A petrol seller near siem Reap, Cambodia. (AFP/File/Voishmel )05 Dec 2007
By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), told RFA on Wednesday afternoon that the price of gasoline keeps on rising, and it seriously affects to the livelihood of poor Cambodian people, teachers, government workers, soldiers, factory workers, and those who earn about 5,6000 riels (slightly more than $1) per day. This daily earning is barely enough to buy about a little more than one liter of gasoline.
Rong Chhun said: “Price of gasoline in Cambodia in the past few months rises to 4,550 riels (~$1.14) per liter. Recently, it just increased by another 100 riels to reach 4,550 riels per liter in Cambodia. It’s strange in Cambodia, because on the International market, the price of a barrel of oil came down to $88.71, but in Cambodia, the price increases instead. We can see that the government is not paying attention to resolve the price issues on the Cambodian market at all. On top of that, it allowed oil companies to increase prices the way they want it.”
CITA sent an official letter on Wednesday to Hun Sen, asking the current prime minister to resolve this issue for Cambodian people so they may survive.
CITA indicated that if the price of gasoline still remains high, a peaceful mass protest will be organized soon to demand for a reduction of the price of gasoline in Cambodia. As of Wednesday, Hun Sen’s government did not provide any answer yet regarding this demand.
Rong Chhun said: “Price of gasoline in Cambodia in the past few months rises to 4,550 riels (~$1.14) per liter. Recently, it just increased by another 100 riels to reach 4,550 riels per liter in Cambodia. It’s strange in Cambodia, because on the International market, the price of a barrel of oil came down to $88.71, but in Cambodia, the price increases instead. We can see that the government is not paying attention to resolve the price issues on the Cambodian market at all. On top of that, it allowed oil companies to increase prices the way they want it.”
CITA sent an official letter on Wednesday to Hun Sen, asking the current prime minister to resolve this issue for Cambodian people so they may survive.
CITA indicated that if the price of gasoline still remains high, a peaceful mass protest will be organized soon to demand for a reduction of the price of gasoline in Cambodia. As of Wednesday, Hun Sen’s government did not provide any answer yet regarding this demand.
