PM Warns Against ‘Politicizing’ Drought, Attacks Opposition

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Khmer Times/Mom Kunthear

Prime Minister Hun Sen once again appealed to citizens to help distribute water to those suffering from the worst drought in over 50 years, during a speech at a graduation ceremony yesterday. Mr. Hun Sen also warned against “politicizing” the national crisis, saying the drought was a natural disaster and not the result of rampant deforestation.

“Please, do not exploit the drought for your own political gain,” he said. “It is not only Cambodia, but all the region. When the country was affected by floods, they accused the government of deforestation. In India, there are many people who died due to the drought and they are doing a campaign to distribute the water as we are doing,” he said. The prime minister also urged all television channels to broadcast news about the drought in other countries in order to contradict accusations that the drought in Cambodia is a result of deforestation.

After warning other political parties not to “politicize” the crisis, Mr. Hun Sen urged them to “show their muscles” to receive votes by helping the Kingdom’s people. “We have not seen any action from the other political parties to distribute water to our people, even after the government ordered them to do a campaign to distribute water throughout the country,” Mr. Hun Sen said.

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