Cambodia's Prats-in-Power (4) Mass Faintings

It's not chemical fumes.

Nor is it the lack of food.

No,the failure of workers to look after themselves that is the reason for the mass faintings in many of Cambodia's garment factories.

"I want to tell you all that we have looked deeply into the situation of mass fainting, and it is not caused by the work, but mostly because of the workers’ health. For example, when they get a headache or are slightly ill, they don’t see a doctor, because they think healthcare is too expensive.' said one of Cambodia's Prats-in-Power, National Social Security Fund director, Ouk Samvithyea.

So hundreds of workers have a headache or are slightly ill and then faint all at the same time? Nothing to do with noxious fumes and meager, poor-quality food, Samvithyea?

And of course the workers don't 'think' healthcare is too expensive they know it is when there is just a few dollars to feed and clothe themselves and send money home to family in the provinces.

Cambodia's Prats-in-Power Quotes (3)

Photo: www.guardian.com

Phnom Penh's City Hall have told Unionists that they cannot rally in support of 23 people bundled into police vans and taken to prison during a recent protest.

 It looks as if the Cambodian government agrees with City Hall that the right to protest be denied.

“If people demonstrate, it means they are trying to overthrow the government,” Interior Minister spokesman, Lieutenant General Khieu Sopheak said.

Overthrowing the government, as the Lieutenant General dramatically claims, is of course far from what the unionists want; the release of the wrongly detained and free and fair elections is what they are after. 

And to add farce to his drama Sopheak continued,

“I think they should look for a lawyer to protect [the 23 prisoners],” Lt. Gen Sopheak added. “If they did nothing wrong, they would be released.”

Anti-government protesters treated fairly within the current Cambodian judicial system?

Not going to happen. 

Cambodia's Prats-in-Power: Quotes (2)

The eloquent Senator:
Bou Thang

Chea Sim is the the chairman of the ruling Cambodian People's Party Congress. He's 80 years old and often ill.

So, quite rightly, questions are starting to be asked of the government as to who will succeed him. But when a Cambodia Daily reporter rang senator and CPP standing committee member, Bou Thang, if there was a succession plan in place, this prat-in-power said:

" Why do you want to know?"

He then hung up.

Cambodia's Prats-in-Power: Quotes (1)

Despite promising a change in style, the CPP (right)
continue to rule with an iron-fist.

The CNRP opposition have been told that they cannot gather to pay their respects at the new statue honouring the late King Father, Norodom Sihanouk.

When a journalist rang Heang Tareth, the deputy police chief of Chamkar Mon district, to clarify why this should be so, this prat-in-power said:

"You already know," and then refused to comment further.

Sadly, such arrogance and a refusual to actually serve the people, is all too common among the powerful of Phnom Penh.