Beggars near the National Museum in this 22 October 1999 file photo (Photo: RFA)Disabled war veterans are becoming beggars in drove
10 Feb 2009
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Along various Phnom Penh city restaurants and sidewalks, a large number of handicapped people can be seen begging for money from Cambodians and foreigners. Among these handicap people, some of them are disabled war veterans.
Sophorn: How did you become disabled?
Beggar: I fought against the Khmer Rouge in Battambang. When I lost my legs, I went to protest because they took away my house and my land.
A number of disabled war veterans who are begging along the streets in Phnom Penh have expressed their displeasure, claiming that they were disabled in the frontline and, on top of that, they lost all their homes and farmlands. This is the reason why they have to beg for a living.
A 50-year-old blind man who also lost his legs, accompanied by his 7-year-old daughter, is begging along the sidewalk in Phsar Thmei market. He told RFA that in 1985, he became disabled when he was fighting the KR in Svay Sisophon (Sereysophorn) in Banteay Meanchey province. He then had to sell all his farmlands in Kampong Thom province to get medical care and to buy rice to eat: “I was a soldier, a soldier under the Heng Samrin regime. I was fighting in Svay Sisophon, during the fight with the KR, I stepped on a landmine.”
Another disabled man with only one leg is sitting on a wheelchair, begging for money in front of a restaurant along the (Tonle Sap) river bank. He said that he used to own a house in Russey Keo commune, Phnom Penh city, but after he was disabled during a fighting with the KR in 1987, he had to sell his house for his family needs. He then became a renter, and finally he had to beg everywhere just to feed his family: “I sold my house for 300 (dollars?) only so I can take care of my health, I received some help, I had to borrow money. I met with all sort of problems, I don’t have enough to eat. If I had enough to eat, I wouldn’t have to beg like this, I used to study agriculture in the army, but now I don’t own any farmland.”
Sim, a 45-year-old man with only one leg and one hand, is begging near Wat Phnom Park, is very displeased with the government. He claimed that in 1988, he was forced to join a special army unit to fight against the KR. Following his injuries, the government never took care or worried about his situation. Furthermore, the local authority in Snuol, Kratie province, his birthplace, confiscated all his farmlands. The situation turned him into a beggar to survive: “Disabled soldiers during my time, they confiscated everything from us, they used guns to point at us (to confiscate our belonging). I want to tell you the whole thing. The government should look into this situation, especially the country leaders. They should see that when they needed us, they took us away, but now that we are disabled, we have to sleep in the street.”
The Russey Keo district deputy governor indicated that in his district, there are 430 disabled war veterans, this includes both those who have a housing and those who do not.
Regarding the number of homeless and landless beggars on the street, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that the situation is due to government corruption. Therefore, national budget for veterans does not actually reach actual veterans and disabled veterans, and in fact, lists of veteran names were sold out instead (to touch their pension).
He added: “We must account for all these disabled veterans, reorganize the statistics, organize centers and a system to guarantee a decent and honorable living condition for them because they served the country, they defended the nation before they were disabled. They should receive an honorable life. Therefore, we must maintain a good administration for these tens of thousands (disabled war veterans), we shouldn’t abandon all these disabled veterans as (the government) is currently doing.”
Sem Sokha, the under secretary of state for veterans social welfare, said that the government had built some housing for them in Kampong Speu province, and the government is planning to add some more: “There’s a plan to provide $1 million, or to build [more housing?] in Siem Reap province. [The government] ordered the ministry of [veterans] welfare to look for lands to build centers or housing for disabled veterans in all provinces. There is also a number of organizations that provide help for these disabled people.”
He also added: “From what I know, each army unit has a number (assigned to each veteran). This means that the lists of names from their units were transferred to the welfare department. There is a veteran department, and war veterans also have associations. Right now, Samdach Hun Sen is the president of the association of war veterans, so it is easy to contact the department. Furthermore, disabled veterans in each province should contact the veteran welfare department in their province, because they have branches there already.”
