Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The Phnom Penh municipality opened its construction site for the upgrade of the parks located in front of the National Assembly and in front of Wat Botumvatei pagoda on Wednesday. The park upgrade project is undertaken to attract more tourists. However, the blueprint of the new park does not show the monument commemorating the victims of the 1997 grenade attack. This absence causes outrage among the opposition SRP party. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that he will oppose the municipality plan. He said that he will lead a demonstration if the municipality moves this monument. Sam Rainsy said that, as a representative of all the victims, he will take all legal and peaceful actions to oppose the plan to move the monument. Sam Rainsy added that he is willing to allow the municipality to move this monument, if the municipality is also willing to move the monument commemorating dead (invading) Vietnamese soldiers located nearby. Mob Sarin, Phnom Penh city deputy-governor, said that he has no concern about this demonstration warning by the SRP. He said that it is their right to hold a demonstration, but he declined to talk about where the monument will be moved to.
