Security Stepped Up for Water Festival

[geovalin]

More than 10,000 government officials – the vast majority of which will be soldiers or police officers – will be deployed during Water Festival celebrations next week in anticipation of the more than two million visitors coming to Phnom Penh for the festivities. Touch Naroth, the deputy National Police chief, said on Friday that the Water Festival will run from November 13 to 15 and 10,032 officials will patrol the capital, with 5,028 coming from the national police force, 2,127 from the Bodyguard Unit, 1,180 from military police, 350 from the navy, 128 from special counter-terrorism departments, 36 from explosives working groups, 100 from a special command garrison and 383 from the Health Ministry.
 

“Our armed forces are already prepared to protect people’s safety for the Water Festival. We have divided it into many areas which will protect them, but we also need the cooperation of the people in attendance,” he said.   Mr. Naroth said the city plans to close roads throughout the city in an effort to help visitors walk easily.
 

“If we don’t close the road, there will be traffic from motorcycles and cars which will lead to a traffic jam. We estimate that there will be more than two million people attending the festival this year,” he said. He added that in this year’s boat races, 13 illuminated floats from the Royal Palace, National Assembly, government, Justice Ministry, Defense Ministry, Interior Ministry, Economy and Finance Ministry, Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, Commerce Ministry, Tourism Ministry, Mines and Energy Ministry and City Hall will traverse the Tonle Sap.

 

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