According Chiv Lim, the chairman of the information program for disabled veterans from landmines in Cambodia which operates under the Cambodian Red Cross, there are 2,705 disabled war veterans in the entire country. According to the statistics, the number of registered soldiers in Cambodia is 130,000.
Sophorn: How did you become disabled?
Beggar: I fought against the Khmer Rouge in Battambang. When I lost my legs, I went to protest because they took away my house and my land.
A number of disabled war veterans who are begging along the streets in Phnom Penh have expressed their displeasure, claiming that they were disabled in the frontline and, on top of that, they lost all their homes and farmlands. This is the reason why they have to beg for a living.
A 50-year-old blind man who also lost his legs, accompanied by his 7-year-old daughter, is begging along the sidewalk in Phsar Thmei market. He told RFA that in 1985, he became disabled when he was fighting the KR in Svay Sisophon (Sereysophorn) in Banteay Meanchey province. He then had to sell all his farmlands in Kampong Thom province to get medical care and to buy rice to eat: “I was a soldier, a soldier under the Heng Samrin regime. I was fighting in Svay Sisophon, during the fight with the KR, I stepped on a landmine.”
Another disabled man with only one leg is sitting on a wheelchair, begging for money in front of a restaurant along the (Tonle Sap) river bank. He said that he used to own a house in Russey Keo commune, Phnom Penh city, but after he was disabled during a fighting with the KR in 1987, he had to sell his house for his family needs. He then became a renter, and finally he had to beg everywhere just to feed his family: “I sold my house for 300 (dollars?) only so I can take care of my health, I received some help, I had to borrow money. I met with all sort of problems, I don’t have enough to eat. If I had enough to eat, I wouldn’t have to beg like this, I used to study agriculture in the army, but now I don’t own any farmland.”
Sim, a 45-year-old man with only one leg and one hand, is begging near Wat Phnom Park, is very displeased with the government. He claimed that in 1988, he was forced to join a special army unit to fight against the KR. Following his injuries, the government never took care or worried about his situation. Furthermore, the local authority in Snuol, Kratie province, his birthplace, confiscated all his farmlands. The situation turned him into a beggar to survive: “Disabled soldiers during my time, they confiscated everything from us, they used guns to point at us (to confiscate our belonging). I want to tell you the whole thing. The government should look into this situation, especially the country leaders. They should see that when they needed us, they took us away, but now that we are disabled, we have to sleep in the street.”
The Russey Keo district deputy governor indicated that in his district, there are 430 disabled war veterans, this includes both those who have a housing and those who do not.
Regarding the number of homeless and landless beggars on the street, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that the situation is due to government corruption. Therefore, national budget for veterans does not actually reach actual veterans and disabled veterans, and in fact, lists of veteran names were sold out instead (to touch their pension).
He added: “We must account for all these disabled veterans, reorganize the statistics, organize centers and a system to guarantee a decent and honorable living condition for them because they served the country, they defended the nation before they were disabled. They should receive an honorable life. Therefore, we must maintain a good administration for these tens of thousands (disabled war veterans), we shouldn’t abandon all these disabled veterans as (the government) is currently doing.”
Sem Sokha, the under secretary of state for veterans social welfare, said that the government had built some housing for them in Kampong Speu province, and the government is planning to add some more: “There’s a plan to provide $1 million, or to build [more housing?] in Siem Reap province. [The government] ordered the ministry of [veterans] welfare to look for lands to build centers or housing for disabled veterans in all provinces. There is also a number of organizations that provide help for these disabled people.”
He also added: “From what I know, each army unit has a number (assigned to each veteran). This means that the lists of names from their units were transferred to the welfare department. There is a veteran department, and war veterans also have associations. Right now, Samdach Hun Sen is the president of the association of war veterans, so it is easy to contact the department. Furthermore, disabled veterans in each province should contact the veteran welfare department in their province, because they have branches there already.”
