PHNOM PENH, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday ordered the authorities and the armed forces to beef up security during the lunar New Year celebrations on April 14-16.

"I'd like to appeal to the authorities at all levels and all types of armed forces to pay high attention to protect the people during the New Year celebrations," he said in a speech during a university graduation ceremony.

He added that safety for the people must be the most important factor.

The prime minister also called on people to refrain from splashing water on each other, throwing bags of water on travelers, and painting charcoal or powder on other faces on the occasion.

"Throwing bags of water on each other is not our Khmer tradition, it is very dangerous and can cause traffic accidents if the bags of water are thrown on those riding motorcycles," he said. "And for painting powder on other faces, some take the chance to rip off others' earrings."

Meanwhile, Hun Sen said the Phnom Penh City Bus Authority would offer free bus services to provinces on April 12-18 in order to facilitate people's travel to their hometowns.

He said the move was to prevent private bus companies and taxi drivers from raising fees during the holiday period that would see millions of Cambodians traveling from capital Phnom Penh to their hometowns in various provinces.

The prime minister also urged all vehicle drivers to drive carefully in order to avoid traffic accidents on the occasion.