European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 4, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday May 4, 19b6. The stars and stripes Page 17. Pin Oppenh liveliest capital in communist Indochina in led press International a Rock band a phenom penh blared the Liesl Tunas As Young cambodian mangy rated. Delighting 1he crowd that clapped Long while sipping local have been through a lot of suffering so we have fun when we can i helps to forget one of the musicians said during a break. The music and dancing shut Down abruptly at 9 . Or a strictly enforced curfew a reminder that Cambodia is still a country icon by con Llyl. Bal despite the guerrilla struggle the damage of past War and neglect of the previous Radical Eom munis Khmer Rouge government phenom penh is the prel Liest freest and liveliest capital in communist Indochina the City was abruptly evacuated when he Khmer Rouge Defeated the government of presided Lon nol in 1975, it remained a virtual ghost town until i he Soviel supported vietnamese army drove the Khmer Rouge from Power in 1979. Today phenom penh officials estimate its population is 700,000. More than 200,000 of those Are Bee eved to be living in the cily without official permission a permissiveness unlikely in Vietnam or Laos. There appear to be far More automobiles on the streets of phenom penh than on the drab bicycle crammed avenues of Hanoi or on the sleepy streets of the laotian capital Vientiane. In addition to stale cars and International Aid vehicles there ate a surprising number of private cars including a few luxury Mercedes apparently refurbished alter the Khmer Rouge period. The Contra Market has a wide variety of goods from medicines to motorcycles most of which have been smuggled in from Thailand. Traders sell Gold openly and Only slightly More discreetly Money. Changers offer Lour times the official rate for american dollars. The relative Freedom to profit has enticed vietnamese merchants to move to phenom penh from Hachimi Nhuy previously Saigon where they face lighter restrictions. Hundreds of dilapidated boats ply the Mekong and tone sap fivers packed Ullh people and goods pineapples from Vietnam Refl of if n in Lohta or joined Hie Rel a Kari a. Hul t a tar . hip . ,i Jing riot it from Ticnor Ninaj monks Una Chr of unlit in old to schools however no Giavina . of Tenily uni Farmei scat of pour Mil. Into Iho Streels Ench Day he fore noon Lugo lome Lor a desperate shortage of qualified leathers the government says that 1.8 a Nihon nut deals ate now in school. Our worst shortage is trained said Loreign mini sly official sek Setha. But we have already. Passed through the most difficult period. Now we Are moving Depile damage from pal wan phenom penh to Malra a Beautiful Tity with Many Graceful Villa intact