According Chiv Lim, the chairman of the information program for disabled veterans from landmines in Cambodia which operates under the Cambodian Red Cross, there are 2,705 disabled war veterans in the entire country. According to the statistics, the number of registered soldiers in Cambodia is 130,000.
25 comments:
Here is a question to those radio free Asia guys. Who sponsored the Khmer Rouge after their collapse from power in 1979. Watch the documentary Cambodia the betrayal and you'll see how was funding the Khmer Rouge that these disabled veterans were fighting and lost their limps because of. The West with the US as its leading partner. They were funding the Khmer Rouge because Khmer Rouge were fighting with the Phnom Penh forces with were backed by Vietnamese and Russian and the US were knowingly backing the genocidal Khmer Rouge.
If anyone who is responsible for these veterans' miserable lives right now are the West who were sponsoring the Khmer Rouge that these guys had to leave their family and life behind to fight. If the West didn't sponsor the Khmer Rouge in the 80's and early part of the 90's, none of these veterans would have had to go fight and eventually lose their limps.
This is a glimpse into the lives under Samdech Ach Moha Pleur Ahcho Huynh Xen.
7:59 AM,
You've made a point, but then you would also have to realize that we can sit around and start playing the blame game which doesn't really get us anywhere. The People's Republic of China at the time were also providing weapons, training, advising and some funds to the Khmer Rouge before 1975, during the 1975-1979, and also during the 1980's. If you were to blame the West, then you would have to fairly blame China as well because they too would be deemed responsible.
The past is the past. We cannot change the past nor change the course that Cambodia has taken within the past 30 plus years. However, with our understanding of the past and the resources that we can allow ourselves to attain, we can try to work for a better future.
One thing to note is that many of the disabled veterans indeed fought on the side of the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party. It would be a blessing if those veterans can be somehow compensated by the present Cambodian People's Party (former KPRP). So in fact you see that the disabled veterans are being forced out of their homes and lands by the very government that they gave and sacrificed their service and lives to.
The is not just blaming, its also recognizing the truth and who was involved. Forget history, history will repeat itself.
A little incident during 9/11. American quickly came up with " we shald never forget 9/11" solgan.
Khmer people when through way worst. And most khmer don't even know how it happened or who did it.
As khmer and the human race We can afford to let be forgotten!
8:17 AM
I'm not about blaming who is responsible but just making a statement to those out there that use these veterans as their as part of their political agenda. It's very obvious that they are exploiting these disabled veterans to make the current Khmer government look bad and to portray how life under this regime is crude and what not.
The matter of fact is war is war. It's unfortunate that someone's life is ruined by it either physically or mentally. It's unfortunate that these veterans are having to endure the life of handicaps and in poverty. But if you want to exploit these guys' condition just to make your political agenda, that is very much more sickening than any wrong doing you accuse the current regime of.
I lived in Cambodia and I know the reality of handicapped veterans. It's true that Khmer people in general, rich, middle class, farmers etc... look down on disabled people. There are many poor disabled veterans in Cambodia but people forgot to realize Cambodia is a third world country that is trying to stand on its feet from 3 decades of destructive civil war. People just expect everything to be all right and taken care of like how it is in the West, especially in the US. Fyi, there are many veterans from Vietnam and from current Iraq war that were disabled and now are destitute because the US government is lacking in its promise for the responsibility of the welfare of the soldiers once they return home. How many American war veterans are living in poverty because the government they fought for is not living up to its promise and these guys have to be evicted and sell all their belongings just to pay the medical bills from the injury that they endure while on duty for their government.
My point is there is not much Cambodian government can do as it is still living on dependence for foreign ads. That doesn't justify much for some government officials who have landcruisers and big houses. But, that is the reality of life. People are only concerned about their well-beings. It sounds harse because it's called life. In life, nothing is equal. You have to work for your equal. Unfortunately, these Khmer disabled veterans couldn't be compensated well because of the economic condition of the country.
