Juvenile delinquents who were caught performing stunts on their motorcycles have their heads shaved by military police officers. Phnom Penh military police
Fourteen young offenders who were caught performing motorcycle stunts on public roads were detained by the Phnom Penh Military Police. As has become common, they were made to do physical exercises and had their heads shaved as a form of punishment.
Social analysts are calling for additional strategies to prevent youth from engaging in such behaviour.
According to the police, the youths were detained in the early hours of January 3, in the capital’s Chroy Changvar district. They were part of a group of 15 (including one female) who had earlier been seen riding their motorcycles in a dangerous fashion.
The youths were then taken to the Phnom Penh Military Police Command to be reprimanded. There, the fourteen were subjected to administrative discipline, which included having their heads shaved and performing physical exercises. They were made to carry their motorcycles while shouting, “I am a young offender. Do not follow me. From now on, I will stop riding motorcycles”. The Military Police also seized seven motorcycles, which will be confiscated for three months.
The implementation of this measure was in line with a recent directive by Prime Minister Hun Manet, who called for the authorities take strict action against juvenile delinquency, through both administrative and legal measures. Young offenders caught riding motorcycles in a dangerous manner are to have their motorcycles confiscated for three months for the first offense and five months if they repeat the behaviour.
Chhort Bunthang, an education specialist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, suggested that any crackdown should begin with an assessment of the root causes of their behaviour. He recommended that a range of strategies be employed, including education and encouragement. He added that some strategies may only worsen the situation, leading to more rebellion from the youths.
The young offenders were also forced to perform physical exercises by the officers. Phnom Penh military police
He explained that all countries have young offenders, although the nature of rebellious behaviour can vary from one nation to another.
“As an authority, as an enforcer of laws, and as an elder – whether as a father, uncle or brother – I do not believe in using anger, force or violence to resolve issues. I do not think this will bring about meaningful change in the behaviour of children,” he said.
“Shaving their heads and using other forms of corporal punishment, in my view, is not appropriate. It's not that I do not support the law, but we must act according to the law. The law does not require the use of violence or measures that make the resolution ineffective. Therefore, we should stop using methods that make the youths angrier and create further conflict with the authorities,” he continued.
