High Prices of Privatized Water in Prey Veng Lead to Protests
More than 1,000 villagers in Prey Veng city took to the streets in protest yesterday morning after a company that recently took control of the state-run water supply raised prices by 50 percent, from 1,200 riel, or $0.30, to $1,800 riel, according to residents and officials. Protesters began blocking National Road 15 at about 8 a.m. yesterday and continued into the evening, threatening to carry the protest into today unless the company, Kim Touch Water Supply Co., reduced the rates back to the original price. “We will block the road until the provincial authorities of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy resolve the problem with the new company,” said a demonstrator who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution. … The company has cut the water supply in those households that have refused to register since March 1. …
