We will still hold the demonstration. If they don’t allow it, it is even better than they allow it because the 30 March 1997 demonstration received the written authorization from the co-ministers of Interior, H.E. Sar Kheng and You Hockry, and even with this authorization, the demonstration met with mishap, so it’s better that there is no authorization … Several tens of thousands are planned to participate in the demonstration. I am confident that several tens of thousands people will join the mass demonstration led by the Sam Rainsy Party.”

Nevertheless, Khieu Kanharith seems to reveal that if there is any incident happening during the demonstration, the government will not bear any responsibility. “I am asking him what is the demonstration for? First, does he have any measure to resolve for bringing down the price of goods, what will it be? Second, if he wants to have a march during the demonstration, but if there are upheaval problems, what will be the extent of his responsibility? Don’t run into an embassy, don’t run overseas, take responsibility. If he wants to be a prime minister, because he is a PM candidate, he must work … You lead people to demonstrate for a lowering of the price of goods, do you have any measure to show for yet that you want a price decrease because of what?” Khieu Kanharith said.