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Phnom
Penh (Ah!)
Part 2 - CAMBODIA'S
PEDO HEAVEN
D. J. Ken - National Radio Text Service
The fight pedophilia craze is out of control. When we first arrived there were 300 NGO's in the country now there are over 3000. Many are claiming that they are noble and fighting to eliminate the child sex trade. The problem is that focusing on foreigners leaves 90% of the problem to continue with the child sex trade as usual given 90% of those involved are Khmers - NR Phnom Penh Top 10 stories - The child sex trade documentary RED LIGHT screens tonight Saturday January 28th @ the Meta House in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, Cambodia Saturday January 28, 2012 WHO'S AT FAULT? Watching how the Cambodian government is going through all of the pain to cover up who is responsible for the release of Russian pedophile Stanislav Molodyakov better know by his alias Alexander Trofimov from prison December 20th, 2011 after serving only 4 years of a 17 year sentence is like watching a bad comedy film. It's about the children's game of hide and seek or the shell game played on the street corners of New York City such as under which shell is the hidden pea. If its transparency and integrity you're looking for it is doubtful that you will find it in Cambodia. If its games you're looking for you will have your hands full. The government is playing its role in hide and seek game and lack of transparency but there are two parts to every story. The other side of the story is the integrity and purpose of the NGO's that make the most noise to raise awareness and money. Who are the good guys and who are the NGO in it for themselves as fund raising predators? As this TROFIMOV scenario plays out thoughts come to mind of my then 1 ˝ year old daughter and the saying about being caught with your hands in the cookie jar. After I left the room to get my camera on my return I peeked around the corner of the doorway and took a photo of her with her hand in a bowl of cheese twists. Oops she got caught. NGO'S ON OF OFF THE MARK? Samleang Seila, director of Action Pour les Enfants, was reported as saying in the 2012 January 25th edition of the Phnom Penh Post that he believed that the deputy (Cambodian) premier will eventually deport the Russian Trofimov. If that's true it indicates that the whereabouts of Trofimov is known by the government. Another ignored problem is according to the documentary Virginity Trade 90% of sex with children in Cambodia is committed by Cambodian's. It raises the question how many people have clean hands on this issue in the chain of command that granted Trofimov's release? Several years ago a 16-year-old girl was suspected of being used as bait by NGO's to capture pedophiles at Wat Phnom. Action Pour les Enfants said they were going after foreigners. The strange thing is that she was picked up several times at the same location over the course of a year or more and she never grew beyond the age of 16. What's troubling about this story is the same girl was SAVED from being a prostitute but returned to the business and location shortly after. Questions arise how was she saved and rehabilitated? Why did she return to the business if she were properly saved by a respected NGO? The Cambodian news media as we know never followed up or asked those questions. Fishy or strange that is the question. The double standard that also clouds this issue is 15 is the age of consent for Khmers while foreigners are subject to the laws of their country. That discrepancy in the differentiation of what is the legal age does not protect children when it is open season for the people that run the brothels… the Khmers. The documentary Red Light makes that point (note below). Later Action Pour les Enfants adjusted their position and said all pedophiles would be sought. With pedophilia documented as being deeply embedded in Cambodian culture then where is the foundation to support the protection of children? Who are the role models in the powers that be? Who are the NGO's that are doing something to help rather than in the business of talking about the subject to raise money and passing themselves off as consultants? Stay tuned… Part 1 - THE PEDO KING TROFIMOV MYSTERY RELEASE DRAWS NGO IRE NR PHNOM PENH TOP 10 RANKINGS With the New Year we are expanding out most read Phnom Penh columns to 10 for this month only. THE GOOD NEWS of THE GIRLS OF PHNOM PENH moved up three spots to take the number one position. Last month's column SOMETHING IS FISHY & Cambodia Isn't Denmark leaped on to the charts in notching 2nd place. WHERE'S THE CAMBODIAN NEWS FOLLOW-UP? slipped from 1st to 4th. The strangest move is an eight year old column. The focus is on former UA Ambassador to Laos Charles Salmon who addressed Cambodia University students in May 2004. Why this column repeatedly returns to the charts is a mystery. It can only be accessed from our Phnom Penh Archives section. Being a piece from back in the day there are photos from that time of businesses that no longer exist due to the development of the riverside area in the vicinity of the Naga World Hotel Casino including its former location on a boat on the Tonle Sap River. Photos of the development of the Olympic Stadium area make for interesting viewing given the changes that have sprouted up at that location during the past eight years. Back on the charts is CNN FAILS TO SEE THE (RED) LIGHT. The story reflects one of the major problems in the saving children involved in the sex trade business. We question are they being exploited for a TV show or money as they are in many instances or are they being saved? We questioned why a news organization or an NGO send candy ass individuals to do a job requiring the mentality and strength of the Navy Seals. In our piece we put it this way you don't send a candy stripe nurse to do a surgeons job. From the reality perspective you don't put a band-aid on an injury that requires an amputation. A strong statement? Yes. The truth? You betcha. Relative to this column three of the Top 10 stories are related to the Cambodia sex trade business. Other than the Salmon column from 2004 story as being the oldest on the list the IT & Telecoms World Expo and Conference takes the longevity title for 2011 Phnom Penh column of interest.
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