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HEALTH-VIRUS-CAMBODIA-LIFESTYLE-CULTURE
Cambodian farmers deploy scarecrows to ward off virus
KAMPONG CHAM, Cambodia, Oct 11, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Armed with a stick, a
floral-shirted scarecrow with a plastic pot for a head stands guard in front
of a rural Cambodian home — a sentry erected by superstitious farmers to
ward off the coronavirus.
Known as “Ting Mong” in Khmer, the creatively rendered scarecrows often pop
up in villages that have been hard-hit by infectious diseases like dengue or
water-borne diarrhoea.
This time, “I’ve set up the Ting Mong to prevent the coronavirus from
threatening my family,” says farmer Sok Chany, 45.
She has two posted in front of her wooden stilt home in Kampong Cham
province, about 110 kilometres (70 miles) northeast of the capital Phnom
Penh.
The other is dressed in camo-green and has a stick propped like a rifle
across its hay-stuffed chest.
“It is our ancient superstition to set up Ting Mongs when there are
dangerous diseases or to avert evil,” she tells AFP.
The majority-Buddhist kingdom has a strong strain of animism incorporated
into the daily lives and rituals of Cambodians, with many believing that
spirits are tied to places, animals and things.
The Ting Mongs are meant to ward off evil spirits wishing to bring harm on
an unsuspecting family by spreading disease.
In Sok Chany’s Trapeang Sla village, no chances are taken — an effigy is
tied to the gate of nearly every home, though constructed with varying
degrees of effort.
Some are elaborately dressed in military uniform or floral pyjamas, while
others simply have stuffed bags with sunglasses perched on them for a head.
Farmer Ton Pheang stuffs old clothing up the arm of his Ting Mong, which is
dressed in a bright pink shirt and has a helmet for its head.
“This is my second one — the first one broke,” the 55-year-old says,
adding that his scarecrow has been standing guard under sun and rain since
April when the outbreak started spreading rapidly across Southeast Asia.
“We’ve been fine since the outbreak,” Ton Pheag tells AFP. “I’ll continue
to leave it up as long as Covid still exists.”
Cambodia appears to escape the brunt of the pandemic, registering just 283
infections and no deaths — though sceptics say the low toll could be due to
a lack of testing.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1720 hrs