Cambodia bans spit-roasting whole cows in public

Spit-roasting whole cattle on the streets of Phnom Penh has been banned after claims it glorifies violence. The familiar sight of restaurateurs across the city cooking bovines outside their eateries to entice patrons could soon be a thing of the past.

The government has issued a directive telling businesses to keep their roasts out of the public eye. The decision followed a meeting of the supreme council of the Mohanikaya Buddhist order late last year during which it was decided that roasting carcasses in public glorified the killing of animals.



'Grilling cows in front of the restaurants is a show of support for violence in a country that believes in the Buddhist religion,' council member Chhoeng Bunchhea said.

'It can instill the ideas of a massacre to a child and push them to commit violence in society,' he said. 'We want a non violent culture and happiness in society.' The directive technically came into force last month but has been widely ignored, the report said, leading officials to plan to step up enforcement.