Original report from Phnom Penh
08 September 2009
Around 300 Thai citizens forced the closure of a border crossing on Tuesday, blocking attempts by Thai trucks to transport Cambodian cassava from the northern provinces of Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey.
An estimated 3,000 tons of cassava comes each day from the province’s Pouk district, angering Thai farmers, who used mechanical tillers to block the roadway, a Cambodian exporter said.
“The closing of the Boeung Trakuan border checkpoint destroyed our cassava export,” said Choeuv Taov, 56, a member of the Thmor Puak district council and a cassava trader. “Cassava is a very important aspect of Cambodian’s livings in this area. The Cambodian people need to sell their cassava to support their living and to replant on time.”
Local officials say a Cambodian family can earn nearly $1,500 annually from cassava grown on one hectare of land, even though the root sells for just 100 riel, or about 2 cents, per kilogram. Some families own up to 50 hectares of cassava plantation.
Chop Choeun, a 29-year-old cassava farmer with two hectares of land, said the blockade had cost him $440 per hectare.
“I’m very worried about my living,” he said. “I have 30 tons of cassava crop on one hectare.”
Choeuv Taov added, “cassava is very important factor for Cambodians’ living in this area. Cambodian people need to sell their cassava for supporting their living and replanting on time.”
Nou Yoth, chief of the Boeung Trakuan border checkpoint, said district governors on each side were negotiating to solve the problem. Some 200 trucks a day can be counted bring cassava to Thailand from Cambodia, he said.
An estimated 3,000 tons of cassava comes each day from the province’s Pouk district, angering Thai farmers, who used mechanical tillers to block the roadway, a Cambodian exporter said.
“The closing of the Boeung Trakuan border checkpoint destroyed our cassava export,” said Choeuv Taov, 56, a member of the Thmor Puak district council and a cassava trader. “Cassava is a very important aspect of Cambodian’s livings in this area. The Cambodian people need to sell their cassava to support their living and to replant on time.”
Local officials say a Cambodian family can earn nearly $1,500 annually from cassava grown on one hectare of land, even though the root sells for just 100 riel, or about 2 cents, per kilogram. Some families own up to 50 hectares of cassava plantation.
Chop Choeun, a 29-year-old cassava farmer with two hectares of land, said the blockade had cost him $440 per hectare.
“I’m very worried about my living,” he said. “I have 30 tons of cassava crop on one hectare.”
Choeuv Taov added, “cassava is very important factor for Cambodians’ living in this area. Cambodian people need to sell their cassava for supporting their living and replanting on time.”
Nou Yoth, chief of the Boeung Trakuan border checkpoint, said district governors on each side were negotiating to solve the problem. Some 200 trucks a day can be counted bring cassava to Thailand from Cambodia, he said.
3 comments:
talk about greedy siem farmers, here, blockading khmer trade. where is the bilateral benefit that siem gov't often talk to cambodia about? this is the so-called bilateral benefit to both country they are talking about? i way i see, siem gov't is so weak to control this kind of unruly people who like to disrupt good friendship between these two nations. siem gov't needs to tell these greedy, siem farmers off for a change, ok! these unruly farmers need to be educated by siem gov't. why is siem gov't so weak to control this kind of protest, etc? imagine if these kind of people were to take over gov't, then thailand will be in trouble just like cambodia during the stupid KR era! think about it, ok!
don't siem unruly farmers know that khmer people could learn from them and do the same to them what they do to us? go figure! they have no manner for cambodian people and business!
FUCK THAILAND THOSE FUCKING BASTERDS JUST RUN THOSE FUCKERS OVER IF THEY GET IN YOUR WAY
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