King Norodom Sihanouk has, in his absence, directed the Royal Palace to take rice to villagers in Poipet who claim they are suffering from food shortages—a number the opposition party claims is in the thousands.
The Sam Rainsy Party chief of Poipet commune, Sok Sovann, said 3,000 hungry families gathered in front of the commune office Tuesday to meet party President Sam Rainsy.
Officials from the World Food Program and the National Committee for Disaster Management have also said they are investigating purported food shortages along the border. But local CPP officials have accused the opposition of exaggerating the problem for political gain.
Sar Chamrong, governor of O’Chrou district, said only 200 to 300 people attended Sam Rainsy’s Poipet meeting on Tuesday.
“This was not a demonstration, it was just a congress to discuss with people about aid,” Sok Sovann said.
Sam Rainsy informed the people of the King’s promise to send them rice, he said.
“Please send Your Representative and the Royal Grandfather’s Team to Poipet to distribute in the name of the King and Queen to each family fearing famine: 50 (fifty) kg of rice,” the King wrote to Royal Palace Minister Kong Sam Ol on Monday from Beijing, where the royal couple went Friday for medical treatment.
The palace has received the King’s order and is acting upon it, Royal Cabinet Chief Meak Sam Phorn said Tuesday.
King Sihanouk’s faxed instruction was scribbled on the margins of a letter from opposition lawmaker Tioulong Saumura, who wrote to the King and Queen on Saturday to inform them of the “catastrophic situation of Poipet’s residents, who are cruelly affected by the closure of the border checkpoints with Thailand.”
Previously, Cambodians were allowed to enter Thailand but Thais could not cross to Cambodia over land, a Thai decision following the Jan 29 rioting in Phnom Penh.
