Sand Gallery

TV3 Channel

Layman flees after pagoda raid

KIM YUTHANA MONDAY, 15 AUGUST 2011 15:02

A BUDDHIST layman had fled a pagoda in Kampong Thom’s Sandan district on Friday after a workshop on human rights and protection of natural resources was interrupted by armed police officers, human- rights activists said yesterday.

Kim Muth, 67, a member of the Buddhist Laymans’ Commission at the Kiribeptaram pagoda, and  chief abbot Chim Sinet had been contacted by commune chief Chhouy Mab, who allegedly threatened to arrest them if they continued to allow NGOs to host forums at the pagoda, said Chhim Savuth, forum co-ord- inator for the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said.

“This is an attempt by the commune chief to break the spirit of innocent villagers, monks and civil-society organis-ations,” he said.

Chun Yoeun, Kim Muth’s son, confirmed yesterday that his father had “escaped” the pagoda and said he was “living in fear”.

Choouy Mab said yesterday  he had visited the pagoda to advise its leadership to inform him of all future events so secur-ity could be provided.

He said Kim Muth had fled the pagoda because of a dispute with “gangsters” two years ago. He claimed Kim Muth had returned to the pagoda, but CCHR said he was still in hiding.

Police identify brokers

MONDAY, 15 AUGUST 2011 15:02

SEN DAVID

Photo by: Meng Kimlong

Migrant worker Nouv Vuthy (left), 21, holds hands with his mother on returning to Cambodia from Malaysia last month after escaping from a fishing vessel

Police say they have discovered the identities of all the brokers responsible for the trafficking of seven Cambod-ian men, who were forced into slave labour aboard Thai fishing boats.


Last week, police revealed they had made one arrest and were tracking three more suspects following the return of the fishermen to the Kingdom on July 29.


The victims were rescued in May and early June during raids carried out on a plywood factory in Malaysia after they swam to shore to escape the boats. They described being forced into back-breaking labour and witnessing shootings and beatings. 


Yesterday, officials revealed additional information had been sourced.


“We know there are a total of seven brokers involved. One has already been arrested, one has died and others have fled,” Chiv Phally, deputy director of the Ministry of Interior’s anti-human trafficking and juvenile protect-ion department, said. 


Although he could not reveal all the wanted men and women’s identities because “it might spoil the investigation”, Chiv Phally did confirm that one suspect was already dead.


One of the alleged brokers, 40-year-old Sean Han, died at some point this year in Malaysia. He is thought to have fallen from a boat and drowned.


Police are now hunting for the remaining suspects. “Pol-ice believe they are in Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey,” Chiv Phally said. 


Trafficking victim Nouv Vuthy is supportive of the ongoing investigation.


“I hope it will be successful,” he said yesterday.

TVK Channel

Khmer TV Online

อสมท

Thai TV5 Channel

Cambodia urged to stop sending maids to Malaysia

By EILEEN NG

The Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian workers' rights group urged Cambodia on Friday to stop supplying housemaids to Malaysia, claiming many are abused and made to work like slaves because of inadequate protection.

Malaysia has recruited thousands of Cambodianwomen since neighboring Indonesia barred domestic workers from coming to Malaysia in 2009 following a string of high-profile cases of assault by employers.

Officials estimate there are more than 50,000Cambodian maids in Malaysia, including 30,000 who arrived this year.

A Cambodian maid was found dead in Malaysia last month under mysterious circumstances, while another was rescued by Malaysian police after she was allegedly abused and had her head shaved bald by her employer.

Irene Fernandez (pictured), director of the rights group Tenaganita, said her organization helped another 41 Cambodian maids, some as young as 15, after they were rescued or ran away from their employers in the past six months because of abuse or unpaid wages.

"Today, another nation of domestic workers goes through the same experiences of torture, control and denial of rights," Fernandez said in a statement. "Cambodian maids now remain in a condition of forced labor with practices of modern day slavery."

Tenaganita urged Cambodia to ban maids from coming to Malaysia until tougher laws are enacted to protect their rights.

Malaysia is among Southeast Asia's top importers of foreign labor, employing more than 200,000 mainly Indonesian maids. Many households rely on maids for cooking, cleaningand looking after children and the elderly.

Indonesia is expected to lift its ban on maids after signing a deal with Malaysia in May for better conditions to curb abuses.

Ung Vantha, an official with the Cambodian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, said his government is concerned about abuse and is working with authorities and activists to tackle the problem.

The embassy is investigating claims that the maid found dead last month was beaten by her employers, he said. Police have said the girl died of pneumonia.

Visiting Cambodian opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua said the maid, who was found dead outside her employer's house, was only 15, according to her family, and not 22 as stated on her passport. Domestic workers in Malaysia must be at least 21.

"We are talking about child labor here. Young girls from poor families are targeted by middlemen who falsified their age in their passport," she said.

Malaysian police and immigration officials familiar with maid issues could not be immediately reached.

Fernandez said about half of the 41 Cambodian maids helped by Tenaganita were under 21. All claimed they were overworked, not given days off and had their passports confiscated by employers.

More than half alleged they suffered physical abuse, while about one-fifth werebelieved to be sexually harassed.

Most returned to Cambodia after Tenaganita negotiated for compensation and wage settlements with their employers. They did not seek police help because they were depressed and eager to return home, Fernandez said.

Khmer Angkor Driver>>Chong Khneas

 Chong  Khneas is the floating village at the edge of the lake closest and most accessible to Siem Reap. If you want a relatively quick and easy look at the Tonle Sap, boat tours of Chong Khneas are available, departing from the Chong Khneas boat docks all day long. Take a   taxi the 11-15km from Siem Reap to the boat docks where there are always boats waiting for passengers. A two-hour boat trip through the floating village runs10$  and the boats may carry as many as 15 other people. The boatman will probably point out the differing Khmer and Vietnamese floating households and the floating markets, clinics, schools and other boatloads of tourists. Chong Khneas, while interesting, is over-touristed and is not as picturesque and 'unspoiled' as floating villages further from Siem Reap. The boat trip usually includes two stops: one at a touristy floating 'fish and bird exhibition' with a souvenir and snack shop, and the other at the very highly recommended Gecko Environment Centre, which offers displays and information introducing the ecology and biodiversity of the lake area.
 
  

• F Chong Khneas
•  Our rates and types of vehicles with English speaking driver:
•  Transfer in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver.

                Price List:

1. $6 For Motor Bike 1 person
2. $8 For Tuk Tuk, 1-4 persons
3. $20 For Car or Mini Van,1-8 persons