Interior Ministry Drafts Sub-Decree on the Use of Force for Local Events
The Interior Ministry is drafting a sub-decree to set guidelines on the use of security forces during national and international events, and public holidays. Photo: Ministry of Interior
- By Lay Sopheavotey
- October 24, 2023 4:40 PM
PHNOM PENH – The Interior Ministry is drafting a sub-decree to set guidelines on the use of security forces during national and international events, and public holidays.
The sub-decree aims to organize patrols to protect order within the legal framework during events or public holidays, said Interior Ministry’s Spokesperson Touch Sokhak.
The draft is the first step in formulating a proper regulation or law that will regulate the use of security forces in the public space during specific events, he added.
So far, only specific instructions or directives are given before any celebration, with no national framework defining general guidelines.
Discussions on the sub-decree drafting were led by the Acting Minister of Interior Mao Chandara on Oct. 23. The draft will regulate vehicle parades, the use of special lights and acoustics, and set new traffic priority rights in national and international events and public holidays.
However, Sokhak said he could not provide more details at the moment.
Drafting the sub-decree is a necessity to establish a clear division of the force’s duties for the benefit of the society as a whole, and will save time when public holidays come up, said Am Sam Ath, deputy director at the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO).
Sam Ath, however, stressed that the sub-decree must be drafted in accordance with the constitution.
One of the reasons for drafting this sub-decree is that there are as yet no legal documents or sub-decrees concerning the use of national police forces during events or public holidays in Cambodia.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Meng Seavmey for Cambodianess.
