Phnom Penh (FN), Jan. 19 – Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) spokesman Sok Eysan said on Saturday that former president of opposition party Sam Rainsy’s politic destroys the nation.

"In Cambodian politics, Sam Rainsy has always adhered to policies that destroy the Kingdom of Cambodia," said the spokesman on Saturday amid EU’s safeguard measures on Cambodia and Myanmar rice for which Rainsy took credit.

According to the spokesman, Sam Rainsy would call anyone who opposed him the Vietnamese puppet or a CPP puppet.

“What he is doing disunite Khmer people and benefit foreigners,” stated Eysan.

The EU has begun to impose import taxes on rice of Cambodia and Myanmar, which are exported to 28 EU Member States, for a period of three years from 18 January 2019-2021.

The tax will cost Cambodia 175 euros per ton in the first year, 150 euros the second year, and 125 euros the third year.

In 2018, Cambodia exported nearly 300,000 tons of rice to Europe, an equivalent to 43% of the total export volume of 620,000 ton. Commerce experts claimed that Cambodia is likely to lose $50 million per annum.

The Ministry of Commerce said yesterday that the EU's decision on 17 January 2019 did not fully reflect international trade rules, technical standards, truth, and good relations and cooperation between Cambodia and EU.

EU’s decision will murder Cambodian farmers and families in debt of credit institutions.

The EU’s safeguard measure on Indica Rice originating from Cambodia will deprive Cambodian farmers' income, forcing them to commit suicide as a way to end the debt with credit institutions who have given them loans to purchase agricultural inputs.
=FRESH NEWS