No. 0034

Cambodia bans televised images of monks at entertainment events


Minister Khieu Kanharith

(Kyodo) _ Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said Wednesday his ministry has banned television stations from showing images of Buddhist monks attending entertainment events to safeguard the image of Buddhism.
Khieu Kanharith told Kyodo News that the presence of even a small number of monks at such events may tarnish the reputation of Buddhist monks in general.
"The Buddhist monks should not go to, watch or engage in any performances in public," he said.
The minister said his ministry instituted the ban because he has no authority or means to stop monks from attending such events.
The Information Ministry on Monday issued the order banning state and private TV stations from showing images of Buddhist monks attending concerts and performances as well as entertainment programs and events recorded in studios.
"In order to maintain the value of Buddhism which is the state religion, the Ministry of Information wishes to advise all TV stations not to show any such images from now on," the order said.

Non Nget, who oversees Buddhist monks in Phnom Penh, said he supports the ban. He added that monks were not allowed to watch any performances either at public places or inside pagodas, and warned that, if so found, they must be punished or defrocked in accordance with Buddhist rules.
"I support the order and I condemn such bad practices committed by those monks," he said.
A few months ago, the government banned the broadcast of a pop video of a song titled "Quitting Monkhood for Love" about a Buddhist monk falling in love with a girl.
The video showed scenes of the monk hugging and kissing a girl while she was bathing in a pond near a pagoda.
The ministry said the show had badly impacted the dignity of other monks striving to sacrifice their physical and mental strength for Buddhism.