Photo: AP, Hun Sen criticized commercial fishing operators saying that they have “abused” local residents by preventing them from fishing for their own consumption.Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
Prime Minister Hun Sen declared Tuesday the elimination of commercial fishing lots in the Tonle Sap Lake and put it under preservation. However, the opposition party said it was merely a political ploy used to attract voters ahead of local elections in June.
“I would like to declare to all the people that there will no longer be any fishing lots in the Tonle Sap Lake,” Hun Sen said at a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh. “They will all be eliminated.”
Hun Sen criticized commercial fishing operators saying that they have “abused” local residents by preventing them from fishing for their own consumption.
The large body of freshwater is located in central Cambodia and is one of the signature natural features of the country, providing a diet rich in fish for generations of Cambodians.
“It’s just a correction of mistakes that the government officials have done,” said Son Chhay, a National Assembly member from the Sam Rainsy Party. “I wonder how effective it will be. Or is it simply to briefly excite people ahead of the election?”
Cambodia will hold commune council elections in more than 1,600 jurisdictions on June 3 to elect local representatives.
There are 35 fishing lots in the Tonle Sap Lake which includes parts of the provinces of Siem Reap, Pursat, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Thom.
The Lake provides 230,000 tons of fish products yearly, providing a major source of protein to more than three million people in the country, according to statistics from the national fishery department. However, local communities have reported a decline in catches in recent years.
“If the declaration is serious, I hope fish products will increase,” said Tea Lov, a representative of Angkor Thebdei Agricultural Development Community in Siem Reap.
Hun Sen criticized commercial fishing operators saying that they have “abused” local residents by preventing them from fishing for their own consumption.
The large body of freshwater is located in central Cambodia and is one of the signature natural features of the country, providing a diet rich in fish for generations of Cambodians.
“It’s just a correction of mistakes that the government officials have done,” said Son Chhay, a National Assembly member from the Sam Rainsy Party. “I wonder how effective it will be. Or is it simply to briefly excite people ahead of the election?”
Cambodia will hold commune council elections in more than 1,600 jurisdictions on June 3 to elect local representatives.
There are 35 fishing lots in the Tonle Sap Lake which includes parts of the provinces of Siem Reap, Pursat, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Thom.
The Lake provides 230,000 tons of fish products yearly, providing a major source of protein to more than three million people in the country, according to statistics from the national fishery department. However, local communities have reported a decline in catches in recent years.
“If the declaration is serious, I hope fish products will increase,” said Tea Lov, a representative of Angkor Thebdei Agricultural Development Community in Siem Reap.
4 comments:
Another CPP trick, does SRP have any tricks of their own. Or are they going to rely on waiting for more force eviction to come then engage in the community?
PM open the way for more than 2 millions illegal Vietnamese settlement surround Tanle Sab lake and Mekong to fish legally in whole Tanle Sab lake and Mekong. This was sad for Khmer nation. Vietnamese fishermen will use illegal fishing equipment to catch fish in Tanle Sab and Mekong River but who control these illegal Vietnamese fishermen? Government has no fund or resources to control the uncontrollable illegal Vietnamese fishermen.
This is winning for Vietnamese policy of expansion to Cambodia. It encourages the Vietnamese to migrate to Cambodia free because they can fish and earn living in Cambodia.
For the sake of Khmer the government must has clear cut policy that 37 lots must be preserving for fish stock to breed and must not allow fish in these areas so Cambodia can be assured that fish increase and make sure no settlement in these areas.
Some people see this is part of election strategy but for me I see that without this strategy the election will be won by CPP because 70% of population living surround Tanle Sab and Mekong are Vietnamese, therefore Vietnamese votes for CPP.
KH bloggers have the tendency to bloat the number of Vietnamese in Cambodia. I challenge the SRP to independently go to Tanle Sab lake and count how many youns there are.
They are a minority, no less than 10-15K out of 200-300K throughout the whole country. We have 14 million people, 200-300K is nothing. It's the CPP that's controlling the nation, not these youns.
Tuy kam eung! tuy kam eung! ann euy. Chet roy Kampuchean!.
In the names of all vietmaneses in Tonle Sarp, we really appreciate your kindness. In just a few more years our baby will fill up Tonle Sarp. All fishes will be fat by eating out shit. We hope you enjoy their taste, but but you all should have your stomach checked by the doctor more often. Be careful, PONG PROON TUY in the fish. Kam eung again!
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