Panic Buying and Confrontations at Barricades
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www.khmertimeskh.com/category/khmer Licence No: 157 MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021 VOLUME 07 EDITION 239 facebook.com/khmertimes twitter.com/KhmerTimes 3,000 Riels VACCINATED st nd COVID19 (Feb 10- Apr 18) Civilians: NA Military: 1 dose 290,125 2 138,137 “Due to the current lock down in Phnom Penh, we are unable to produce the printed edition of Khmer Times. We hope to resume printed editions as soon as the relevant authorities grant us permission to work in person and our printing plant (external printer) is able to commence printing. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and seek your kind understanding. An E Paper in PDF format is available and to receive this, kindly drop us your e mail. Major banking houses deny relationship with GFX as ‘embezzled’ LOCKDOWN CHAOS funds reach $27M Husain Haider Panic buying and confrontations at barricades [email protected] ALLEGATIONS that Ben Sokhean GoldFX Co Ltd (GFX) board [email protected] members embezzled what is Tith Kongnov now understood to be $27 [email protected] million took a twist as finan- hile lock- cial houses said they had no downs in relationship with the deriva- Phnom Penh tives company. and the GFX claimed that Bank Wnearby city of Takhmao of America, JP Morgan enter the sixth day today amid Chase, Morgan Stanley, the large-scale COVID-19 Deutsche Bank, Credit community transmission, the Suisse, UBS, Merrill Lynch, capital became chaotic with SEB, Goldman Sachs, BNP residents panic-buying food Paribas, SMBC, HSBC and and supplies and confronting Nomura were providers of law enforcement officers liquidity, according to liter- who have declared “no ature presented to potential mercy” for the violators. investors. Due to the increasing However, as enquiries number of COVID-19 cases, continue, no banks have been The Health Ministry able to confirm that they have yesterday also began using any affiliation with GFX. the “Panbio COVID-19 Ag “We have no relationship Rapid Test Device” which with this company,” Morgan provides results in 15 minutes. Stanley said. Three other The government firms also denied having any announced on Wednesday dealings with the brokerage. night that Phnom Penh and GFX previously released Takhmao City are to be a statement alleging that three placed under temporary executives were responsible lockdown for 14 days starting for the theft but retracted the 00:00 am on April 15 till allegations days later. On April 28. Wednesday, the firm threat More on page 3 Military police block Preah Monivong Blvd (63) as motorists try to be allowed through. KT/Pann Rachana More on page 11 2 NATION MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021 | www.khmertimeskh.com Seven More ex-CNRP officials politically rehabilitated Chea Vanyuth The amended Article 45 politicians have been rehabil- [email protected] of law on political parties itated, comprising former top allowed the banned individual advisor Kong Korm and even more former to request for pardon from the lawmaker Kong Bora, Sim senior officials of the King through the Prime Vanny; Real Khemarin; Ou court-dissolved Minister or Minister of Chanrath, Kang Kimhak, Chiv Cambodia National Interior. Kata, Tep Sothy, Chan Seila, SRescue Party (CNRP) who According to a recent Son Chhay, Tav Kim Chhorn, were banned from partici- letter signed by Minister of Var Samon, Sun Sopheak, Ly pating in political activities Interior Sar Kheng and sent Srey Vyna, Thach Setha, Yem for five years have been given to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Ponhearith, Muth Chantha, royal pardon. the seven who previously Chum Chandarin, Touch The royal pardon was were members of the party’s Khoeuth, Lath Litey, Long given by His Majesty King Permanent Committee and Kimkhorn, and Yong Norodom Sihamoni on April Standing Committee have Phanneth. 17 after the seven officials had requested for the reinstate- With more ex-CNRP offi- requested for political reha- ment of their political activ- cials granted rehabilitations in bilitation. ities. political activities, Mr Hun The seven are among 118 Kheng said despite the Sen said he needed support former ex-CNRP officials political ban, only Ponhearith for the government’s fight who were banned from continues to conduct “diplo- against the current COVID-19 engaging in political activities matic activities” abroad while situation in the country, espe- for five years when the the others have followed the cially in getting people to Supreme Court dissolved the court decision and have not vaccinate against the corona- CNRP on November 16, done any activities that affect virus. 