Hun Sen Lashes Out at Siem Rap and Kandal Governors

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday blasted the governor of Siem Reap province over a lack of repairs to a road leading to Siem Reap town and criticized Kandal province?s governor over a lack of repairs to the Tonle Bassac?s riverbank.

The premier said Siem Reap Provincial Governor Sou Phirin has taken too long to fix the bumpy road.

?It?s just 3 km of road. You don?t need the help of the World Bank to come and do it,? said Mr Hun Sen while making his closing remarks at the Ministry of Tourism?s annual conference in Phnom Penh. ?I am tired of reminding you. Do what you can. Don?t wait until I tell you. Some people think I am a dictator because of it.?

With regard to Kandal Provincial Governor Chhun Sirun, the prime minister complained that Mr Sirun did not repair a road in Takhmau district in a timely fashion. He also has not constructed a constructed embankment along the Tonle Bassac, Mr Hun Sen said.

The prime minister went so far so to say he wanted to strike Mr Sirun.

?I want to hit him once,? he said of the Kandal governor.

?Many government officials drove past the damaged road and somehow didn?t see the holes.?

?Only when I called them did they do anything to fix it,? he added.

Mr Hun Sen also announced that Cambodia would be providing free-of-charge visas for a limited period to help increase visitor arrivals. But he said that the government would be taking a tougher stance against those who outstay their visas and reside in Cambodia illegally.

?Now our country becomes a place where many foreigners enter illegally,? he said, adding: ?Then our country will become a safe haven for refugees.?

Sourced = The Cambodia Daily