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Cambodian motorbike taxi drivers demand cheaper oil prices

PHNOM PENH(Cambodia): More than 500 Cambodian motorbike taxi drivers demonstrated in the capital on Monday, demanding the government lower fuel prices at the pumps.

"We protested today asking the government to reduce the price of gasoline," the leader of the demonstration told Reuters.

"We want the price of gas to be dropped from 2,100 riel ($0.55) to 1,500 riel ($0.40) per litre," Ol Chroeung said.

Fuel prices in Cambodia have increased to an all-time high over the past year on the back of rising world prices.

Demonstrators complained that while fuel prices had been increasing, their fees for ferrying people around the city had remained unchanged. In the absence of buses, motorbike taxis are the main form of transport in the capital.

"I don't earn that much money from my business and I spend most of my money on gasoline," Saing Sam An said.

"The customers pay the same price when they get on my motorbike, but the price of gasoline is increasing," the 40-year-old father of two said.

Ol Chroeung said the motortaxi drivers were ready to continue demonstrating until the government agreed to lower prices.

However, government officials said they had no control over fuel prices.

"The price on the international market is getting higher, so it affects the price here," customs director Penn Simon said. "I have not increased the tax on imports."

Most members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and some non-members agreed at a meeting last week to raise oil output from April 1 to curb soaring world prices. -Reuters