Hun Xen: Only I and my 4 pals are allowed to use siren escort

Hun Xen announced the cut down on the number of siren escorts

13 Feb 2011
By Den Ayuthyea
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Hun Xen announced a lowering in the number of high-ranking officials who have the right to use cars equipped with sirens to lead their procession in order to reduce the number of traffic jams.

Hun Xen warned and issued his order to his underlings who, in the past, used cars equipped with sirens to lead their procession. He told them to stop doing this immediately because from now on, those who have the privilege to such use are only limited to the country’s top 5 leaders: the king [Sihamoni], the hero-king [Sihanouk], [the president of the National Assembly (NatAss), the president of the Senate and himself.]

Hun Xen stressed that cars equipped with sirens that were used or driven along public roads annoy people and cause traffic accident that could take the lives of many road travelers.

Hun Xen added: “The use of the siren that sounds ‘Ngeng, Ngeng’, it annoys the students, annoys on holidays. Why turn it on? And don’t drive too fast. I believe that, short of that, we just set the limit. We keep only for 4 royals and 3 commoners. If they don’t listen, I will issue a sub-decree banning its use. We keep [its use] for the king [Sihamoni and Sihanouk], the president of the NatAss, the president of the Senate and the prime minister.”

Only the Three Viet stooges have the privilege to make noise in Cambodia

By decree from the stooge on the right, only Cambodia's 3 Viet stooges have the privilege to use siren with their motorcades (Photo: AP)

Abuse of sirens causes loss of motorcade wailing privileges

Nov 19, 2009
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has decreed that only he and two other senior politicians may use sirens to clear the streets for their motorcades, local media reported Thursday.

In a sub-decree promulgated Monday, the prime minister specifically banned the country's ten deputy prime ministers and other politicians from using sirens to allow easier passage through the capital's sometimes congested roads.

The director of the department for public order at the national police, Him Yan, told the Phnom Penh Post newspaper that the move followed abuses of siren privileges. He said those had caused public disorder and traffic jams in the capital.

'Deputy prime ministers cannot use the sirens now,' he told the paper.

Under the new legislation just three politicians may use sirens to move around the city: Prime Minister Hun Sen, the head of the Senate, and the head of the National Assembly.

Members of the royal family are still permitted to use sirens, as are the motorcades of visiting dignitaries with the rank of deputy minister or above.

The regulation does not affect emergency vehicles such as ambulances, police vehicles and fire trucks. The military is also exempt from the ruling.

Car siren sound prohibited on Russian Federation Blvd [so that it wouldn’t interrupt Hun Sen's speech anymore?]

Thursday, March 6, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prime minister Hun Sen ordered the Phnom Penh city governor to install signs prohibiting the sounding of car siren along the Russian Federation Blvd, between the Tuol Kok stop light and the hospital for monks. Hun Sen said that this stretch of the boulevard is filled with education institutions and hospitals, therefore, cars crossing this area should not sound their siren. This issue was raised following the siren sounding of cars traveling in this area which interrupted Hun Sen’s speech during the distribution of diplomas for students at the Royal University of Phnom Penh on 05 March. Hun Sen said that he told the city governor to install signs to stop the sounding of siren once already, but that this illegal act is still taking place. He said that only cars belonging to government leaders are preceded by a siren sounding car, therefore Hun Sen asked: “Why do you have to show off, are you afraid people wouldn’t notice you?” Hun Sen added that: “I told the VIPs once already, just tone it down.” Hun Sen said that car convoys with siren sound should be those for national or international delegates, fire trucks, and ambulances which require urgency.

Nuon Chea unwittingly shut Hun Sen up

Thursday, March 6, 2008
KI-Media

Prime minister Hun Sen’s speech given at the Royal University in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, was interrupted by loud siren sound, forcing him to take a pause. “Bodyguards, please check out what the sirens were for,” The Cambodia Daily quoted Hun Sen as saying over the loudspeakers. Hun Sen then complained about the use of sirens by too many high-ranking officials, the majority of whom are in his government. It turned out that the siren sounds came from two sources: (1) the car which took Nuon Chea to Calmette Hospital for his health checkup, and (2) the car accompanying a bank armored truck. Upon finding the sources of the sound, Hun Sen declared that the use of siren in Nuon Chea’s case was justified.