Cambodia to beef up security during lunar New Year next week

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday urged authorities and armed forces to beef up security during the lunar New Year celebrations, which starts from April 13 to 16.

"It is the obligations of the authorities at all levels and all types of armed forces to protect the people during the New Year celebrations," he said in a speech during the inauguration of premises at a Buddhist pagoda in southern Kandal province.

Hun Sen said that in the world at the present, anything could happen, even in Europe, referring to recent terrorist attacks in France and Belgium.

"So we must not leave any loophole that could imperil the lives of our people," he said.

The premier added that he, along with the chiefs of the police, military police, and army, would be closely monitoring the security situation during the New Year to ensure the smoothness of the celebrations.

Meanwhile, he appealed to bus companies and taxi drivers not to raise fees during the holiday period that would see millions of Cambodians travel from Phnom Penh capital to their hometowns in various provinces.

He also urged all vehicle drivers to drive carefully in order to avoid traffic accidents on the occasion.

Source: XINHUA