Sen Sok district authorities shut down a restaurant on April 25 and detained six people after the establishment failed to follow the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration lockdown measures.
The people are now in the district police station and authorities are issuing them fines according to municipal administrative measures. The two owners had their business licence revoked, so they can no longer conduct any business, district police chief Hour Meng Vang told The Post on April 26.
“We just fined the restaurant’s owners, not send them to court,” he said.
District governor Mow Manith who led police forces to close the restaurant, located in the district’s Thmei commune’s Poung Peay village, could not be reached for comment on April 26.
Rights group Adhoc spokesman Soeng Sen Karuna said that he did not oppose the administrative lockdown measures used to prevent and stop Covid. But the authorities must have proper measures in place to assist with people’s livelihoods and debt.
He noticed that authorities had strictly enforced the measures on people going about their daily lives and business. They did not inquire about what people were doing and sometimes used harsh methods without considering people’s rights.
“We want the measures to be re-examined. We are worried about Covid infection and the administrative measures are good. But if the measures do not gain the participation, approval, and cooperation of citizens, it cannot be successful,” he said.
Sen Karuna requested that municipal authorities should come up with appropriate procedures for people to follow and cooperate with authorities. So, the administrative measures will not be prolonged as it affects people’s income and damages the nation’s economy.
