Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen acted quickly in dealing with the COVID-19 virus. - (Daffy123 (talk) photo)

Travel Tips - PM HUN SEN TAKES ON THE COVID-19 VIRUS IN CAMBODIA

Roman Wanderaugh - National Radio Text Service

To give credit where credit is due Hun Sen didn't waist time to get Cambodia's situation under control by preparing his people wisely to tackle the COVID-19 virus. Given all of the criticism he has taken over the years it must be noted that he extended the courtesy for a foreign ship that was denied a port of entry by other nations to dock and let their passengers disembark in Cambodia

Thursday, March 19, 2020

HUN SEN TALKS & CAMBODIAN CITIZENS LISTEN

While the world currently is in turmoil over the COVID-19 virus and nations leaders try to come to grips with the situation Cambodian PM Hun Sen has his nation under control… in a good way.

When the virus occurred March 8th in Siem Reap the prime minister immediately ordered the schools closed. It was the second case in the realm. The first involved a Chinese traveler who visited the beach and gambling casino attractions of Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk province.

Hun Sen cautioned the citizens to be calm. The citizens responded to all of the instructions that the government posted. The cooperation of the public was and is amazing.

Siem Reap is the town that usually bustles with tourists arriving to visit the Angkor Wat temples and at this time of the year experience the annual Water Festival. The majority of the tourists are Chinese. Although there is no lockdown the town is almost deserted of tourists.

We were unaware that virus had reached the realm but were informed by a vendor in the market that a Khmer was in a local hospital with the virus. It is believed that he apparently caught it from a Japanese tourist. That was two days earlier when it was known and Hun Sen immediately took action.

The most notable response was the locals were wearing protective masks and washing their hands. Those that hadn't a surgical mask did the best they could by wearing a bandana. The vendor had an alcoholic based cleaning solution which she offered when we entered and after making our purchases pointed out that it would be good to wash again since we touched dirty money.

That dirty money insight was shocking to us since that important observation and caution was, as far as we knew, not mentioned with all of the to do and not to do cautions that governments around the world are providing.

To give credit where credit is due Hun Sen didn't waist time to get Cambodia's situation under control. Given all of the criticism he has taken over the years it must be noted that he extended the courtesy for a foreign ship that was denied a port of entry by other nations to dock and let their passengers disembark in Cambodia after it was denied docking rights by Japan, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines and Thailand.

When one compares Cambodia's response to that of the United States and its President Donald Trump's tardy actions the Khmer PM made the right choices while Trump didn't.

Trump likes to take credit for everything… except the virus. From January he simply dismissed the virus simply as a cold. When the virus hit America's shores he called it the Chinese virus or blamed it on the Chinese.

He continued his denials and deflections by saying many people die in America every year with flu viruses and auto accidents. He has had an answer for everything EXCEPT making quick and swift decisions to prepare for a global pandemic. The only thing he hasn't done is blame the virus on Barack Obama… his favorite chopping block.

But this is about the leadership of Hun Sen and the Cambodian people that listened and responded in a positive and constructive manner.

As we picked up essentials at a pharmacy, bakery and supermarket, all had alcohol base cleaning solutions. When we entered a Thai owned supermarket we had our temperatures checked on entry as well as having our hands sprayed with a cleaner.

While many nations are dealing with trying to placate the situation in order to prevent the cancellations of events Cambodia has canceled its annual Water Festival that draws tourists, much needed money and jobs to the kingdom.

You can say what you want about Hun Sen but two things are certain regarding preparing to fight the COVID-19 virus, the PM focused on the safety of his Cambodian citizens rather than tourist money as well as WHEN HE SPOKE… HIS PEOPLE LISTENED.