Preah Vihear

Recently there are so many news related to Cambodian Preah Vihear temple entering the UNESCO world heritage list. On the news, Thai nationalists are protesting against this submission and claim the temple is theirs. At the same time, many short messages are passed around while there are also short alerted mail sending online to provoke Cambodians reaction towards this issues.

My idea is simple. The Temple is belong to Cambodia and this is both the truth and fact and the world is aware of that. On the news today on Khmer newspaper, as I happened to read, Thai government shows some concern over the fact that when the temple is more widely regarded as the Cambodian identity by registering itself to the world heritage list as that of the precious Angkor Wat, Thai government might have lost some control over the area around the border. I would say Thai is legally right to worry about that, yet it is the Thai government responsibility to make any kind of diplomatic negotiation on how to operate the area surrounding the border; however, they have no legitimacy to express any kind of disapproval over this issue.

And for the mutual benefits, both governments should make clear to their citizen about the issues. Make use of the media !

The result of any clashes are always MUTUAL LOSE ! Peace is preferred in this world for the development of human being and society as a whole.

For another thing, I would not support the idea of passing around such a provocative messages since the idea might lead to some violent reaction.

NOT EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE SAME MESSAGE IN THE SAME WAY.

Quoted from the Cambodia Daily, June 3, 2008

WOMEN’S NETWORK FOR UNITY
June 1st, 2008

Our Dearest Prime Minister,

       it is with great urgency that we, The Women’s Network for Unity (WNU) a union of sex workers of Cambodia. invite you to support us as we bring to light the ways the law outlawing prostitution negatively affects our ability to earn a living and provide for our families. The recent law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation was originally conceived to provide relief for victims of human trafficking. Unfortunately, it has not done so, resulting in a massive violation against the universal rights of the women in our country, the families we belong to and the people wound us. The WNU is the first line in reporting these violations. We stand to be a voice for sex
workers living in fear, unable to bring legal action against their perpetrators. On June 4th, we wish to increase awareness of the crisis at our “Opening Day of Action” event, Our theme will be on defending sex workers rights to livelihood. Your attendance at this occasion, as the figure head ofour country and the leader of a new page in Cambodian history, would mean a great deal to us as we shed light on the countless human rights violations stemming from this law.

       The sad reality is that many women who rely on sex work do it to provide for their families. Sex workers are claimed to be a threat to the female image of purity, but sex work is work, and we are people first and foremost. The decision must be our own. It is a hard choice that a person makes when the only thing of value left in their lives that they can sell is their own body.
This choice is taken as each one of us struggles to sustain a life in the face of adversity. But since the institution of this new law, we now are seen as not just sex workers, but criminals in the eyes of their community and the public. We arc victims and being at a higher I risk of being raped and
severely beaten by members of the police force is a sad reality of the criminalization process. Then as punishment, we are then taken away to rehabilitation centers that were initially designed to help women, but are more like detention camps. Substandard conditions in these facilities make us
vulnerable to discriminatory persecution, sickness, forced labor, malaria, rape, and beatings. After brothel raids and sex worker arrests, our forgotten children are left to fend for themselves on the streets while we, the mothers, are held against our will. The futures of our citizens and our children, remain threatened now and forever as these laws endanger the well-being of all citizens of Cambodia. “Stigmatize one of us, and it stigmatizes us all.”

       With the introduction of the new law, programs focused on the prevention of HIV/AIDS such as the 100% Condom Use Program have collapsed. Prior to the law, we could go for monthly check-ups and had access to low cost anti-retroviral (ARV) medications. However, now that sex work is illegal we are underground fugitives. We are more vulnerable to unprotected sex and do not have access to our ARVs. HIV-positive sex workers are in desperate need of daily life sustaining medications and are unable to obtain them. This is a violation of the human right to health care and endangers the lives of sex workers.

       The WNU members have outlined many case studies and compiled videos portraying the personal accounts of abuse victims and have concern that this law has allowed for rape of sex workers to escalate to unprecedented proportions. Though we oppose the law, we have alternatives that can offer a solution and we would be deeply proud if you would join us to support our cause on June 4th at 8:00 a.m. on #1, Sisowath Quay, Sangkat Srah Chork, Khan Daun Penh (Former Vimean Kongkea Night Club Opposite Camintel Company).

