Photo by: Photo Supplied
Vendors from Banteay Srey temple share grievances with the Apsara Authority by meeting with SRP officials yesterday.
Watch video of children's teary testimonies here.
Vendors at the Banteay Srey temple in Siem Reap province have accused Apsara Authority officials of threatening and beating them, according to a letter sent to Deputy Prime Minister Sok An last week by the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
The letter urged Sok An, who is also chairman of Apsara Authority, to take action against officials alleged to have physically abused vendors, including small children.
Five SRP lawmakers wrote the letter, after claiming to have received complaints from vendors at the temple.
“Plenty of people and children have raised concerns about difficulties caused by Apsara Authority officials based in Banteay Srey temple,” the letter read.
“[They] have confirmed that they were beaten, threatened, had their things confiscated and also forced to take off their clothes when they tried to sell small things at the temple.”
Ke Sovanroth, one of the SRP lawmakers who wrote the letter, said she had received complaints from nearly 100 vendors when she visited the temple.
Chhorn Om, a 21-year-old silk vendor, said she used to sell scarves in front of the temple, but was moved by Apsara officials to a more remote location.
“Nowadays, when I sell those souvenirs, I am afraid because if I’m caught by Apsara staff I will be treated like a thief,” she said.
Bun Narith, director general of Apsara Authority, dismissed allegations of physical abuse, but said that his officials have instructed vendors on how to behave in front of tourists.
“We do not want mobile vendors walking around, pulling guests’ hands and disturbing them,” he said.
“The guests will not be happy and it makes them look down on our country.”
Bun Narith said vending stalls had been set up throughout the temple complex to curb the number of vendors that follow and pester tourists.
Lin Neng Khonni, a spokesperson for the temple’s vendors, said she filed complaints to both the Cambodian People’s Party and Sam Rainsy Party, but had only received visits from the latter.
The letter urged Sok An, who is also chairman of Apsara Authority, to take action against officials alleged to have physically abused vendors, including small children.
Five SRP lawmakers wrote the letter, after claiming to have received complaints from vendors at the temple.
“Plenty of people and children have raised concerns about difficulties caused by Apsara Authority officials based in Banteay Srey temple,” the letter read.
“[They] have confirmed that they were beaten, threatened, had their things confiscated and also forced to take off their clothes when they tried to sell small things at the temple.”
Ke Sovanroth, one of the SRP lawmakers who wrote the letter, said she had received complaints from nearly 100 vendors when she visited the temple.
Chhorn Om, a 21-year-old silk vendor, said she used to sell scarves in front of the temple, but was moved by Apsara officials to a more remote location.
“Nowadays, when I sell those souvenirs, I am afraid because if I’m caught by Apsara staff I will be treated like a thief,” she said.
Bun Narith, director general of Apsara Authority, dismissed allegations of physical abuse, but said that his officials have instructed vendors on how to behave in front of tourists.
“We do not want mobile vendors walking around, pulling guests’ hands and disturbing them,” he said.
“The guests will not be happy and it makes them look down on our country.”
Bun Narith said vending stalls had been set up throughout the temple complex to curb the number of vendors that follow and pester tourists.
Lin Neng Khonni, a spokesperson for the temple’s vendors, said she filed complaints to both the Cambodian People’s Party and Sam Rainsy Party, but had only received visits from the latter.
11 comments:
I fully hope that the law suit against apsara authority will be considered and the government will take action against them. The case should not be ignored like others.
គេមិនដែលគិតេពីនាក់ក្រទេ គេគិតតែពីរឿងហោ
ប៉ាវគេទេ បងប្អូនឃើញទេនៅពេលវិទ្យុរ៏បាយន្តគេរៃ
ប្រាក់ជួយទាហានស្លាប់ដែលច្បាំងនឹងសៀម ខ្ញុំពុំឃើញមានឈ្មោះនាក់មានធ្វើការធំភាគច្រើន
បានចូលប្រាក់ទេ បើថាឈ្មោះគេៗខឹងទៀតហើយ។
បងប្អូនដឹងហើយ គឺគេស្នេហ៏ហាលុយជាងស្នេហ៏ហាជាតិ
4 March 2011 1:04 AM
yea and you are the one that concerns about the poor right? What have you done for them besides talking about it?
MR. Sok An must bring those bastards who strip the girl naked to justice! Those Apsara Authority officials must brought to justice...Throw his ass in jail for along time, to let other bastard out there know...I hate high ranking officials, they use their power to abused their own people...
Don't just fire his ass, make sure he paid the victims and still throw his ass in jail...I urge PM Hun Sen sending a strong messages to all corrupted officials used their power to abused people...
Those bastards must held accountable, punishment, justice must be done for the victims...I urge Govts to keep enforce the law in cambodia, cuz most of powerful family don't give a damn about police, authority, and a law' enforcement...at all? These people even threaten police and a law enforcement? Cambodia must get rid of these kind of corrupted people, otherwise our country will goes no where? Bribing in Pochington Int' airport every fucken day??
Speaking of corruption at Phnom Penh International airport, i saw some people put $10,$20 dollar in their passport and handed to those officials for processing, i was infront of them, and they skip my paper's work..? I was really pissed off!! Next time i will report to Mr. Sar Kheng at Dept. of Interior!
This is a gross violation of human rights and can classify as child molestation and child abuse and child pornography. They must be punished severely. The authority only allow their relatives to sell things there, but banned the poor by beating them and strip naked the children. Shame on them and shame on Sok An.
Those police officials who guarding the Temples, some of them are not very nice, people must be caustious, stay in packs, don't wondering by yourself, they may robb your ass, take your camera..or even rape you in disclosed places..?
Mr. Sok Ann must investigate and bring those bastards to justice, otherwise tourist will be less...They must provide safety to all tourists and people who make a living there...We need to keep our people and tourists very safe!!
At least my voice can be heard. It is better than doing nothing. God bless Cambodian.
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