Hun Sen warns: it’s the Chinese New Year but the Cambodians are the ones drunk
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
“It’s the Chinese New Year but the Cambodians are the ones drunk,” this is the reality in the Cambodian society during the Chinese New Year. This reality brought Hun Sen to call on restraint in the drinking that could cause accidents. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy also took this opportunity to wish a Happy New year to Chinese-Cambodians during this Chinese celebration.
Among the 14 million of people in Cambodia, some are mixed Chinese, and in a number of houses, especially in Phnom Penh, people are celebrating the Chinese New year. Hun Sen said, on 04 February, that very few people in Cambodia celebrate the 01 January New Year, however, 70 to 80% of the population celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Facing with this reality, Hun Sen also announced that there will be no cabinet meeting held on 08 February, so that Chinese-Cambodian government officials can celebrate the Chinese New Year and also to protect the religious rights of the citizens as stipulated in the law. Hun Sen said that Cambodia has religious freedom, any religion in Cambodia has peace, whether it is Buddhism, Islam, Christian, or Chinese Taoism.
Nevertheless, even with this speech, Hun Sen asks for attention in order to avoid traffic accidents caused by the merry eating and drinking during the Chinese New year celebration which will take place during 3 days, on 7-8-9 February. Hun Sen also said: “It’s the Chinese New Year but the Cambodians are the ones drunk,” and he called on the drivers to pay attention.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy takes this occasion to wish a Happy New Year to Chinese-Cambodians during this New Year celebration. In a New Year greeting letter dated 05 February, Sam Rainsy said that, on the occasion of the New Year of the Rat, he wishes everybody, especially Cambodians of Chinese ancestry, a good health, longevity, and success in their jobs, and he wishes that everybody will participate in pushing for the respect of human rights and democracy in Cambodia.
Among the 14 million of people in Cambodia, some are mixed Chinese, and in a number of houses, especially in Phnom Penh, people are celebrating the Chinese New year. Hun Sen said, on 04 February, that very few people in Cambodia celebrate the 01 January New Year, however, 70 to 80% of the population celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Facing with this reality, Hun Sen also announced that there will be no cabinet meeting held on 08 February, so that Chinese-Cambodian government officials can celebrate the Chinese New Year and also to protect the religious rights of the citizens as stipulated in the law. Hun Sen said that Cambodia has religious freedom, any religion in Cambodia has peace, whether it is Buddhism, Islam, Christian, or Chinese Taoism.
Nevertheless, even with this speech, Hun Sen asks for attention in order to avoid traffic accidents caused by the merry eating and drinking during the Chinese New year celebration which will take place during 3 days, on 7-8-9 February. Hun Sen also said: “It’s the Chinese New Year but the Cambodians are the ones drunk,” and he called on the drivers to pay attention.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy takes this occasion to wish a Happy New Year to Chinese-Cambodians during this New Year celebration. In a New Year greeting letter dated 05 February, Sam Rainsy said that, on the occasion of the New Year of the Rat, he wishes everybody, especially Cambodians of Chinese ancestry, a good health, longevity, and success in their jobs, and he wishes that everybody will participate in pushing for the respect of human rights and democracy in Cambodia.
