Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Officials deny claims of plan to quash disabled busking

Officials deny claims of plan to quash disabled busking

A blind woman sings for donations on the side of a road in Phnom Penh in November as another singer (left) takes a break.
A blind woman sings for donations on the side of a road in Phnom Penh in November as another singer (left) takes a break.

Officials deny claims of plan to quash disabled busking

Government officials yesterday denied claims of yet another planned crackdown on disabled street performers in the capital.

City Hall spokesman Mean Chanyada on Wednesday was quoted by local media outlet Fresh News as saying a crackdown would begin this week but yesterday denied his office had any such plans.

Chanyada said he had only heard from municipal social affairs director Sorn Sophal that his office was planning a new crackdown, which have been criticised in the past.

When contacted, Sophal declined to comment and referred questions to the Ministry of Social Affairs, which said it had no plans for a crackdown, before pushing questions back to City Hall. “Maybe Phnom Penh has its own measures planned,” said Touch Channy, director-general of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Em Chanmakara of Cambodia’s Disability Action Council said he hadn’t received a notification of a crackdown, but had a meeting scheduled today with city officials and would raise the issue. “I think we need to find a solution for people with disabilities rather than having crackdowns,” he said.

Additional reporting by Yesenia Amaro

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • PM outlines plans to discuss trade, policy during US visit

    Prime Minister Hun Manet is set to meet with senior US officials and business leaders during his upcoming visit to the US for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled for September 20. While addressing nearly 20,000 workers in Kampong Speu province, Manet said he aims to affirm

  • Manet touches down in Beijing for high-level meetings

    Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Beijing on September 14 for his first official visit to China, where he is slated to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and meet other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival, Manet laid a wreath at the Monument