Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Cambodian PM orders to stop condom advertisement on TV

Stamp out AIDS: This 300-riel stamp from 2006 promotes the use of condoms in the Kingdom (Photo by: Johan Smits, The Phnom Penh Post)

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered on Monday to halt condom advertisement on televisions, saying that he does not feel the advertisement help curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS, but a promotion of condom sales.
Giving speech at launching ceremony of Tourism Ministry's building, Hun Sen said the content of the spot being displayed on televisions did not "serve the efficient campaign for the condom use to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, but a promotion of the condom sales."
Thus, he ordered Ministers of Information and Culture to review the content and remove the spot from televisions.
The spot was showing a group of three men who enjoyed drinking, and singing karaoke before going to a hotel room with a display of a condom on the bed and one of the men there.
Hun Sen said this spot even encouraged Cambodian youths to get more sexual behaviors which are contradictory to Cambodia's tradition and custom.
On several occasions, Hun Sen has criticized TV spots for some parts, damaging the country's culture, tradition and even considered harmful to public health.
Cambodia is proud of its competence in reducing the number of HIV/AIDS related diseases through a nationwide campaign of "100 percent condom use."
Editor: Fang Yang

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