DanChurchAid
Cambodia
The ugly face of human exploitation
Cambodia is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. A significant number of Cambodian women and children are trafficked to Thailand and Malaysia for labor and commercial sexual exploitation.
Case stories:
From bar maid to sexslave in Malaysia
Having escaped sexual exploitation in Malaysia, Ms. M.S.T aged 18 starts telling her story from a shelter of the Cambodian Women’s Crises Centre ( CWCC ) in Bantey Meanchey Province, Cambodia:
- "I worked as a prostitute for over a month. I had sex with 3 or 4 customers a day. We were offered only one meal a day, and when we were not on duty offering sex we were locked in a room."
Ms. M.S.T continues explaining that she crossed the border away from her home and parents to earn a proper living for her family. A female ringleader had told her that by working in Malaysia serving drinks in a bar, she would get a salary much higher than what she earned in Cambodia. In February this year M.S.T, her sister and a friend accepted the attractive offer which also included the borrowing of money from the ringleader to cover both travel costs and immediate support to the family in Poipet, Cambodia. One month later a third sister to M.S.T also accepted the offer and then joined her sisters together with yet another friend.
Upon arrival at a karaoke bar in Youhov city, Malaysia via Bangkok, Thailand, the reality turned out to be very different for the five Cambodian girls. The bar had 40 girls serving sex, however not being prostitutes per se as they were never paid for their services. “I was not paid over a period of one month” M.S.T told. “Even the tips which customers gave me, was taken away. Yet I knew how to hide the money so I could provide four others with breakfast and lunch". In order to cope with the situation, M.S.T started to take drugs as many of the other girls did.
Five girls escaped
In early April 2005, the Cambodian girls - desperate to escape the karaoke bar - managed to borrow a mobile phone from a customer and called CWCC who very quickly initiated escape plans and other preparations in cooperation with the Cambodian Embassy in Malaysia. On April 7th 2005, the five girls managed to escape during street rush-hours. Following a short term stay at a Malaysian women’s shelter, the girls returned to Cambodia accompanied by representatives from CWCC and the Cambodian Police.
No prosecution of offenders
Unfortunately, the legal aftermath does not have the same kind of happy ending. Eight months after the escape, the two main offenders in this portrayed case – the ringleaders Ms. Dy Ramsey and her husband – remains not convicted of their crimes and only Ms. Dy Ramsey is still in custody. In fact, rumours suggest that the husband - who was bailed out of custody - has started organizing human trafficking again.
Mr. Seng Soue, the lawyer at CWCC in charge of pursuing a prosecution, explains that the case is supported by strong evidence and Cambodian Law. “The human trafficking of the five girls violates the Law against Human Trafficking and Human Exploitation. On these points we have precise evidence”, Mr. Seng Soue explains. “Therefore, Ms. Dy Ramsey can be sentenced to 10-20 years in prison according to her offences".
Although disappointed that none of the ringleaders have yet been accused and sentenced, the return to the CWCC shelter in Cambodia is like a new life to Ms. M.S.T and the other girls and the girls will remain there while CWCC continues to struggle for prosecution to take place.
Based on an article from CWCC newsletter no. 5, June 2005. Translated and edited by Mrs. Kim Morokath, DanChurchAid Cambodia Programme.
Cambodia
RSS feed
