Almost 50 livestock slaughterers in Preah Vihear town yesterday protested a rise in taxes and fees they must to pay on their products.

According to rights group Adhoc’s provincial coordinator Lor Chan, those who slaughter pigs and cows were required, until recently, to pay 10,000 riel, about $2.50, per cow and 8,000 riel per pig to the abattoir, 3,000 riel per cow and 1,500 riel per pig in taxes, and 2,000 riel per cow and 1,500 riel per pig to the local animal health office.

However, a January 16 order from Preah Vihear town Governor Nuth Sophorn to vendors at the local Kampong Pranak market raised all three fees across the board by 2,000 riel for cows, and 1,000 riel for pigs, squeezing local vendors, Chan said yesterday.

Vendor Muy Manet, 42, said that he was one of those feeling the pressure.

“Since the price is increasing, and we have to pay so many steps for services and tax, we can’t sell for profit,” he said.

Pin Raksmey, chief of the committee at Kampong Pranak market, said that the problem was out of his hands.

“The market isn’t the person who set the price; it is for the authority to set the price for us,” he said.