The Angkor Wat sandal scandalette

This story keeps getting weirder and weirder.

At 12:05 PM, on 25 January 2008, the Bavet commune police, located in Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province, arrested and brought in Mr. Sok Sam Ean, a Sam Rainsy Party activist and Bavet commune councilor, to ask for clarification to the Bavet commune police station about the case of sandals bearing the picture of Angkor Wat. The Bavet commune police, under the direction of Mr. Leouk Chamroeun, the deputy police commissioner of the province of Svay Rieng, arrested and threatened Mr. Sok Sam Ean to provide clarifications on the case of sandals bearing the picture of Angkor Wat Temple, in a more than 2-hour questioning session, and the police also confiscated two of his hand phones for searching and checking without court warrant and without authorization from the phones owner.

It’s easy to see how some Cambodians might find these sandals — with outlines of Angkor Wat on the insoles –  offensive. People can be quite sensitive about their culture. Cambodians are no exception. But to the average foreigner — and it seems likely to many Cambodians as well — the randomness with which the Angkor-Wat-is-holy edict gets enforced makes following the rules ridiculously difficult.

Beer and cigarettes and t-shirts seem okay. Food blogs not so much. Playing cards with images of Angkor Wat will get you arrested. The latest sandal scandal does nothing to help clear the confusion: Walking on Angkor Wat in your sandals is not only allowed, but requires a $20 ticket. Walking in sandals with a mere outline of Angkor Wat, however, prompts the outrage of the khlogosphere and a visit from the local coppers. Somebody please explain.