Cambodia’s blossoming scene

Cambodia’s blossoming scene

Sydney Star Observer

Wednesday, 17 December 2008

Phnom Penh-raised Long, 27, believes the blossoming gay scene in Cambodia’s capital is directly linked to the Government pursuing international investment in his country.

“The international community has started to do business in Cambodia. People are now interested in the country,” he said.

Between 1976 and 1998, Cambodia was torn apart by domestic and foreign conflict. Following the murderous regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge between 1976 and 1979, Khmer Rouge holdouts were embroiled in a war with the Vietnamese occupying forces that overthrew Pol Pot. Although Vietnam withdrew from Cambodia in 1989, the Khmer Rouge’s guerrilla war against the government only fully subsided with Pol Pot’s death in 1998.

These three decades of internal upheaval left Cambodia economically crippled, with the current Government determined to build Cambodia’s economic credentials.

“The Government has a policy of encouraging foreign investment, now that we are politically stable and peaceful,” Long said.

In 2006 Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Sen, announced various initiatives to entice foreign investors.

“Cambodia’s economic outlook is good. We will make utmost efforts to ensure double digit growth for the next five years to come,” Sen said.

Cambodia’s economy has been growing around 10 percent annually for the past five years, propelled by clothing, tourism and real estate. As international companies look towards Cambodia, their representatives visit the country, and tourists come for such attractions as Angkor Wat, the demand for evening activities is created.

Salt was the first successful gay bar opened in Phnom Penh to cater for that demand. Thai business partners opened Blue Chilli in 2006 and a Vietnamese entrepreneur opened Green Flame. An Australian, Greg Smith, and his partner Kim opened the Manor House, a gay-friendly hotel in 2004. Miss Cindy’s is a recent addition and is connected to the spa, Khmer Town.

Long is concerned by the recent influx of tourists into the country. “I just hope tourists who come to Cambodia do not come in search of a sex holiday. I hope they come in equal friendship and for the culture,” he said.

When interviewed in August this year, Oak, Blue Chilli’s owner, said, “Soon I think the gay scene here will be like Bangkok.”

This is Long’s biggest concern.

“There are some people who want to turn Sihanoukville into the Cambodian equivalent of Pattaya [a Thai beach resort known for its sex trade]. Sihanoukville has a beautiful beach. It’s relaxing and quiet. I hope the government controls the sex tourism.”

Homosexuality has never been illegal or legal in Cambodia, because there is a general lack of understanding surrounding the concept. “When I was growing up, I didn’t know anything about gay life,” Long said.

For a country that has only recently been introduced to the concept, the former King was remarkably outspoken on the issue.

King Norodom Sihanouk at the age of 81 wrote on his website in 2004 that Cambodia should allow “marriage between man and man … or between woman and woman.” The BBC also reported, “he had respect for homosexuals and lesbians and said they were as they were because God loved a ‘wide range of tastes’. ”

After holidaying in Sydney, Long hopes to return to undertake an MBA.“Sydney is very open and very accepting of gay people,” he said.