Original report from Phnom Penh
07 May 2009
Despite the high-profile robbery of a friend of a British royal last month, foreign tourists on the streets of Phnom Penh said this week they had little reason to worry for their safety.
British media reported this week the purse-snatching of a friend of Princess Eugenie, granddaughter to Queen Elizabeth and sixth in line to the throne. Police have been unable to find the culprits, but tourists say they have little fear themselves.
Pietje Pul, a 28-year-old tourist from Belgium, was walking along the riverside in a popular Phnom Penh tourist area on a recent night, around 8 pm.
“We are very happy to visit Cambodia,” he said. “And we do not think of our own security and safety because the Cambodian government protects our safety.”
Ho Vandy, chairman of the Cambodia Tourism Association, said he had seen no signs of tourist fear following the robbery, but he said the police should find the muggers and ensure the safety of foreign tourists.
Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Touch Naroth said police had no information yet, “but we are investigating.”
“We’ve deployed our security forces to protect the foreign tourists, and we will not allow any crime on foreign tourists,” he said.
Cambodia last year welcomed more than 2 million tourists, who brought in about $1 billion in revenue.
British media reported this week the purse-snatching of a friend of Princess Eugenie, granddaughter to Queen Elizabeth and sixth in line to the throne. Police have been unable to find the culprits, but tourists say they have little fear themselves.
Pietje Pul, a 28-year-old tourist from Belgium, was walking along the riverside in a popular Phnom Penh tourist area on a recent night, around 8 pm.
“We are very happy to visit Cambodia,” he said. “And we do not think of our own security and safety because the Cambodian government protects our safety.”
Ho Vandy, chairman of the Cambodia Tourism Association, said he had seen no signs of tourist fear following the robbery, but he said the police should find the muggers and ensure the safety of foreign tourists.
Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Touch Naroth said police had no information yet, “but we are investigating.”
“We’ve deployed our security forces to protect the foreign tourists, and we will not allow any crime on foreign tourists,” he said.
Cambodia last year welcomed more than 2 million tourists, who brought in about $1 billion in revenue.
10 comments:
thank you and god bless cambodia. i'm sure the local authority will do their best to keep all tourists happy, safe and enjoy a pleasant visit in cambodia. we, khmer people would like all tourists to tell their friends and others to come visit cambodia more as cambodia will do everything to cater to tourists needs, etc... please welcome to my country, cambodia. may all tourists visit be an enjoyable and pleasant experience. hope everyone like cambodia. god bless cambodia.
everyone is welcomed to make any constructive criticism to the tourist ministry on how to improve cambodia for all tourists to enjoy a pleasant stay in our country, cambodia. cambodia and khmer people do want to improve our ways for all tourists to like our country. thank you.
the recent incident is not uncommon in srok khmer. these type of incidents happened all the time.
To all the tourists foreigh and domestic alike,if it happen to you(purse snatching) please scream (chor,chor,chor)as loud as you can. I am sure the locas will take care of it.
"Police have been unable to find the culprits." If these culprits were to rob the high ranking officials or their families, the police would have caugth them in minutes or hours. Otherewise, forget it. The police have other very important thing to do like too busy collecting bribes and abusing the poors.
You'll be completely foolish to rely on the Cambodia police to protect your safely. Thieves in Cambodia have more guns than the police. They get paid like peanuts, why risk their lives to project you. You can consider yourself lucky if the police didn't rob you yet.
I am not sure if the incident has actually happened. There is no clear evident that the princes was even in Cambodia at the time. British embassy could not confirm her presence. I agree that purse-snatching is not new, the incident happen from time to time, there is argument about that. But I also aware the newspapers are trying to sell the news too.
The MEDIA made such a big deal about it. It made Cambodia like a terrible place.
You can get your purse snatched anywhere like in New York, London, Paris, Milan, or Brusells. When you are in a crowd place or at night you should be prepared for this kind of consequence.
Of course, with fancy purse or handbag like Guci, Guess, Versaci, Couch or Yvest St Laurent...Who would resist to snatch it.
Pls stop make a big deal out of it!
Don't worry Princess tax payers are paying for your purse anyway. Go home and buy a new one. Or you may stop at my place (New York), I'll buy you a new one at Macy's or Nine West.
Regards,
Khmer/NY
If it happened to you there would not even be a whisper. It just happens the victim was a princess.
Everywhere the crime rate is increasing because of the economic downturn especially in the US. I suggest you donate money for the poor and hungry in new york instead of taking the princess on a shopping trip.
The majority of tourist know this is no big deal. The US is a thousand times more dangerous.
YES 4:29am!!!! so what is happen if only gappen to you?
Why you donate to the poor in new york, not somewhere else?
Did all the tourist from US? or US have less tourist than Cambodia?
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