BY ClANCY MCGILUGAN AND ANN REUY
25 May 2009
The Cambodia Daily
Municipal authorities on Sunday confiscated and impounded dozens of tuk-tuks and cyclos on Phnom Penh's river front in what officials claimed was an effort to keep the streets clear of riders and drivers who sleep in their vehicles. Him Yan, deputy Phnom Penh police chief, said the seizures-in which about 30 tuk-tuks were taken as well as more than 10 cyclos were not related to this week's Asean-EU meeting in Phnom Penh, which has already seen the homeless, street-walking sex workers and drug addicts rounded up and in some cases detained at government institutions. Authorities are targeting popular tourist areas to by to stop drivers from sleeping on the street at night, the deputy police chief said.
It is the plan for public order in Daun Penh district, because it is a mood district," he said, adding that other districts will soon follow in the round up of sleepy cyclo and tuk-tuk drivers. Tuk-tuks and cyclos will be impounded after about 10 pm if drivers are found sleeping, he said. 'They can do business normally in the daytime and in the evening, but we don't want those drivers to use the roadsides to sleep," Mr Han said.
Before being returned, vehicles will be kept at least 10 days, he added, with drivers required to sign a document promising not to sleep in their vehicles again and pay a small fee, which has yet to be determined. On Sunday afternoon, the seized tuk-tuks were parked carefully in a roped off area in front of Daun Penh district's headquarters, with cyclos in a separate group, also surrounded by a cordon.
Tuk-tuk driver Chan Vanna 48, lay within the cordon sleeping in a hammock hanging between the bars of his own vehicle. ''I wait for them to solve my problem ," he said, "and they do not soIve [it].
He added that he didn't know why his tuk-tuk was confiscated, or when he will get it back, although he heard a rumor that it would be released after the Asean EU meeting. Tuk-tuk driver Mey Ponleu, 20, claimed that authorities had linked the operation to the EU-Asean meeting. 'The officers told tuk-tuk drivers that they cannot be on Sothearos or Sisowath or Norodom or Sihanouk boulevards] because they have an Asean meeting," Mr. Ponleu said, referring to ministerial meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Phnom Penh on Wednesday and Thursday.
25 May 2009
The Cambodia Daily
Municipal authorities on Sunday confiscated and impounded dozens of tuk-tuks and cyclos on Phnom Penh's river front in what officials claimed was an effort to keep the streets clear of riders and drivers who sleep in their vehicles. Him Yan, deputy Phnom Penh police chief, said the seizures-in which about 30 tuk-tuks were taken as well as more than 10 cyclos were not related to this week's Asean-EU meeting in Phnom Penh, which has already seen the homeless, street-walking sex workers and drug addicts rounded up and in some cases detained at government institutions. Authorities are targeting popular tourist areas to by to stop drivers from sleeping on the street at night, the deputy police chief said.
It is the plan for public order in Daun Penh district, because it is a mood district," he said, adding that other districts will soon follow in the round up of sleepy cyclo and tuk-tuk drivers. Tuk-tuks and cyclos will be impounded after about 10 pm if drivers are found sleeping, he said. 'They can do business normally in the daytime and in the evening, but we don't want those drivers to use the roadsides to sleep," Mr Han said.
Before being returned, vehicles will be kept at least 10 days, he added, with drivers required to sign a document promising not to sleep in their vehicles again and pay a small fee, which has yet to be determined. On Sunday afternoon, the seized tuk-tuks were parked carefully in a roped off area in front of Daun Penh district's headquarters, with cyclos in a separate group, also surrounded by a cordon.
Tuk-tuk driver Chan Vanna 48, lay within the cordon sleeping in a hammock hanging between the bars of his own vehicle. ''I wait for them to solve my problem ," he said, "and they do not soIve [it].
He added that he didn't know why his tuk-tuk was confiscated, or when he will get it back, although he heard a rumor that it would be released after the Asean EU meeting. Tuk-tuk driver Mey Ponleu, 20, claimed that authorities had linked the operation to the EU-Asean meeting. 'The officers told tuk-tuk drivers that they cannot be on Sothearos or Sisowath or Norodom or Sihanouk boulevards] because they have an Asean meeting," Mr. Ponleu said, referring to ministerial meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Phnom Penh on Wednesday and Thursday.
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