It would be nothing short of stupid political propaganda to fully blame the current regime for the suffering conditions of these veterans. Sure, the government is responsible for taking care of its citizens but not that much when you still live on dependency on foreign ads every year.
My main point is it sucks that these guys are sufferring but if you want to exploit these guys' conditions so you can gain political credibility to attack the government run by party you oppose, that is a very sick and dirty behavior you possess.
7:59,
You're only know how to blame others. How about the way to help them, to rescue them from the beggar?
Did they live the west or all of them are living and roaming surround you?
You did not see them? Or you're pretending not to see them?
Or all those limp and cripple are invisible?
Sophorn,
It is about time you shut the fuck up.
Pouk Ah George Washington potato diggers is full of shits. There are plenty of homeless veteran living on the street in the US.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbRsP1UOAK4&NR=1
9:17 AM is Ah Dongkov Ach Hun Sen!
You smell stink!
9:17 AM Viet leech can eat shit and die, now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waHIM4nEsAY&feature=related
Homeless veterans is not an exclusive problem that only happens in Cambodia. Look at America. There are currently 200,000 homeless veterans in the land of the riches nation of the world.
9:17 AM,
If you’re not ah Yuon or ah Yuon’s slave, why do you get so infuriated? Every time you come across comment that hurts you and Yuon, you get so upset and angry for sure. Why?
How much does Yuon pay you to defend your slave regime?
Pack and go back to where you came from before you got kick in your ass again. You’re not Cambodian and not welcome by Cambodian, got it Ah Jkout Ly Lear 9:17 AM?
10:31 AM
Your words could only come out of a mouth of Ah Sart De Rei Chan. Are you Sart De Rei Chan? lol I only wish that your daughter and son grow up to marry Vietnamese people then it's a karma for you racist piece of shit. I am Khmer who live in America and you probably are too but the difference is I don't discriminate and be a fucking racist like you you fucking piece of shit.
People like this guy is the disease of Khmer culture. A fucking racist that believed he is the only true KHmer. Wake the fuck up, you dumbass. There is no real Khmer. Khmer people mixed with Chinese, Vietnamese, and many other people who migrated to Cambodia centuries ago. If you look into your bloodline, you wouldn't dare spit out such racist remarks. Ah Khmer like you is not welcomed in Cambodia, motherfucker.
Get out of your own ignorant box and see the world, you racist piece of shit. You are a disgrace to Khmer people. Stop calling yourself Khmer, you make me ashamed that another Khmer person is full of hatred and ignorance. Fuck you, you dumbfuck KHmer.
From Khmeroverseas who is not a racist like this piece of shit.
9:17 AM,
Usually when I see your comments, I immediately ignore them because for the most part, you sound very ignorant, your words are just reckless racist name calling and you never approach any debate with reasoning.
Anyway, there are many homeless former US military veterans here in the United States. But the difference between the American veterans and their Cambodian counterparts is that there are established programs. The vast majority of American veterans are single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities, 45% suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems. Problems results from extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income, and access to health care. A large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.
However, like I mentioned before, there are programs created by the Department of Veteran Affairs that do provide services to these veterans, but overall it's based on how the veterans respond to such service treatments and networking. These veterans do receive aid, job placement, care and compensation but it's up to them to utilize these resources to the best of their abilities otherwise it does not work out.
On the other hand, Cambodian veterans, most of whom have had limbs amputated, lost of sight, and their homes taken away do not have established governmental agencies or programs that they can access. If there are any governmental assistance, it's either sparse or most of the time nothing at all. The result is that agencies or programs are in existence but the individuals operating them are corrupt and even if the small amount of governmental funds are allotted into the programs, the money actually never reaches the veterans. Cambodia is infected with corruption at all levels of government and in every sector and so it's extremely difficult to have programs such as helping veterans run efficiently and in a transparent manner.
