Sen claims exclusive siren use for his posse

November 19 2009



Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has decreed that only he and two other senior politicians may use sirens to clear the streets for their motorcades, local media reported Thursday.

In a sub-decree promulgated Monday, the prime minister specifically banned the country's ten deputy prime ministers and other politicians from using sirens to allow easier passage through the capital's sometimes congested roads.

The director of the department for public order at the national police, Him Yan, told the Phnom Penh Post newspaper that the move followed abuses of siren privileges. He said those had caused public disorder and traffic jams in the capital.

"Deputy prime ministers cannot use the sirens now," he told the paper.

Under the new legislation just three politicians may use sirens to move around the city: Prime Minister Hun Sen, the head of the Senate, and the head of the National Assembly.

Members of the royal family are still permitted to use sirens, as are the motorcades of visiting dignitaries with the rank of deputy minister or above.

The regulation does not affect emergency vehicles such as ambulances, police vehicles and fire trucks. The military is also exempt from the ruling. - Sapa-dpa

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Norwich graduate tackles Cambodian half marathon

19th November 2009



University of East Anglia graduate, Karen Cheung, will be running in the 21km Angkor Wat International Half Marathon, in Cambodia, on Sunday 6 December, in support of the UK’s leading dementia research charity, the Alzheimer’s Research Trust.

Karen explained her motivation for supporting the Alzheimer’s Research Trust: “After my mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I left Norwich in 2006 and returned home to Hong Kong, to help my dad look after her. At first she could still cook and knit and dress herself but things gradually went downhill until she couldn’t do anything for herself anymore and we couldn’t cope. Mum had to be moved to a hospital and then to a care home.

“I became very depressed but my friends tried to help me by suggesting I take up some form of exercise. I decided then to drag myself out of that bottomless pit and focus on raising money for research into fighting Alzheimer’s in the hope that one day a cure will be found.”

Dr Marie Janson, Director of Development for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: “We are thrilled that Karen has taken up running to help us in our efforts to beat this dreadful disease and we wish her great success with the half marathon.

“With over 700,000 people in the UK living with dementia and over 6 million in China, the figure worldwide totals to a staggering 35 million. Unless we find ways to stop dementia, this number is set to double within 20 years. Our vital research is entirely funded by our wonderful supporters and every penny counts.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Karen can do so by going to her JustGiving webpage at www.justgiving.com/KarenAngkorWat.

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