R 3480 E MB U N SSUE I WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL COVID-19 SCHOOL CAMBODIA POST UN: SOUTHEAST RULES SET; MEN BACK IN BUSINESS ASIA NEEDS TO FLEE QUARANTINE DESPITE COVID-19 TACKLE INEQUALITY NATIONAL – page 5 BUSINESS – page 7 WORLD – PAGE 11 Bill covering dress code draws ire Long Kimmarita Several people have criticised some be able to use their fundamental rights improve the law before it is passed. clothing in public places. But they points of the draft law such as ban- and the right to express themselves by He said the draft law is still in its first can wear such clothing in the privacy INISTRY of Interior sec- ning women from wearing short and wearing the clothes they choose. phase and has been sent to capital and of their room or house as that is not retary of state Ouk Kim revealing clothing and men from tak- “Blaming women for choosing to provincial administrations for review. banned,” he said. Lek responded on Tues- ing off their shirts in public places. wear certain clothes supports the views Civil society organisations (CSOs) Kim Lek said the draft also contains day to criticism concern- Social media users submitted a that women are the main cause of the and inter-ministerial groups will be articles to prevent abusive and Ming a draft law that would ban women joint petition opposing the ban. The sexual violence they suffer. Therefore, invited to discuss the law before it is immoral activities in society. from wearing overly revealing cloth- users claimed that the law should be it adds to a culture of impunity relating forwarded to the government for One such article bans minors ing, saying that input from all parties made to protect the rights of citizens, to violence against sexuality.” review and approval. under 18 years old from entering will be considered as the law moves not to oppress them. Kim Lek told The Post on Tuesday “Please look into its contents com- through the promulgation process. The petition read: “Women should that the criticism will help correct and pletely because it bans revealing CONTINUED – page 6 Gov’t pressures KTV, nightclubs to remain closed Voun Dara nightclubs to suspend their businesses. MUNICIPAL and provincial Preah Sihanouk Provincial authorities are doubling down Hall spokesman Kheang on their efforts to enforce Phearum said provincial virus prevention measures by authorities had been working actively enforcing the tempo- hard to ensure the venues rary suspension of karaoke stayed shut. He said there are parlours and nightclubs, a currently no karaoke parlours directive that was first issued or nightclubs open in the by the government on March province. 17. If business owners do not “For Preah Sihanouk prov- comply, their businesses will ince, there is no such case yet. be closed. Adult entertainment loca- Siem Reap provincial dep- tions in Preah Sihanouk are uty police chief Soeun Sen not operating,” he added. told The Post on Monday that National Police spokesman 10 large karaoke parlours, 16 Chhay Kim Khoeun said beer gardens, seven night- karaoke parlours and night- clubs, and three cinemas club closures are being con- have been closed in the prov- ducted with the assistance of ince, in line with Ministry of provincial Unified Command Health guidelines. Committees. Up in smoke Prime Minister Hun Sen “We never arrest anyone for Police burn almost 37kg of methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana in Svay Rieng province on Tuesday. The drugs had been recently advised karaoke par- opening karaoke parlours seized in Svay Rieng, Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum and Prey Veng provinces as part of a nationwide anti-drug campaign. SUPPLIED STORY > 4 lour and nightclub operators and nightclubs. There was a to shift to simple restaurants night club closure case in to stay open, he said. Phnom Penh. We assembled He said three karaoke par- almost 200 people to advise lours in the Kingdom had them, but we let them all go US chided for ‘bullying’ over TikTok been disguising themselves back home.” as restaurants to stay open. Phnom Penh Municipal CHINA on Tuesday accused the six weeks to arrange a sale of transparency and non-discrimi- “It’s got to be an American “We closed those locations Police chief Sar Thet and US of “bullying” over popular its US operations – and said his nation … It’s outright bullying.” company . it’s got to be owned and made the owners stop Municipal Hall spokesman video app TikTok, after Presi- government wanted a finan- The app has been under for- here,” Trump said on Monday. their actions. If they continue Met Meas Pheakdey could dent Donald Trump ramped up cial benefit from the deal. mal investigation on US “We don’t want to have any to open, we will close their not be reached for comment. pressure for its US operations Chinese Ministry of Foreign national security grounds, and problem with security.” businesses,” Sen said. However, according to a July to be sold to a US company. Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin Trump said that Microsoft was The US and China have H said that the authorities police report, authorities In the latest diplomatic spat said: “This goes against the prin- in talks to buy TikTok. clashed over various fronts are continuing to follow the closed many nightclubs and between the world’s two big- ciples of the market economy He has given ByteDance until recently, essentially barring government’s advice by forc- karaoke parlours after they gest economies, Beijing hit and the [World Trade Organisa- mid-September to strike a deal, a ing karaoke parlours and secretly opened. back after Trump gave TikTok tion’s] principles of openness, tactic that is almost unheard of. CONTINUED – page 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST Ministry, Post Media ink MoU National News to boost education amid Covid Inside page 6 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST AUGUST 5, 2020 WWW.phnompenhpost.COM National Travel hotspots prepare for New Year holiday revellers Hin Pisei celebrations. Ratanakkiri prov- same period last year. ince, he said, has 50 hotels and Siem Reap provincial depart- PROVINCIAL tourism depart- guesthouses, with a total of ment of tourism director Ngov ments and operators at main 1,060 rooms. Sengkak said he did not have tourism destinations said He said he does not expect data on hotel and guesthouse room bookings are on the rise prices to skyrocket. “We only hope bookings in Siem Reap prov- significantly ahead of the to have more visitors, so prices ince as yet. upcoming public holidays. will not change much,” he said. However, he said since Siem The government set a five- Kampot provincial depart- Reap has a lot of accommoda- day holiday from August 17-21 ment of tourism director Soy tion, there won’t be a problem. to replace the Khmer New Year Sinol said about 30 per cent of “The local authorities are pre- holidays in April, which were accommodation in the prov- paring some entertainment postponed due to the novel ince had been booked as of venues to welcome tourists coronavirus outbreak. Tuesday, with room rates not during the upcoming holi- With borders closed, most much higher than usual. days,” he said. Immigration director-general Kirth Chantharith has suspended job promotions. IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT travellers are expected to be He said he doesn’t think An employee at Elephant Hill almost completely local. Kampot will have a shortage of Resort in Mondulkiri province Ratanakkiri provincial accommodation. There are who asked not to be named said department of tourism direc- 301 hotels, guesthouses and all 20 rooms have been booked tor Nget Pitou told The Post on bungalows, equivalent to 3,400 from August 14 to 22, with each Budget worries stall Tuesday that the number of rooms, he said. room ranging in price from $80 guests booking rooms had Sinol said his department to $120 per night. risen steadily with about 60 will promote hygiene and He said that most accommo- per cent already taken up. reduce gatherings to help pre- dation in Mondulkiri is already gov’t job promotions He said the northeast region vent the spread of Covid-19. booked. boasts beautiful nature, which He said Kampot province “As far as I know, many hotel Niem Chheng the department, the General Ministry of Interior spokes- attracts visitors. “I expect the often faced a shortage of and resort rooms in Mondulki- Department of Immigration man Phat Sophanith said number of tourists visiting accommodation during past ri have been booked,” he said. ENERAL Depart- requests all departments to similar reforms are happen- Ratanakkiri to increase during festivals, but given the length According to a report ment of Immigra- postpone submitting promo- ing at other general depart- the coming holidays, which of the holiday period, he is not released by the Ministry of tion director-gener- tion requests for deputy bor- ments of the ministry. may be similar to Khmer New too concerned. Tourism on Tuesday, Cambo- al Kirth Chantharith der post chief, deputy office “All general departments Year last year,” he said. However, Sinol said the dia received 1.18 million for- Gissued a moratorium on chief, and deputy department under the Ministry of Inte- Pitou said between 40,000 number of tourists visiting Kam- eign visitors in the first half of Monday to halt in-house of- chief,” he said. rior are carrying out reforms and 50,000 people visited dur- pot province more than doubled 2020, down 64.6 per cent from ficer promotions to the rank He said the promotion and in line with the government’s ing last year’s Khmer New Year in June and July compared to the the same period last year.