“This year local authorities will be monitoring guesthouses
throughout the capital.”
Chuon Narin, a deputy
police commissioner in Phnom Penh, 9 February 2014
“Now some youths may have heard the publicity of the report
saying such and such number of youths planning to have sex on 14 Feb. and they
may plan to follow suit, as compared to otherwise not doing anything special on
the day, having heard little about it.”
Economist Chan Sophal, 13 February, 2014
“Valentine's Day was not popular at
all in Cambodia until 1993, when Cambodia held the first UN-sponsored general
elections.”
Public health independent researcher Tong Soprach, 9 February 2014
It is quite
fascinating to observe what people will do on the upcoming St Valentine’s Day. According
to a research study by Tong Soprach, Love and Sexual Relationships, about 16%
of young people in a relationship look forward to sex on the Day. About 30% of
them plan to go without the help of condoms.
For the 70%
who need them, they can pick them up on their way to a guesthouse for free from
Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) where 100,000 condoms are waiting on
first-in-best-dressed basis.
The Soprach
study says about half of the parents have no idea what their children are up to
on the Day. However, they can take some comfort with the knowledge that local
authorities will be monitoring guesthouses. It is not certain though what they
are going to do when seeing some actions there, unless they are a Peeping Tom.
The AHF condoms
may prevent spread of aids, but one of the side effects is that they also stop
babies from being produced. This unintended consequence on population growth
will not thrill too many economists who worship a GDP growth that is based on
an oversupply of manpower to sustain cheap labour – their drawcard for foreign
investments.
Meanwhile,
the Soprach research also reveals about half of young men are determined to
enjoy it whether it is consensual or not, so the Valentine date may turn out to
be rape date for some. This makes even more relevant One Billion Rising
campaign to end violence against women timely launched by Gender and
Development for Cambodia.
Nevertheless,
if there is a need to blame something for the sexual activities that links to
violence against women and failure to contribute to cheap labour for further
impressive GDP growth, the 1993 UN elections and the publicity of the research
will do. And those who are responsible for education since 1993 can just relax and
monitor people having fun.
Ung Bun Ang
13ii14
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