Phnom Penh Municipal Police on Tuesday reacted strongly to criticism from the political opposition and NGOs. The claims that recent crimes in Phnom Penh were caused by police neglect and corruption are unjustified, police sources said.
Police claimed that a recent spate of armed robberies, car and motorbike jackings, murders, bag snatchings, muggings, assaults, sneak thievery and burglaries in Phnom is not caused by corruption and lax weapons controls, as some allege.
Khieu Sopheak, Interior Ministry spokesman, on Tuesday told DAP News Cambodia that Phnom Penh’s police are making efforts to ensure order and safety and curb crime.
“We prepared to place weapons checkpoints very often,” Khieu Sopheak said. “However, we admit that crimes do take place, but we are making every effort to control these cases.” Khieu Sopheak also appealed for local citizen’s cooperation. he reiterate that “No country is without any crimes taking place at all.”
“Low crime does not mean no crime,” Khieu Sopheak said, “We cannot fulfill people’s desire, but so far we are doing our best to control crimes happening.”
Phnom Penh Police Commissioner Touch Naroth on Tuesday told DAP News Cambodia that “it is usual that crimes take place in our society, but we are still making efforts to control and curb these crimes.”
“So far, we can determine and make clear for offenders who committed the crimes. If we neglect for just minutes, it will take place once, and recently the crimes were perpetrated on women who cannot fight back.”
Touch Naroth claimed crimes are actually decreasing year-on-year.
Yim Sovann, Sam Rainsy Party’s (SRP) spokesman, on Tuesday said that crime and corruption are closely related.
“The crimes took place for three reasons. Firstly, it is corruption. Secondly, it is a court system which releases criminals by paying money. Lastly, it is poverty and unemployment which drives those people to commit crimes,” he explained.
“To reduce and eliminate these crimes, the court system must be prepared properly,” he added.
Ou Virak, Cambodian Human Right Center director, had similar views.
“These happen as weapons controls have not been done properly,” said Ou Virak. “In Phnom Penh, a black market has sold outlawed weapons.”
Touch Naroth said such criticism was opposition party officials who “never have good views and images of the government.”
“If they know so clearly about crime, they should cooperate with the police,” Touch Naroth advised. |
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