A Cambodian man holds a national flag during a protest against inflation
Cambodian anti-riot police block a street during a protest against inflation in Phnom PenhPHNOM PENH (AFP) — About 300 people rallied Sunday outside Cambodia's parliament to protest against double-digit inflation and to demand wage increases to deal with soaring food costs.
The protesters, led by Cambodia's main opposition Sam Rainsy Party, carried banners reading: "We want pay raises. Government must stop inflation."
"The current government is unable to curb inflation... We are pushing them to reduce the prices of essential items or to increase salaries in line with inflation," opposition leader Sam Rainsy told reporters.
The demonstrators later walked to the nearby site of a 1997 grenade attack, where 16 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded during an anti-government protest.
About 100 anti-riot police carrying electric prods and tear gas blocked the surrounding streets to prevent the protesters from entering neighbourhood markets.
Cambodia's inflation cracked into double digits late last year, hovering around 11 percent, driving up the cost of food and other staple goods.
The price of meat and other essential items has risen by as much as 40 percent over the past year.
Rice -- Cambodia's staple food -- now costs nearly one dollar per kilogramme (2.2 pounds), deepening the poverty of the one-third of the country's 14 million people who live on less than 50 cents a day.
"The prices of commodities have increased so much -- especially oil, rice and meat -- that I can't afford to live," said 20-year-old Huor Ly Ly, a garment worker whose salary is under 60 dollars a month.
The Cambodian government earlier pushed out a series of measures meant to halt price hikes, banning rice exports and lifting a ban on imported pork. Prices of basic foods, however, have remained stubbornly high.
Aid agencies have warned that the growing food crisis could threaten tens of thousands of rural Cambodians with hunger in the coming year, as even food handouts have become significantly more expensive and harder to distribute.
The protesters, led by Cambodia's main opposition Sam Rainsy Party, carried banners reading: "We want pay raises. Government must stop inflation."
"The current government is unable to curb inflation... We are pushing them to reduce the prices of essential items or to increase salaries in line with inflation," opposition leader Sam Rainsy told reporters.
The demonstrators later walked to the nearby site of a 1997 grenade attack, where 16 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded during an anti-government protest.
About 100 anti-riot police carrying electric prods and tear gas blocked the surrounding streets to prevent the protesters from entering neighbourhood markets.
Cambodia's inflation cracked into double digits late last year, hovering around 11 percent, driving up the cost of food and other staple goods.
The price of meat and other essential items has risen by as much as 40 percent over the past year.
Rice -- Cambodia's staple food -- now costs nearly one dollar per kilogramme (2.2 pounds), deepening the poverty of the one-third of the country's 14 million people who live on less than 50 cents a day.
"The prices of commodities have increased so much -- especially oil, rice and meat -- that I can't afford to live," said 20-year-old Huor Ly Ly, a garment worker whose salary is under 60 dollars a month.
The Cambodian government earlier pushed out a series of measures meant to halt price hikes, banning rice exports and lifting a ban on imported pork. Prices of basic foods, however, have remained stubbornly high.
Aid agencies have warned that the growing food crisis could threaten tens of thousands of rural Cambodians with hunger in the coming year, as even food handouts have become significantly more expensive and harder to distribute.
8 comments:
If 300 is all that responded to their call for a 'mass demonstration' in a city of over 1.2 million, and we are to take this as a sign of the SRP's popular support, then the outcome of the election is not only an anticipation but a certainty. Of course, people were mostly busy enjoying themselves in Kien Svay or other picnic places rather than hear about a situation they can't help anyway, as the rest of the world population can't either, for that matter. The government may be incompetent but the hike in prices is none of their doing. Sam Rainsy becomes more incredible by the day.
The amount of this peaceful demonstration participants are significantly telling us that Cambodian peoples are living under restless emotion?. Absolutely, they are living under fear. Fear that has tremendously endured to uphold by Hun Sen leadership to achieve his political win-win strategy. But who know the vote casting will not be in fear because it is a secret vote as peoples understood. NEC has tried to manage voting system that they can identify voter list in order to maintain fear situation. This is very subtle tactic!
Sam Rainsy has to be aware of creating self-confidence, no fear, and brave for Cambodian peoples. When Cambodian peoples have no fear and self-losing, SRP will win the election easily.
Furthermore, this demonstration is successful for SRP. Sam Rainsy is very brave to organize this peaceful mass demonstration. It is an eternal torch of brighter future of Cambodia.
KY
Are you kidding, Khmer Young. Do live in the real world or in a fantasy world?
Ah Xam Rainxy notorious killer must be stopped from destroying our religion.
To 7:49AM,
The one who is killing and destroying the religion is Hun Sen's govement. He has killed and wounded many monks in the previous peaceful demonstration and in the recent demonstration of the Kampuchea Krom's Monks. Did you see it?
You crazy 7:49AM!!
This clearly the work of Ah Xam Rainxy vicious killer to wipe out Khmer people, children, babies and all.
DO NOT WORRY, SOON KHMER WILL SHOW OUR CHOICE!
Yes, and that is the one and only CPP!
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