Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – With the Cambodian traditional New Year (Songkran) approaching, the Phnom Penh Municipal Government has fully entered the preparation stage for the festival. From April 14th to 19th, the six-day Songkran celebrations will be held in Phnom Penh. The municipal government has deployed over 3,600 police officers to ensure social order and tourist safety during the festival, allowing citizens and tourists from home and abroad to enjoy the festival in a peaceful atmosphere and inherit traditional culture.
Phnom Penh Police Chief Chuon Narin explained that the 3,600+ police officers will be divided into four specialized groups, each with its own responsibilities: a traffic control group to manage heavy traffic; a venue security group to guard large gathering points to prevent accidents; an emergency response group to handle emergencies; and a special police group to conduct high-intensity patrols and prevention, comprehensively building a security defense line.
Chuon Narin also emphasized that during the festival, the spirit of unity and mutual assistance within the "Cambodian family" should be upheld, caring for heroes who have fought on the front lines and vulnerable groups in society, so that every citizen can feel the warmth of the festival.
Phnom Penh Mayor Khun Sreng has mandated thorough preparations for the six Songkran celebration venues throughout the city, aiming to create a cool and harmonious environment for the festivities. The events will cover popular areas such as Wat Phnom, the pedestrian street, the bar street, and the Russian Market, featuring a rich array of activities including traditional religious ceremonies, folk games, parades, and cultural exhibitions. The pedestrian street will be open for six consecutive days, providing ample leisure space.
To alleviate traffic congestion, relevant departments have planned dedicated parking lots around the event venues and advised non-participants to avoid the core areas of the celebrations. Regarding urban environmental and safety management, Mayor Khun Sreng made specific requests: private businesses, restaurants, and non-governmental organizations should be encouraged to display national flags and decorate their premises; the Municipal Public Works Department should strengthen wastewater treatment and urge sanitation companies to increase the frequency of garbage collection to ensure that garbage bins do not overflow; district governments should remind residents to extinguish incense and candles and turn off electrical appliances before leaving home to prevent fire accidents.
In addition, despite the pressure of rising oil prices, the Phnom Penh Municipal Government still deployed about 600 buses to transport citizens back to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year free of charge during the holiday, demonstrating the government's understanding of the people's needs and its commitment to serving the public.