       As a great humanitarian leader and father of us all upholding the values essential to every Cambodian, who has defended the banning of unethical drug trails in sex workers of the past; we ask you today to come hear our calls of reformation towards a new law that will protect our families, our livelihood, and most of all our inalienable human rights. Please join us on this special day as we provide a voice for those who have not been heard.

#1, Sisowath Quay, Sangkat Srah Chork, Khan Daun Penh, Tel. 012-222171 and
023-722435

Advertisement in the Cambodia Daily, June 3, 2008

Sex work is work. Defend the right to livelihood.

The Cambodian Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation was introduced in March to eliminate trafficking by stamping out the sex industry. Since then brothels, bars, street area, and karaoke clubs across the country have been closed or gone underground. Hundreds of women have been arrested and imprisoned, or have had to move. Dozens have been raped and beaten by police and prison guards.

HIV prevention and care programs have collapsed. This law makes us easier prey for traffickers, and makes it impossible for us to use condoms.

We, the sex workers of Cambodia, invite the public, NGOs, human rights organizations, our politicians, UN officials, the media, and the police to come along on June 4th at 8 a.m. On he Boat #1, Sisowath Quay, Sangkat Srah Chork, Khan Daun Penh (former Vimean Kongkea Night Club Opposite Camintel Company). Tel: 012-471-093 or 012-222-171.

Don’t be fooled by talk of rescuing ‘sex slaves’ until you have hear our
testimonials and seen video evidence of the brutality and misery this new law
is causing.
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Coming Back!

Ork or…! I have been away from my wordpress for so so so long time already. I am back now with some writing! Hm, let say I will try to post more soon. Sorry wordpress for leaving you alone but I am coming back now, smile up

the Jane Auten book club

Do you think a book club is interesting? Bernadette initiates this idea and gathers around other women, Sylvia whose husband left her for other girl, Sylvia’s daughter, Allegra who is a lesbian (I think in some states in US they legalize this kind of relationship), Jocelyn whose life mostly attach with dogs rather than people, Prudie who is a lady with an unhappy marriage. The most spotlighted member is Grigg, the only guy who read girly book because his lover is Jane’s fan.

Well, I have been marrying six times, so what? You are always happy at first but it tells you a lot when you decide to be with each other (Bernadette). You have already been with each other for more than 20years and he leaves you by saying we have had a successful marriage (Sylvia). A marriage does not always function well. You suddenly feel there is no more feeling toward each other (Prudie). But because of the power of love, I do the thing that I do not like. I am so interested in sci-fi but my girl love novels and I read it for her. All of a sudden I started liking Jane’s idea about relationship and in return my girl feel sci-fi is also interesting. That is how love works in two people (Grigg).

I am over the moon again. I have found my greatest man of all and I am going to throw my seventh marriage soon (Bernadette). Couple is like that. At times, a second chance will work and it work better than ever when you finally find out that your love is so deep in side. There might be time when man does not really know who he truly loves but he finds it out when he is physically with other girl but you are always the one he thinks of every move he makes (Sylvia). Persuasion that book by Jane reminds me what I should do. I thought I am in love with a young boy. Well, it might be because he comes in when I was so down with my husband but before I step a pace forward toward that young boy, Persuasion asks me, what would Jane do. I ran back to my husband and read him the first page of Persuasion. And…yeah we still love each other and we will love more. You should not just walk away with your first feeling because sometimes it might wrong (Prudie). I read the books because of her and I used to give her a sci-fi book but she has never read it. However, I do not give up. She loses the trust in man but I will show it to her I can be trust. Finally she read it and we make it (Grigg). I love him not because he does what I want but because he tells me possibilities is what you give to yourself. You can predict the failure but should not feel reluctant to move forward. Move with a more careful step and that failure will become success (Jocelyn).

Frankly, I chose this movie because I am also fond of Jane Austen. Her novels are not girly but something like…..um… problems and solutions. I guess if you want to know more, let’s read some of Jane’s books and we will also form a club, shall we? It is a shame to tell you that I have read only one of her books, Pride and Prejudice but I seem to over generalize about her comparing to what I exactly know.