Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Strange paradox: Sales of playing cards depicting Angkor is not OK, but concession of Angkor Wat to Sok Kong, a VN expert, is OK?

September 25, 2007
Cambodian government to seize playing cards depicting Angkor

The Cambodian Ministry of Culture has announced to seize of a set of playing cards with depiction of the Angkor Wat temple complex, as they are an inappropriate reproduction of the culturally important structure, local media said on Tuesday.

The cards, which show images of the Angkor Wat, Ta Phrom and Bayon temples, are illegal and Siem Reap authorities have been asked to confiscate them, said Chuch Phoeurn, secretary of state at Ministry of Culture, reported English-language newspaper the Cambodia Daily.

According to a card seller, the Nou Kor Thom Hotel's owner is the wholesaler.

He is unsure whether the hotel is also responsible for the printing of the cards, said the seller, reported Cambodian- language newspaper the Kampuchea Thmey.

The packs have been sold for five U.S. dollars each and have been sold to many tourists, added the card seller.

Businessmen had asked for the permission to use the images on the cards, said Chuch Phoeurn.

"But the ministry did not give permission because (cards) are used for gambling and are thrown on the ground where people step on them," he told the Cambodia Daily.

In Cambodia, when logos depicting images of Cambodia's national symbols or landmarks are to be reproduced, the Culture Ministry rather than the Commerce Ministry must be consulted.

Source: Xinhua

4 comments:

The Observer said...

Is it morally more acceptable to have cigarets or beer depicting Angkor? I guess that associating these two addictive products, one killing people, and the other making them behave badly, make more sense to the relevant authorities...

Knowing that people trash their empty cigaret pack on the ground where people step on them...

Anonymous said...

I think there should be another type of cards with all the vietcong picture on it. Especially the one are running cambodia right now. And another set with the faces of all the traitor / " vietcong-ass-kisser" .

I'm serious. I can't wait to see that one.


what do you reader here thinks ?

Anonymous said...

I suggest to put the images of Hun Sen and his fat wife. So card's players can hit hard and *cab and kaach* all those cards. At least, it's all what they can do, when they're so mad to Hun Sen and his family.

Anonymous said...

AH HUN SEN twisted logic!