Cambodia always holds annual Water Festival which draws attentions to millions of people from different municipalities and provinces to come into Phnom Penh. This year, Water Festival takes place during three days from November 1 to 3.

Touch Naroth, chief of Phnom Penh police, was quoted by the VOA as saying that, “we have enough police and military police forces to maintain public security and order during the Water Festival.”

“We have prepared our patrols and intervention forces to help pedestrians along the streets. First, we will prevent any offenses, and second, we will avoid traffic jams and traffic accidents,” added he.

There are about 6,500 security personal deployed during ceremony to maintain public order.

According to the National Committee for Organizing National and International Festivals, there are 391 boats registered to compete during this event.

Speaking in graduation ceremony of a university in Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that he would like to appeal to Phnom Penh municipality authorities and the provinces around Phnom Penh to provide good safety for people.

He added that “all kinds of armed forces must defend the safety of Phnom Penh. During the Water Festival, people from the rural areas are coming into Phnom Penh and more.

Hun Sen also urged people to be mindful of sanitation, as well as the spread of HIV and the H1N1 virus, which has killed three Cambodians so far this year. Health authorities have said the festival could be a major incubator for the flu virus, reported VOA.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 10:44 am and is filed under Cult & Edu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.