<br /> Women buy meat at an open-air market in Phnom Penh earlier this month. After a steep price increase earlier this year, the cost of meat decreased last month. Photograph: Will Baxter/Phnom Penh Post
Beggars flock to Phnom Penh’s pagodas for the start of the Pchum Ben festival, when temple-goers traditionally give to the poor.
BEGGARS in the capital on Monday said they fear that government "sweeps" to beautify the city for the Pchum Ben festival could see them detained and abused.
Prum Huot, 59, from Prey Veng province, said he had heard stories of abuse at detention centres from other beggars and was resolved to evade police if they came to detain him. "I will never go to a detention centre because we would be beaten and treated like criminals," he said.
Municipal Police Chief Touch Naruth said Monday that no one had any reason to fear police.
"There is no abuse. The detention centres offer vocational training," he added.
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