| English.news.cn 2013-12-24 19:11:39 |
   
 
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By Wang Qibing, Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said Tuesday that the opposition's daily protests have not affected foreign tourist arrivals to the country, but caused frustrations among public and business people.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has launched a new round of daily protests in capital Phnom Penh since Dec. 15 in order to demand Prime Minister Hun Sen to step down or to call a snap election following allegations of serious irregularities during the July election.
On Sunday, around 20,000 protesters, led by CNRP's President Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sokha, took to the streets in the capital for four hours and shouted "Hun Sen must step down." "So far, we have not seen any impact on tourism since those protests have been done peacefully,"Thong Khon told Xinhua. "But we are keeping very close eyes on the situation. If any violence happens, it will hurt our tourism industry."
However, the minister said protests are causing frustrations among the public and business people in the capital.
Political conflict between Hun Sen's ruling party and Sam Rainsy's opposition party has persisted since the July election results revealed that the ruling party won a majority of vote with 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the opposition.
The opposition has refused to accept the outcome and boycotted parliament since then.
Thong Khon said the opposition should respect the will of the people and accept the results of the July election, which was deemed"free and fair" by national and international observers.
He added that the opposition's protests to demand the resignation of Hun Sen is "an act of national betrayal and is causing social instability".
Nguon Meng Tech, director general of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, said the opposition's daily protests are unlikely to affect existing investors in Cambodia, but are discouraging new investors to the country. "We are concerned over this matter, but have no choice,"he told Xinhua Tuesday."The opposition should see national interest as a priority, not use their supporters as a tool to achieve their ambitious goal." "As a representative of investors and business people, we don' t want to see such anarchic protest, it is a frustration to their businesses,"he said.
Motor-taxi driver Suos Sambath, 50, said he observed that the protests have caused disruption in businesses in the capital. "I noticed that some shops have closed doors when protesters passed by their shops,"he said."I wish to see that the two political parties resolve issues peacefully for the sake of the nation."
Tuk-tuk driver Kun Savoeun, 26, said that the protests are good to demand the change of the current government. "I know that it will affect the reputation of Cambodia in international arena, but I want to see the change of the government,"he said."I want to see higher pay for garment workers and civil servants."
On Monday, 54 ruling party lawmakers issued a statement, saying that the opposition's calls for Hun Sen's resignation and a re- vote are a"clear and undeniable act of coup"against the current legitimate government.
Hun Sen last Friday refused to step down or to call a re-vote, saying that he has done nothing wrong.
"I have ascended to the prime minister through the constitution. If I descend, it will also be through the constitution," he said. "Therefore, I confirm that there is no re-election because no one can dissolve the National Assembly and no mechanism states about a snap election before the end of the five-year term."
Last week, Defense Minister Tea Banh warned the opposition of its outlawed protests, saying that the government would take legal action against protesters if they tried to capture government buildings.
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said Tuesday that the opposition's daily protests have not affected foreign tourist arrivals to the country, but caused frustrations among public and business people.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has launched a new round of daily protests in capital Phnom Penh since Dec. 15 in order to demand Prime Minister Hun Sen to step down or to call a snap election following allegations of serious irregularities during the July election.
On Sunday, around 20,000 protesters, led by CNRP's President Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sokha, took to the streets in the capital for four hours and shouted "Hun Sen must step down." "So far, we have not seen any impact on tourism since those protests have been done peacefully,"Thong Khon told Xinhua. "But we are keeping very close eyes on the situation. If any violence happens, it will hurt our tourism industry."
However, the minister said protests are causing frustrations among the public and business people in the capital.
Political conflict between Hun Sen's ruling party and Sam Rainsy's opposition party has persisted since the July election results revealed that the ruling party won a majority of vote with 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the opposition.
The opposition has refused to accept the outcome and boycotted parliament since then.
Thong Khon said the opposition should respect the will of the people and accept the results of the July election, which was deemed"free and fair" by national and international observers.
He added that the opposition's protests to demand the resignation of Hun Sen is "an act of national betrayal and is causing social instability".
Nguon Meng Tech, director general of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, said the opposition's daily protests are unlikely to affect existing investors in Cambodia, but are discouraging new investors to the country. "We are concerned over this matter, but have no choice,"he told Xinhua Tuesday."The opposition should see national interest as a priority, not use their supporters as a tool to achieve their ambitious goal." "As a representative of investors and business people, we don' t want to see such anarchic protest, it is a frustration to their businesses,"he said.
Motor-taxi driver Suos Sambath, 50, said he observed that the protests have caused disruption in businesses in the capital. "I noticed that some shops have closed doors when protesters passed by their shops,"he said."I wish to see that the two political parties resolve issues peacefully for the sake of the nation."
Tuk-tuk driver Kun Savoeun, 26, said that the protests are good to demand the change of the current government. "I know that it will affect the reputation of Cambodia in international arena, but I want to see the change of the government,"he said."I want to see higher pay for garment workers and civil servants."
On Monday, 54 ruling party lawmakers issued a statement, saying that the opposition's calls for Hun Sen's resignation and a re- vote are a"clear and undeniable act of coup"against the current legitimate government.
Hun Sen last Friday refused to step down or to call a re-vote, saying that he has done nothing wrong.
"I have ascended to the prime minister through the constitution. If I descend, it will also be through the constitution," he said. "Therefore, I confirm that there is no re-election because no one can dissolve the National Assembly and no mechanism states about a snap election before the end of the five-year term."
Last week, Defense Minister Tea Banh warned the opposition of its outlawed protests, saying that the government would take legal action against protesters if they tried to capture government buildings.
Editor:
Mengjie
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