Wednesday, 2 September 2009

Cambodian Jewelry Vendors Upset on Stickup

Written by DAP NEWS -- Wednesday, 02 September 2009 05:18

Jewelry vendors have become upset over a recent spate of armed robberies. In the past two weeks, robberies took place in at least 6, with many losing cash and valuables, and two vendors killed and one woman injured. There have been no arrests, a jewelry vendor complained on Tuesday.

Phnom Penh Municipal police chief Touch Naroth told DAP News Cambodia on Monday that “We had a meeting yesterday again with Camb- odian vendors and we advised members to protect in the target to ensure security to all Cambodian people, especially vendors, so all districts must be responsible for this task.”

Cambodian Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Kep Chhutema commanded to insure the social security in public on August 30 in a meeting with all district governors, a municipal officer said. On August 18, in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district, the first stickup took place when a team of robbers shot to a Cambodian woman and drove away with cash, a local source recounted.

The second case at Phsar Chas market saw a woman who arrived in a Lexus relieved of her jewelry by a team robbers. The third case was when robbers killed a jewelry vendor at Phsar Kandal market then made a rapid getaway, the source added.

“Police … called all members and vendors to attend to a meeting at the Prek Leap market where vendors lost a lot of jewelry and cash in riel and dollars as well. The fifth, a case of robbery event at Obek Kaam on two people when they stopped their car nearby then a team of stickup was acted, for the last serious time, the robbers robed on vendors who sell jewelry at Cambodian International Airport (Pochentong) market during they arrive home to in early morning,” Touch Naroth said.

Chan Saveth of human rights organization LICADHO said that the recent robberies “make all Cambodian vendors so fearful.”

Police in the capital and in the provinces are cooperating to catch the criminals responsible, Touch Naroth said.

In June four young robbers were arrested with two K54 handguns, including two women, whilst staying in a hotel near Deum Kor market of Phnom Penh.

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