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The man with no clothes

A long-haired teenage boy in south-eastern Cambodia has insisted on living nude since he was a toddler, according to local media.

The Khmer-language Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper said 17-year-old Sen Phanas' penchant for living naked had earned him the nickname "para srat" - meaning "the man with no dress" - by residents in the Svay Rieng province's Srah village.

Phana is said to be much like everyone else his age except that he has shunned clothes since he was a little over a year old. The newspaper added he had only rudimentary reading skills because he was not permitted to enter school naked.

His parents and fellow villagers reportedly tried their best to persuade him to get dressed, but even after promises of gifts from neighbours and several harsh beatings by his father he refused.

The newspaper reported the teen told his parents: "Even if you beat me until I'm dead, I won't wear clothing."

His mother, 38-year-old Pov Sorn, told the newspaper her son would not reveal his reasons for embracing nudity. The teen refused to grant an interview for the article.

Phanas' other character quirk was that he had rarely allowed his mother to cut his hair, the newspaper said. She told the paper that when his hair was cut short, he took on a completely different character as if he was possessed, and attempted to kill chickens and ducks.

Posted by thinkum at April 6, 2004 07:18 PM