Soothsayers barred from social media activities
SEVERAL individuals have pledged to the Phnom Penh Department of Cults and Religion, vowing to cease social media engagement linked to baseless, superstitious beliefs. The Ministry of Cults and Religion also calls on the public to refrain from sharing videos depicting people in such actions.
The ministry reports contracts signed with individuals involved in activities undermining religious values.
As of the ministry’s January 30 announcement, these individuals commit to deleting past and recent social media videos depicting prognosticating and divination. They also vow to avoid recording or presenting live videos during fortune-telling sessions.
In Kampong Cham, Kampot and Kratie provinces, cult and religion departments urge soothsayers and fortune tellers to sign contracts, aiming to curb inappropriate activities like wearing ecclesiastical clothing and uploading images or videos on social media, considered both harmful and inappropriate.
“The ministry, having entered contracts with supposed clairvoyants and palmists, implores the public to abstain from sharing any old or new videos on social media related to fortune tellers. Failure to comply may result in legal measures being enforced,” the ministry said.
In recent weeks, Prime Minister
Hun Manet instructed the Ministry of Cults and Religion to take steps into this issue to safeguard the values of each religion. He emphasized the need to prevent anything that he referred to as causing headaches for society.
Chhort Bunthong, head of the Culture, Education and Tourist Relations department at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), commended the ministry’s actions. He stated that these measures are essential to prevent these individuals from causing societal chaos and resulting in the loss of property, money and time for unsuspecting people.
He urged the ministry to implement such measures widely, covering all purported mystics who contribute to the pollution of communities.
“Without intervention, permitting fortune tellers to continue their inappropriate practices and posting them on social media could lead to the erosion of the positive aspects in Buddhism and other philosophical teachings. This may also hinder people’s ability to critically think, problem-solve, and limit opportunities for effective disease recovery,” he said.
He stated that embracing superstition can be a doubleedged sword. When deemed correct, it can foster peace and progress; however, if misunderstood, it often results in confusion, financial loss and missed opportunities for selfdevelopment.