Loud music, blasting nightly at an amusement area near the Buddhist Institute is bothering the neighbors and even the local police.
“I can’t sleep and I can’t study at night,’’ said Rong Bunray, one of the neighbors. “The music plays from 3 pm to 10 pm. I’m tired, I work during the day and I need to sleep at night. We all feel like we sleep in a nightclub.’’
Forty-seven families filed complaints last year with the Ministry of Environment and Phnom Penh Municipality, asking that the music be turned off.
But according to random interviews near the park, there has been little or no improvement.
One 70-year-old man says the noise is so loud it makes his ears pop.
“I take two pills at night to make me sleep, even though I know it’s not good for my health.’’
He says at least 10 other old people, “more than 10’’ young children and several pregnant women are possibly being harmed by the blaring music.
“My daughter is nine months’ pregnant, and I’m worried about my grandchild. I don’t know whether his or her ears are safe or not.’’
Chea Sothy, police chief at the Chaktomuk station opposite the park, said the people are absolutely right.
The music “is too disturbing, to the police and to the people,’’ he said.
“We can’t hear anything, even if any robberies or crimes happen around here.’’
The music, he said, would drown out gunfire.
Chea Sothy said he used to tell the park managers to turn down the volume, but they never would. He said he has seen no response from either the ministry or the city.
“I’d like them to move out of here,’’ he said.
Tea Chup, director of the pollution assessment department for the Ministry of Environment, said the ministry did send a team to the park after receiving complaints last year.
The team measured the noise levels at the park; when they were found to exceed legal levels, park managers were ordered to turn down the volume.
He said no one from the neighborhood complained subsequently. “If we have a complaint letter from them, we will go down and take action,’’ he said. “We will measure the sound again.’’
And if it’s too loud, he said, there will be no more second chances.
“We will ask them to move out, or we will shut them down.’’
Ly Hout, who is in charge of the recorded music that is broadcast at the park, said he will comply with whatever officials tell him to do.
“I don’t mind turning down the sound, or moving somewhere, if everyone here has to move,’’ he said. “We will not oppose the policy of the city.’’
Leuk Sary, who runs one of the rides, said she will wait and see what her fellow business people do.
“I have to respect authority,’’ she said.
“I’ve been allowed to run my business here because of the city. So, wherever it decides to move [us], I will follow.’’
