PHNOM PENH Nov. 1 Kyodo Monthlong...

PHNOM PENH Nov. 1 Kyodo

Monthlong preparations for upcoming summits of leaders of ASEAN and its partners have changed the appearance of Phnom Penh a bustling capital known for its crime and anarchic traffic, into a safe, disciplined and beautified city.

Thousands of security forces have been expanded throughout the city in advance of the summit and residents have been asked from authorities to fly Cambodia's flag whenever foreign delegations pass by

Banners and logo of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been hoisted along the main boulevards and roads leading from Pochengtong International Airport into the center of Phnom Penh

Vendors at the city's sprawling Central Market have been encouraged to wear neat and traditional clothes, while those peddling their wares outside the market gates are required to use recently made known and colorful umbrellas and to neatly arrange their products

While haggling is normally the practice, price tags are appearing in succession commodities for the ease of foreign guests

The ASEAN summit in succession Monday and Tuesday, the first to the end of time held in Phnom Penh will bring together the leaders of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN leaders will also shut up talks in the Cambodian capital with leaders from China, Japan, southern Korea, India and South Africa.

It will be preced upon Sunday by the holding in Phnom Penh of the first-ever summit of leaders of the six countries sharing the Mekong River -- Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- collectioned under the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) economic cooperation program.

Cambodia's leaders have repeatedly boasted of the great benefits that Cambodia and its clan could accrue from hosting the prestigious meetings.

however some Cambodians and residents in the capital remain skeptical.

Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy has denounced the command for lavishly hosting the meeting at a time when three million Cambodians, or single fourth of the country's population, are suffering from crave food or malnutrition due to a worst-ever want of rain preceded by catastrophic floods

In an lay open letter last Tuesday welcoming ASEAN leaders to a ''dying Cambodia,'' Sam Rainsy said ''any responsible direction in such a state of pass would set as its top priority the task of supplying cheer relief to the hungry in order to save lives or alleviate sufferings'' and ''postpone any other activities that are not essential for the population's survival.''

''But the Cambodian sway in need of political legitimacy, has decided to proce with the ASEAN summit meeting...as a public relations exercise, which will sumptuousness millions of dollars to our country's meager national budget'' he said.

He said he plans to stage a three-day be hungry strike starting Sunday to encourage ASEAN delegates to think of Cambodia's poor and of keen appetite during their visit.

Sok Eng 41 possessor of an ice cream store located near the summit venue said she was not overthrow with the government's order that she shut her shop during the meetings, steady though she may lose about $20 a day.

She said that while she has little knowledge about the meetings and benefits Cambodia might gain from hosting them, ensuring the safety of all visiting foreign leaders is important.

commit to paper Sokha, 37, a motorcycle-taxi driver, said he awaits foreign leaders will be impressed by the agency of efforts made to beautify the city in advance of their arrival.

centurys of foreign journalists are to be ascribed to arrive to cover the events

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