The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 522
“The new traffic law is likely to be stricter than the old one, and to be enforced in 2007.
“It should be remembered that the new traffic law was adopted by the National Assembly in mid 2006, and it was also signed by Preah Karuna King Sihamoni of the Kingdom of Cambodia six months ago, in order to reduce traffic accidents in which a great number of people are killed and injured each year.
“Experts of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport affirmed, ‘It is time that we all have to respect the law.’ Experts also have scrutinized the law for many months; now even motorcycle drivers must have driving licenses, as stated in the new law. Before the official enforcement of this new traffic law [starting now], which has actually been valid already since 9 January 2007, it is observed that traffic accidents have not yet declined.
“A traffic police official said that the statistics of deaths and injuries in traffic accidents add thousands of people every month. However, he hopes that when the new law is enforced, the deaths and injuries in traffic accidents will decline, and those who do not respect the law, especially those who are drunken, may not dare to abuse the law and drive fast any longer.
“It is considered that the new traffic law is stricter than the old one. It contains 95 articles, stating in detail the rules of street traffic so as to protect the general safety of Cambodian citizens.
“Article 34 of the traffic law states that it is prohibited to let cattle roam freely in the streets, which also leads to accidents among participants in road travel. Article 72 states that any policeman who threatens drivers and confiscate their driving licenses inappropriately will be punished with one month’s imprisonment and fined Riel 200,000 [US$50].
“Articles 81-84 speak about imprisonment from one month to three years for any driver who intentionally causes injuries or deaths. For the time when the new traffic law will be applied, the question was raised, ‘How many days will the law be enforced? It has been observed that a number of drivers seldom respect the law, and some officials, who are responsible to implement the law, can they do it for a short time only?’
“For instance, the check-up on motorcycle wing mirrors, how many days did it last? The mirror sellers benefited from this issue. It is not believed that the punishment of a number of wicked police officials, who are good at stopping cars and motorcycles of innocent citizens and then extort money from them, that this new law will provide a stronger control over wicked officials who make business and corruptly benefit from the citizens – because the lessons from such behavior existed already and are well known.” Areyathor, Vol.14, #1263, 22-23.8.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Areyathor, Vol.14, #1263, 22-23.8.2007
- Traffic Police Officials Will Get One Month’s Imprisonment and Will Be Fined Riel 200,000 if They Act Improperly
- Oknha Oum Chhay [an advisor of National Assembly President Heng Samrin, and the president of the Chhay Chhay Company] Jumps Down from Five Meters High Second Level Floor of Anti-Drug Department Building [of Ministry of Interior] and Dies
- Sam Rainsy Party Sleeps and Dreams about Votes in 2008
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1424, 22.8.2007
- Oknha Oum Chhay Mysteriously Dies Opposite Building of Anti-Drug Department
- A Soldier Disappears; It Is Suspected that He Was Killed by His Chief [to silence him – Pailin]
- Samdech Hun Sen Receives Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister [Phạm Gia Khiêm]
- Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen Receives New German Ambassador [Frank Marcus Mann]
- Cambodian and Vietnamese Ministers of Foreign Affairs Discuss Economic Projects and Border Demarcation
- Referendum on New Thai Constitution Will Bring More Fragility
Khmer Mchas Srok, Vol.1, #8, 22.8.2007
- Death of Oum Chhay Is Mysterious – Related to Documents about Drugs in Cambodia; Chea Chung [drug producing chief in Traeng Trayueng, Phnom Sruoch, Kompong Speu] Arrested and Jailed
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6124, 22.8.2007
- Oknha Oum Chhay Commits Suicide by Jumping Down from Five Meters High Second Level Floor of Anti-Drug Department
- Senior Chinese and US Military Officials Met Senior Cambodian Military Official [Tea Banh, Minister of Defense] on the Same Day [21 August – to strengthen relations]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3243, 22.8.2007
- Oum Chhay Jumps Down from Second Level Floor of Anti-Drug Department Building to Commit Suicide; Chea Chung Is Accused by Court of Drug Crimes
- US Promises to Help Cambodia to Fight Terrorism
Rasmei Angkor, Vol.14, #1216, 22.8.2007
- Oknha Oum Chhay Jumps from Building of Temporary Detention to Commit Suicide
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4369, 22.8.2007
- Police: Oknha Oum Chhay Committed Suicide
- Deputy Prime Minister Nhek Bun Chhay’s Advisor [Chea Chung] Detained on Accusation of Drug Trafficking
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3118, 22.8.2007
- Suicide of Oum Chhay Is Doubtful
