Bars, nightclubs, discos and karaoke parlors all over the country shut down indefinitely Nov. 23 following Prime Minister Hun Sen’s decree that such establishments would be forced to close because they were spawning crime and eroding traditional values. Restaurants were unaffected by the law, which critics say will cause the loss of thousands of jobs. The action followed a series of shootings at popular nightspots, one in a karaoke bar when two patrons argued over who would have the privilege of singing a particular song. Whether the ban is permanent or is strictly enforced remains to be seen.
