Valentine’s Day has become popular among young people in many Southeast Asian countries (representative)
Cambodia:
Cambodian authorities have sternly condemned students for avoiding “inappropriate activities” on Valentine’s Day, warning them of the dangers of “losing their dignity”.
Valentine’s Day has become popular among young people in many Southeast Asian countries in recent years, with bouquets of red roses and heart-shaped chocolates appearing in shops and street stalls in the days leading up to February 14.
While some may view the annual celebration of love as harmless fun, the Cambodian government, which has drawn out dire warnings about the pitfalls of young love and premarital sex, is uneasy.
The Education Department issued a directive to public and private schools late Tuesday, ordering them to “take measures to prevent inappropriate activities during Valentine’s Day.”
“This is not our Khmer nation’s tradition,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Education also pointed out that this incident caused “a small number of teenagers…to forget their studies and lose the dignity of themselves and their families.”
The culture ministry called on authorities and parents to “remind children to use this day in accordance with beautiful Khmer traditions for the sake of their honor and dignity”.
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs also intervened in the matter, saying that some people “misunderstood the meaning of February 14.”
Cambodia’s National AIDS Authority warned that the AIDS epidemic is still spreading and that some people, especially young people, use Valentine’s Day to “express their love, which may lead to sexual intercourse”.
Last year, there were 7,600 AIDS patients in Cambodia, including 1,400 new cases.
Authorities said about 42% of the new cases were among teenagers aged 15 to 24.
Social conservatives view Valentine’s Day as something foreign and a moral threat to traditional Buddhist beliefs.
Cambodian women in particular are under intense social pressure to remain virginal until marriage.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
