The Ministry of Interior has granted permission to the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) to hold a procession to promote social morality.
The parade will pass through the capital and four provinces with about 50 participants in early February, according to a January 26 letter from interior minister Sar Kheng to CITA president Ouk Chhayavy.
The letter said the association is permitted to organise the February 1 convoy, which will begin in Phnom Penh and head to Pursat province, passing through Kandal, Kampong Speu and Kampong Chhnang provinces. The permission came at the request of CITA’s January 16 letter.
The minister requested that the CITA president cooperate with the Phnom Penh municipal administration and relevant provincial administrations to determine the route and its start and finish points, in order to ensure traffic flow and public safety. The rally must also comply with the Ministry of Health’s infectious disease preventative measures.
CITA adviser Rong Chhun said he had received a permit from the interior ministry. On behalf of the CITA, he thanked Sar Kheng and the interior ministry for allowing the association to hold the rally.
Chhun said he would like to see more state institutions following in the footsteps of Sar Kheng and cooperating with similar events, without attempting to paint them as political in nature.
“We, as an association, are grateful to Sar Kheng for allowing us to meet and march as planned. We would like to see a culture of giving permission for such parades. The municipal and provincial authorities should follow his example,” he added.
He confirmed that the association would ask the authorities of each province to cooperate with them on route planning and traffic management.
The pilgrimage will begin from the statue of Grandmother Penh at Wat Phnom and will end at the historical resting place of Khlaing Moeung in Pursat province.
