Racy Songs Draw Ministry Response

Khmer Times
Tin Sokhavuth

Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona wants artists to be professional. Supplied

After two songs were banned by the Minister of Culture and Fine Arts for their racy content last week, minister Phoeurng Sackona responded to criticism aimed at the ministry’s inability to prevent the songs’ initial publication on Wednesday.

“In principle, today, all new songs are in the category of audio content that doesn’t need to be passed through the ministry’s control. This exemption is based on the knowledge of the respect for the freedom of artistic creativity among artists and songwriters as well as the respect toward their professional responsibility,” Ms. Sackona said in a statement.

She added that while her ministry could require all songs to be approved before their publication, doing so would infringe upon artistic freedom. The ministry is much more effective by simply recommending works of art it deems representative of social morality, while ignoring those that it does not, Ms. Sackona said.

The songs in question, “If You Can Eat, Please Take as Much as You Can,” by Keo Veasna, and “It Will Take a Very Long Time to Eat Me” by Chan Malis, sparked public outcry in addition to being banned by the government for their apparent use of sexual innuendo.

Ms. Sackona plans to summon the songs’ writers to sign contracts promising not to write similarly suggestive lyrics again.

“This kind of mistake is similar to that of a newspaper. The songwriters will do a correction later, when they know their content was not right,” she said. In response to the public outcry surrounding the music, Ms. Sackona said she was encouraged by critics’ interest and involvement in safeguarding Cambodian culture.

One Facebook user, Rithy Eang, wrote a post on the ministry’s page suggesting a forum be held for all artists in the Kingdom, instructing them on a code of conduct regarding Cambodian tradition and culture.

Another Facebook user, Un Tim, said he supported the ministry’s decision to ban the two songs.

“I think these statements are logical enough for the two parties, songwriter and critical public audience, to accept them. Because they are win-win solutions that help us to construct a Khmer society full of morality, virtue and civilization,” Mr. Tim wrote.

In a letter announcing the songs’ ban, the ministry said their content had damaged the value and dignity of Cambodian women.

“These two songs do not have good meanings that could be useful to raise the level of social morality teaching. In contrast, their meaning is damaging the honor and value of the Cambodian women,” the letter read.