A giving mood

In a political message well-timed for election season, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced yesterday that his recent ban on commercial fishing lots was an example of positive reform by the Cambodian People’s Party and a gift to women on International Women’s Day.

In the address, Hun Sen said the issue of commercial fishing had been a long-stand­­ing problem in the King­dom and that the CPP had ef­fec­t­ively solved it with the re­cent ban, by pro­hibiting such fishing along the Mekong River and Tonle Sap lake.

“On behalf of the ruling party, I offer this gift for grand­mothers, aunts and sisters on International Women’s Day,” he said.

The premier explained that 65 per cent (roughly 180,000 hectares) of the area freed from commercial use would be available to individual fish­ermen, while 35 per cent (roughly 95,000 hectares) would be conserved.

“An estimated six million people will benefit from this ban. It will improve living conditions and ensure sustainable food security and promote the growth of the economy,” he said.

In addition to the ban, last Friday, Hun Sen called for the release of all prisoners detained in the government crackdown. Sam Pracheameanith, at the Ministry of Justice, estimated that approximately 137 prisoners will be released in accordance with the pardon.