2017, for “attempting to over- national security or social He made this remark throw the government through order. during the televised special a colour revolution”. Their requests were made message held on April 10. Among the seven are Yem after a senior official at “An [ex-CNRP] official Ponhearith, a former CNRP ex-CNPR was given rehabil- will ask for political rehabili- lawmaker and party itation. tation and I have learnt that spokesman; and former oppo- Before the seven, Thach those abroad have received sition leader Kem Sokha’s Setha, a former lawmaker of the information,” he said, cabinet chief Muth Chantha. the court-dissolved (CNRP), referring to former opposition To strengthen democracy was given a royal pardon by party leader Sam Rainsy. and political space in the His Majesty Norodom “Your group is running Kingdom, the government Sihamoni, according to the out of money and your group amended the law on political Royal Decree dated on April does not have the capacity and parties to pave way for former 12. ability,” he said, referring to opposition to re-engage in As of yesterday, at least the plan of ex-CNRP officials’ File picture of Yem Ponhearith, a former CNRP lawmaker and spokesman. KT/Chor politics. 22 of the banned CNRP returns to Cambodia. Sokunthea Man who cut lockdown barricade goes to prison Buth Reaksmey Kongkea [email protected] PHNOM Penh Municipal Court yesterday charged a man accused of violating the government’s curfew by taking a knife to cut the wire barricade that authorities had set up on a street in Tuol Kork district and sent him to prison for detention. Major Suon Sothea, Tuol Kork district police officer, identified the man as Dararoath Sokun, 27, living in Phnom Penh’s Prampi Barriers set up by authorities to prevent people from driving in Tuol Korea district to Makara district, in Mittapheap prevent the spread of COVID-19. Police commune. He said that the accused COVID-19 Law and faces up in Tuol Kork district’s Phsar that authorities set up on the was charged with “against the to five years in prison if Depo I commune. street in order to prevent authorities’ implementation convicted. He added that the accused people from travelling in Tuol Kork district police arrest Dararoath Sokun and take of public measures” under Sothea said that Sokun was was arrested after he took a accordance with the lockdown. him to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday, for Articles 3, 4 and 11 of the arrested on Friday at 10.30am knife to cut the protective wire Police seized the knife. violating the government’s curfew. Police Doeum Kor Market shut over C-19 cases From page 3 According to Health Ministry spokeswoman Youk Sambath, the During the lockdown, all citizens ministry yesterday began imple- are not allowed to travel outside the menting rapid testing for the home area except for emergency COVID-19 virus in Phnom Penh and purposes. other high-risk provinces and cities. Khmer Times journalists had She said during the meeting that attempted to observe the situation in Health Minister Mam Bun Heng some part of the capital yesterday decided to use the rapid test kit to but were blocked by standby police test for COVID-19 in all suspected and military police, who asked the areas and that in each district, there journalist to return, without recog- will be a health centre to administer nising the press cards or company’s the tests. documents. The ministry implemented the At Chenla traffic stop alone near rapid test kit yesterday at Doeum the temporary closure of Doeum Kor market, saying among 940 Kor Market in Tuol Kork district suspected cases, up to 91 were found yesterday dozens of military police to be positive. When the results were were deployed to catch lockdown verified with a larger machine, they violators and barricaded the roads. were the same. A police officer at a blocked Prime Minister Hun Sen has street in Tuol Kork district’s Boeng Chbar Ampov district police allow vegetable carriers through during the lockdown in the capital. KT/Pann warned of extending the lockdowns Salang commune said none of the Rachana in Phnom Penh and Kandal province’s residents were allowed to travel due Takhmao City after the current 14 to concerns of the serious community members of traders as well as those instructed the owners of companies, trouble performing their jobs as they days expire at the end of this month. outbreak unless for “emergencies”. who had entered the market from factories and enterprises seeking to are stopped by the police and military In a recent voice message Mr Hun While some residents support the April 5 to have their samples taken operate during the lockdown to on the way to work. Sen said he will consider extending government measure, others expressed at the Chenla Technology Center. submit a list of employees required City Hall spokesman Meth Meas the lockdowns in the capital and in anger over the travel restrictions as The City Hall decided to close for work for permission to travel Pheakdey said yesterday that due to Takhmao City if the people not follow food prices have doubled or tripled temporarily Doeum Kor Market after during the lockdown.