Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks during a ground-breaking ceremony in Pailin March 26, 2008 for the repair of the road between Battembang and Pailin province. REUTERS/Chor SokuntheaWed, 26 Mar 2008
DPA
Phnom Penh - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Wednesday ordered all private exports of rice to neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam to cease immediately. Speaking from the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Pailin on the Thai border in a speech broadcast on state-run media, Hun Sen said the ban would stay in place for two months and was effective from Thursday.
Cambodia faces national elections in July, and with the opposition in disarray, rampant inflation and skyrocketing prices of staples such as rice appear to be the only serious obstacles to a massive victory by Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party.
"To assure food security, Cambodia decides to prohibit export of rice to Thailand and Vietnam. Finance Minister Keat Chhon will make this decision public today," Hun Sen said.
"Cambodian authorities along the borders must implement this decision immediately."
The decision exempted large commercial exporters, he said.
Cambodians have embraced a free market economy and taken full advantage of the higher prices offered across the borders, with anyone able to hire a truck able and increasingly willing to export their rice harvest.
The Ministry of Commerce has said that because of this it is unable to estimate exactly how much rice Cambodia exports, but the trend has led to the price of a kilo of rice rising from just under 50 cents a year ago to 1.25 dollars at present.
Rice is the staple of the Cambodian diet, and a hike in its price impacts on the entire national economy and the political polls.
Cambodia faces national elections in July, and with the opposition in disarray, rampant inflation and skyrocketing prices of staples such as rice appear to be the only serious obstacles to a massive victory by Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party.
"To assure food security, Cambodia decides to prohibit export of rice to Thailand and Vietnam. Finance Minister Keat Chhon will make this decision public today," Hun Sen said.
"Cambodian authorities along the borders must implement this decision immediately."
The decision exempted large commercial exporters, he said.
Cambodians have embraced a free market economy and taken full advantage of the higher prices offered across the borders, with anyone able to hire a truck able and increasingly willing to export their rice harvest.
The Ministry of Commerce has said that because of this it is unable to estimate exactly how much rice Cambodia exports, but the trend has led to the price of a kilo of rice rising from just under 50 cents a year ago to 1.25 dollars at present.
Rice is the staple of the Cambodian diet, and a hike in its price impacts on the entire national economy and the political polls.
13 comments:
This is brilliant Hun Sen.
Don't allow the small farmers to take advantage of the higher price; however, allow insteads your rich cronies to buy cheaply from the poor Cambodian farmers and then export these rices for a nice profit.
Well, this is another case of damn if you do, and damn if you don't.
Isn't life suck?
That the stupid or fucking action of Ah Hun Sen to let the poor paying the bill when his family and crounies enjoy the corrupted loots!
What this stupid PHD from black teeth Hanoi should do is too cut a strong tax from luxurious things like recreaction airplans, boats, gaol course, million dollar in realestate too compansate to the rice farmer!
good things to alarm those who aren't already aware of the inflatted rice prices in cambodia and beyond. it's called looking out for your people who aren't keeping up with the news from around the world. and everyone of us can help to do this.
Time for ah Kwack to buy rice in the market price! not stop the import or release thr reseve!
Drow away the stupid Hanoi PHD and let go to scholl with your grand children, stupid!
Leopard can't change its spot.
Two months ban on rice export. Sound good. EH! wait for a minute CHAMP!!
Today is close to the end of March. The ban is for two monhts cover for April and near the end of May, Gosh, it is closer to July election.
Then what happen! after that if the rice price still high.
Me and you will eat potatos instead.
All the governments responsible for all the big countries of the world take at the moment measures to fight against the inflation.
Cambodia, with this decision, is a part of good pupils in this respect.
Bravo, Mr. Prime Minister!
Potatos are alot expensive than rice in Cambodia dude!
I haven't bought potato for a while, but last time I bought it whole sale, I think I pay 600 or 800 riels per kilo. So if you multiply this by three, it come out to 1800 or 2400 riels which is the resale price in the market. However, I could be wrong all together because I can't remember for sure.
PS: Oh and this is the orange sweet potato, what I am talking about.
You mean Yam!
Maybe, but there are to many type of potato here. I mean there are white, purple, yellow, and orange.
Are you looking for tolong barang (French Potato)? I haven't seen much of that around my area.
Ah Kwack worries that there aren't enough rice to feed him and his company of pirates. That's the reasons behind the halt of exporting rice.
So what, isn't that everyone concern?
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