Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (C), Premier Hun Sen (L) and doctor Beat Richner (R)April 16, 2008
From correspondents in Phnom Penh
AFP
PARENTS of Cambodian children have backed a Swiss doctor working in the kingdom who refused a donation from money raised by the sale of a nude photo of the French first lady.
Beat Richner, who heads a Cambodian children's medical group, reportedly turned down the sale proceeds of the 1993 picture of Italian ex-model Carla Bruni, who is now married to President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The nude eventually sold to an anonymous man of Asian descent at a New York auction last week for $US91,000 ($98,300), but Dr Richner told media that he would not take any money since the picture would shock Cambodian sensibilities.
Parents in impoverished Cambodia said they approved of Dr Richner's decision.
"There are many ways that people can raise money and donate it to the hospital, not by nudity," said Bou Koeun, the father of a two-month-old boy who is being cared for at Dr Richner's Kantha Bopha hospital in Phnom Penh.
Song Lai Sreng, 25, whose baby girl is also receiving treatment at the hospital, said the paediatrician had made the right decision.
"Talking about nudity, it is not acceptable in our culture," she said.
Dr Richner told The Cambodia Daily newspaper today that Swiss photographer Michel Comte, who took the picture, said he had a buyer lined up who would acquire the photo if the money went to the Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital Association.
But Dr Richner turned him down, the paper said.
Cambodia has a visible sex trade, but at the same time conservatives laud modesty as part of the local culture.
Beat Richner, who heads a Cambodian children's medical group, reportedly turned down the sale proceeds of the 1993 picture of Italian ex-model Carla Bruni, who is now married to President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The nude eventually sold to an anonymous man of Asian descent at a New York auction last week for $US91,000 ($98,300), but Dr Richner told media that he would not take any money since the picture would shock Cambodian sensibilities.
Parents in impoverished Cambodia said they approved of Dr Richner's decision.
"There are many ways that people can raise money and donate it to the hospital, not by nudity," said Bou Koeun, the father of a two-month-old boy who is being cared for at Dr Richner's Kantha Bopha hospital in Phnom Penh.
Song Lai Sreng, 25, whose baby girl is also receiving treatment at the hospital, said the paediatrician had made the right decision.
"Talking about nudity, it is not acceptable in our culture," she said.
Dr Richner told The Cambodia Daily newspaper today that Swiss photographer Michel Comte, who took the picture, said he had a buyer lined up who would acquire the photo if the money went to the Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital Association.
But Dr Richner turned him down, the paper said.
Cambodia has a visible sex trade, but at the same time conservatives laud modesty as part of the local culture.
7 comments:
Go down ! ah Hun Sen, a third-year- elementary-school- educated Prime Minister with 28 years of holding power, is the Criminal against humanity in Cambodia and a former Khmer Rouge soldier in Khmer Rouge Regime, from CPP (Communist Pro youn Party)
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ah traitor Hun Sen is the criminal against humanity in Cambodia :
Criminal against humanity in Cambodia by ah traitor Hun sen
It's good to see his majesty to take part in Khmer activities, and I am sure people is happy to see him too.
Good for you sucker 5:45pm!
Great decision Dr. Richner!
We, Cambodians, support your honest, honoured, and respectful decision for innocent Cambodians who value highly of our bodies, mind, and religion!
Money can buy luxurious, lucrative materials but it can't buy our dignity and integrity.
Great work! We love to have great people like you serving our country.
Thank you
i guess some people see this as an insult to cambodia, while others may look at it as just raising money by all means to help cambodia. it depends on your social status and where you're at in society, i guess. i see it as using money, regardless where it came from, for good cause to help poor, disadvantaged cambodian children.
True, but if you throw away our good moral, what future will we have?
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