10:56 AM,
When I was growing up, I've always at times been around adults who would curse about the Vietnamese as if there were no tomorrow. This is a result of the long heritage of Cambodians harboring sentiments of the Vietnamese as our traditional enemies. There is no doubt that throughout history, the Vietnamese have caused great atrocities upon the Cambodian people, deceived us through their political games, judged us as a lower-class, and stolen our land. At times, I myself do harbor some of these sentiments, but then I realized I shouldn't. It's not the Vietnamese that I hate, but rather, it's the Vietnamese leadership and their policies against the Cambodian people throughout history and Cambodia's current Cambodian People's Party who are very corrupt and are paramount sell-outs to Vietnam.
I have many Vietnamese friends and the community of Vietnamese that I've come to forge friendships, do business with and see everyday are extremely kind to their Cambodian counterparts. It's the CPP and the Vietnamese leadership and their policies against the Cambodian people through history is what I hate. I'll also throw in Sihanouk in that pile as well.
11:53 AM
You have to do a little thinking why CPP and Khmer government is friendly with Vietnamese government. Cambodia is not the tough kid around the block like these bunch of extreme racist nationalist like to think. We're the weakest kid in this block called SouthEast Asia. Our economy is dependent on many things from the Viet and Thai as well. We cannot depend on our own production to grow yet. I believe as a policies for growth, the CPP government are just living by the rules. You say what rules? Darwin, survival of the fitness.
Cambodia still needs Viet and Thai in trades and business. Consider this. 90 percent of the stuff Khmer use in Cambodia is from Thailand and only declined recently due to the political conflict of us and them and Vietnam came to a gain this. As I see with the trade deficit between Cambodia and Vietnam, it's our fault that we don't produce enough or what the Vietnamese population need. Viets are smart enough to produce what we need. Why don't we produce what they need and equal out the trade?
As for with anything, I believe a human failure is because of his own fault at not succeeding in adapting to his ever changing environment. If Khmer want to be called the greatest in the land of the Suvanapum as we all like to believe, we need to start acting like one and stop talking like one.
I bet thousands of US veterans died from living on the street during harsh weather and got swept under the rug.
To 2:34 PM,
You never live in America and you don't know how the systems work. There are lots of mechanisms designed to help people, one of them is welfare. If people are really poor and qualified they will get food stamps/money monthly from the government. There are charities group that can provide shelter/food to homeless people. To me, the reason they are homeless because those people choose to be homeless.
Bullshit, the reason they are homeless is because there aren't enough shelters for them. All of the money went into someone bank account. Who are you try to fool, Ah George Washington Potato Digger (11:40)?
1:55 AM,
Seriously dude...get real. You're becoming senile just like that ah tha sihanouk. you're f***ing retarded and don't understand anything. you f***ing loser. get a life and go learn stuff.
អាភ្លើខាងលើ
និយាយគ្មានខួសោះ អាឆ្កួត ! កុំបានពួកពិការទាំងនោះ វាយខ្មែរក្រហម
ឯងប្រហែលគ្មានជីវិត្តទេ អាស្វា ! ពិការព្រោះតែស្នេហាជាតិ មិនមែន
មានមាត់ចេះតែថាទេ អាស្វា !
Oh zip it, Ah George Washington's Potato Digger (2:15). We all know you are ignorant when it come to issues in the US. Nothing is new here.
Here's an article entitled, "The year-round dilemma: Too many homeless, not enough shelter beds."
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/homeless-county-emergency-2013593-shelter-norby
well, cambodia should establish an organization that help the war veterans. yes, these were the people that fought and defend our nation, and nobody in their right mind should abandon them to the street like this. please remind and demand that the gov't help these handicapped people. thank you.
gov't should them them proper pension so they can live and don't have to beg on the street like this. please demand the gov't to provide for them and help them. these people lost an arm, a leg or both, etc... they really need gov't to provide for them. please make demand for helping them. thank you.
Sure, the soon Cambodia become a little richer. Right now, we just barely get by.
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