I present you with some headlines and police reports from the local newspaper.
Spirits blamed as girls faint in Cambodia
Teachers of 10 teenage girls who collapsed one after another at their rural Cambodian school blamed the mysterious ailment on angry spirits on Saturday.
The girls, aged between 14 and 18, were treated in hospital after fainting but doctors could not ascertain why the youngsters were struck down, said Ruos Lim Chhee, head of the high school in Pnov, northern Cambodia.
He said that all of the girls were found to be healthy, with no signs of food poisoning, although two were a little low on glucose.
"We are afraid we are under a spell because we didn't offer any traditional dancing and music to the spirits on the opening day this year," he said.
"But we have just offered fruits, boiled chickens and wine to the spirits today, and we hope the students will get better and the spirits will take care of us."
Mil Khim, a teacher who witnessed the string of incidents on Thursday, said one of his students started to complain of chest pains early in the morning and then suffered convulsions before falling unconscious.
"The strange phenomenon lasted only a few hours, as eight seventh graders and two from eighth and ninth grade fainted subsequently," he said.
Cambodians in rural areas often believe supernatural forces are behind unexplained events.
"We think that perhaps the spirits are angry because the doctors, teachers and even police found no trace of poison or physical weakness," said district governor, Pech Sophea.
From the Phnom Penh Post Police Blotter:
Chicken farmer pays for not watching his back
A 21-year-old man was arrested last week after stabbing a man in the back during the Pchum Ben festival in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district, police said. They said the victim had punched the suspect, a chicken farmer, as the latter was showing the ladies his dance moves. Enraged, the suspect reportedly grabbed a knife and stabbed the man in the back. The victim was immediately sent to hospital with “serious wounds”, and the suspect fled the scene. However, he was later arrested and sent to the provincial court.
A 21-year-old man was arrested last week after stabbing a man in the back during the Pchum Ben festival in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district, police said. They said the victim had punched the suspect, a chicken farmer, as the latter was showing the ladies his dance moves. Enraged, the suspect reportedly grabbed a knife and stabbed the man in the back. The victim was immediately sent to hospital with “serious wounds”, and the suspect fled the scene. However, he was later arrested and sent to the provincial court.
Man threatens to raze house for lack of food
Police have arrested a 42-year-old man in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district who threatened to set fire to his own house because his wife hadn’t cooked rice for him. After the woman returned home from work, she apparently did not begin cooking fast enough for her husband, who became incensed and threatened to set the house on fire. A neighbour immediately called police. Officials said they had educated the man.
Police have arrested a 42-year-old man in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district who threatened to set fire to his own house because his wife hadn’t cooked rice for him. After the woman returned home from work, she apparently did not begin cooking fast enough for her husband, who became incensed and threatened to set the house on fire. A neighbour immediately called police. Officials said they had educated the man.
Possessed man takes power drill to own neck
A 28-year-old man suspected of being possessed by ghosts killed himself by taking a drill to his neck in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district on Thursday. The victim’s mother said that her son had been possessed “for nearly two years” and that at times he acted “crazy”, destroying furniture in his house. She said that on the day he died he held her in a tearful embrace before he went off and killed himself with the drill. A witness said the man drilled his throat and cut his neck until he died.
A 28-year-old man suspected of being possessed by ghosts killed himself by taking a drill to his neck in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district on Thursday. The victim’s mother said that her son had been possessed “for nearly two years” and that at times he acted “crazy”, destroying furniture in his house. She said that on the day he died he held her in a tearful embrace before he went off and killed himself with the drill. A witness said the man drilled his throat and cut his neck until he died.
Drunken man assaults wife for not listening
Police arrested a 44-year-old man accused of breaking his wife’s leg in a drunken domestic quarrel in Battambang province on Friday. The man was said to have been extremely drunk when he returned to his house, were he picked a fight with his wife, accusing her of never listening to him. The wife locked herself in the kitchen, but the husband managed to break down the door and snap one of her legs.
Police arrested a 44-year-old man accused of breaking his wife’s leg in a drunken domestic quarrel in Battambang province on Friday. The man was said to have been extremely drunk when he returned to his house, were he picked a fight with his wife, accusing her of never listening to him. The wife locked herself in the kitchen, but the husband managed to break down the door and snap one of her legs.
Death Stems From Mistaken Identity
A 20-year-old factory employee is dead after he was assaulted by a group of “gangsters” in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district Saturday, according to police. Police said the man was talking on the phone on the street when the gangsters pounced. The man was sent to hospital but died after he arrived. Police eventually arrested one of the suspects, who told police his group had confused the victim for a rival gangster. Police then surmised that the man died of “gangster confusion”.
A 20-year-old factory employee is dead after he was assaulted by a group of “gangsters” in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district Saturday, according to police. Police said the man was talking on the phone on the street when the gangsters pounced. The man was sent to hospital but died after he arrived. Police eventually arrested one of the suspects, who told police his group had confused the victim for a rival gangster. Police then surmised that the man died of “gangster confusion”.
Long-haired Pupils Shorn By Police
On Tuesday morning the police in Battambang province called two seventh-grade students aged 15 and 16 at Netr Yang High School who were standing in front the police station to come in and cut their hair, which police said was too long. The police said they could not stand seeing students looking so bad. Teachers said they did not dare say anything to the students even though they also disapproved of their hair length because they were afraid they would be attacked by the students and that they might be forced to jump out of the classroom through the window.
On Tuesday morning the police in Battambang province called two seventh-grade students aged 15 and 16 at Netr Yang High School who were standing in front the police station to come in and cut their hair, which police said was too long. The police said they could not stand seeing students looking so bad. Teachers said they did not dare say anything to the students even though they also disapproved of their hair length because they were afraid they would be attacked by the students and that they might be forced to jump out of the classroom through the window.
Police hope to reform ‘gangster’ students
Police in Kandal province’s Kien Svay district on Monday arrested eight “gangsters” accused of terrorising their village. Some of the gangsters had been accused by neighbours of indulging in “bad moral conduct”, and police said that although they “did not commit any crime or kill anyone”, they had “always threatened and scared residents”. Police said they had given “advice and education” to the group before releasing them, in the hope that they would prove themselves capable of reform “because they are students”.
Police in Kandal province’s Kien Svay district on Monday arrested eight “gangsters” accused of terrorising their village. Some of the gangsters had been accused by neighbours of indulging in “bad moral conduct”, and police said that although they “did not commit any crime or kill anyone”, they had “always threatened and scared residents”. Police said they had given “advice and education” to the group before releasing them, in the hope that they would prove themselves capable of reform “because they are students”.
3 comments:
I can't even begin to tell you how much I love reading stuff like this. It certainly does give one insight into the culture, doesn't it?
Glad you enjoyed it, Kristina. I always do!
One wonders what sort of education the Khmer police provide
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