Vietnamese beggars in Chong Khneas harassing tourists visiting the area (Photo: Koh Santepheap)Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Thong Khon, the minister of Tourism, said that the activities led by exclusively Vietnamese beggars in the Tonle Sap area of Chong Khneas, Siem Reap province, seriously affect the government tourism policy. Thonk Khon made this declaration during a function held in Siem Reap on 05 May, regarding the case of Chong Khneas beggars. He said: “We must clean up all of them, in particular, we must find who serve as their backing and their protectors, and they must be brought to face justice.” He added: “What the beggars in the Chong Khneas area are doing, it is not normal, and they are becoming professional beggars who annoy tourists visiting this area al lot. If these beggars are allowed to annoy the tourists, this will seriously affect the government tourism policy, and these beggars will make it such that the tourists are scared to return to visit this place again because of the anarchy the beggars are creating.”
