Hun Sen reminds about the “road inspection” problems which the officials claim to have forgottenSaturday, March 15, 2008
Koh Santepheap
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Hun Sen warned again about the “road inspection” problems set up by “second-hand” (i.e., not officially sanctioned by the government) control police officers. He said that this problem is rearing back up, and it did not disappear yet.
Hun Sen said that, near Chhlong district, there is a control station, and in Kampong Cham, near the digging by the paved road, there is one place where bribes are being asked also. Hun Sen requested to government officials: “Take a look at them, they are all over the place. I am pointing these 2 locations for you to see only, near the border between Kampong Cham and Kratie provinces.”
Hun Sen made these remarks in the afternoon of 13 March during his presence at the closing of the Ministry of Interior conference. Hun Sen indicated that, there is no problem dealing with police officers taking bribes, all that needs to be done is to take off their title. He said that roads were built for orderly traffic, but these cops turn them into a bribe-request location instead. He said that TVK broadcast about this issue every day, but, they don’t watch it, and even the newspapers are reporting about these control stations, but the government officials do not read about them. Hun Sen added: “When the high-ranking officials go down to inspect, their cars are blaring the siren sound, so that when those who set up the control stations hear about it, they just took off because they are mobile control stations.”
Hun Sen said that he used to make the request (to shut down these control stations), but, now, he shouldn’t make any request anymore. Hun Sen asked: “Are you running out of food to eat if you stop taking bribes from taxicabs for one day? This is a negative point that will lead to other problems…”
Hun Sen asked the provincial officials to take a look at this issue, and not to wait until the PM yells for them to take a short-lived measure, fighting this issue must be done constantly. In the case of “road inspection,” Hun Sen ordered all city and provincial officials to pay attention to them, and to clean up these “second-hand” control stations. He said government officials should post a sign in front of their office doors to remind themselves to get rid of these control stations. According to Hun Sen’s warning, officials working in an area where there is a second-hand control station, will be removed from their position, however, no such punishment has been metered out yet. Some believed that if, in spite of warning, these police officers are still doing it, then it is time that they should be dealt with so they take responsibility for their action.
