Thursday, March 12, 2009

Cambodian acid attacks highlighted by new film

Tat Marina prior to the acid attack against her
Tat Marina and her brother following the acid attack (Photo: The Cambodia Daily)

March 12, 2009

ABC Radio Australia

A US production company has released a feature film highlighting the issue of acid attacks in Cambodia.

Finding Face features a case involving a heinous acid attack on a young karaoke singer by the wife of a senior Cambodian official in 1999. With many similar attacks going unpunished, the film's producers hope the movie will provide victims some sense of justice.

Presenter: Girish Sawlani
Speaker: Tat Marina, acid attack victim; Patti Duncan, producer, Finding Face; Skye Fitzgerald, producer, Finding Face; Jason Barber, human rights consultant, LICADHO


SAWLANI: Tat Marina was just 16 when she was brutally attacked by the jealous wife of a high level Cambodian government official.

The teenage Karaoke singer had been in a relationship with Cambodia's undersecretary of state Svai Sitha, but didn't realise who he was at that time or the fact that he was married.

When his wife Khoun Sophal learnt of her husband's affair, she was raged with jealousy. And in December 1999, she and an assailant, believed to be her nephew, attacked Marina and poured highly toxic acid on her face outside Phnom Penh's Olympic market.

The attack left her with severe burns to her face and body. Her lips were burnt to raw swollen blisters and had her ears removed by doctors as gangrene set in. While a warrant for Khoun Souphal's arrest was issued soon after, she's never been caught and is still believed to be hiding in Cambodia.

Marina's story's now being revisited in the documentary film Finding Face produced by the US based Spin Film. The film's co-producer Patti Duncan says putting the film together was an enormous challenge, but was driven by the need to raise awareness of acid attacks that have since increased substantially.

DUNCAN: She wanted to raise awareness about the topic of acid attacks, particularly in Cambodia where they have been on the rise. We hope that the film can also provide a vehicle for Marina as she continues to go through her own healing process.

ANONYMOUS VICTIM: They closed my case, they've never contacted me for any investigation or they never investigate anyone, they just close the case immediately, maybe right after the night of the accident, I don't know why they did this.

SAWLANI: Finding Face also explores the plight of other acid attack victims in Cambodia and underscores the fact that many of them will never find justice. Here's Jason Barber, a consultant with Cambodian Human Rights group Licadho.

BARBER: There's no reason to think that every acid attack in Cambodia ends up in the newspapers. So the real number of attacks we have no idea, I think no one has any idea. In '99 to 2004 I think there were 75 attacks reported, with more than 100 victims.

SAWLANI: In this respect the film's other producer Skye Fitzgerald sees Finding Face as a tool for justice for Marina and other victims.

FITZGERALD: The fact that there's never been any justice in any form and likely there'll never be any justice within the judicial system for her, this film is a way for them to seek some small form of justice and at least in the court of public opinion. There's a power and a strength to that that the family has reason to � that in itself is a goal worth achieving.

SAWLANI: In the months, and years following the brutal attack, the perpetrators husband, Svai Sitha had contacted Tat Marina in the United States expressing concern and even offering to take care of her needs. But he warned Marina and her family not to pursue a legal case. And with many of Marina's Cambodian based family members speaking out in the film, their safety is a matter of concern. But Co producer Skye Fitzgerald says any threats against them would incur a backlash.

FITZGERALD: We were very careful to collaborate with and brief a number of organisations including Human Rights Watch, the US embassy in Phnom Penh, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia, local human rights NGOs. We're very careful to brief them over the nature of the family's vulnerability when the film was released, and to create what we like to call a cultural or public accountability so that if someone were so foolish as to make a threat against the family there's be a significant outcry within the international community.

SAWLANI: It's been more than nine years since the attack and Tat Marina has moved on and lives in the United States with her brother and young son. But the main perpetrator, Khoun Sophal remains at large.

While Marina's role in the film gives her with some sense of justice, she remains haunted by the ordeal.

MARINA: I always get nightmares every time, sometimes it's not every time. I've tried to leave my past behind but it's so hard. When strange people come out of nowhere and they saw me the way I look and they look at me what I've done to myself, and that is I come home at night time and always have a nightmare.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

WHY AH FUCKING HUN SEN NOT ARREST THIS FUCKING ASSHOLE AND HIS FUCKING BITCH WIFE .. OR AH HUN SEN ARE PART OF IT ?

Anonymous said...

He's scared!

Anonymous said...

Acid attack is very common in Cambodian society now. Some case is because of the jealous of the first wife, but in some cases the second wife always chase the first one, like the case of Marina. Speaking like that doesn't mean that I support the acid attack, but I just want to clarify the root cause. I heard that Marina called and insulted Svay Sitha's wife for many times, and those actions had pushed Svay Sith's wife out of patient, and led to this acid attack. If someone know this story clearly, please share it with the readers.

Anonymous said...

THERE SHOULD BE NO DOUBT IN ANY MIND THAT THE GOD OF ALL CREATION WILL DO HIS REVANGE AGAINST ALL EVIL ACTS. ACID ATTACKERS, AMONG OTHERS, WILL HAVE THEIR SOULS DEFINITELY TORMENTED IN FIRY HELL.

Anonymous said...

10:53 AM : it not a girl fault , if AH Svai Shit Ta is fucking old man and have a wife plus this old dog are the leader of the country , it should beware of the consequence .. , the girl try to finish the Relationship with this old dog ..he treat to kill her .. what the fuck ..He have to go to jail so as his bitch .

Anonymous said...

simple. don't fuck other people's husbands and don't taunt the wife an be DU

Anonymous said...

Now we have full picture of Svay Sitha for committing with paedophile. Tat Marina was only 16 years olds when this monster has affairs with her. Therefore, not only his wife Koun Sophal should be arrested but also Svay Sitha himself for paedophile. Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

Mais que faire cette bonne femme qui s'occupe de la condition fémine .Je me demande

Anonymous said...

Those stars (Dara)are just Underground Prostitutes...they contribute a lot to society troubles including robbery and stealing others husbands... they earned money by only sex business...they do not work hard using intelligence or labor forces
so that they sometimes receiving acid attack...

Anonymous said...

Even though she didn't know he was married and agreed We all know what happens If you refuse a high standing official. It's a catch 22. If only we had a government who would educate their people instead they perpetrate the crime (Bun Rany)

Anonymous said...

I would suit the director for defamation.

Anonymous said...

I am the brother, so let me clarify this whole issue with everyone here.

On my first trip to Cambodia, Svay Sitha had threatened to take my passport away , if I ever try to take my sister away from him.

Khun Sophal and Khun Vandy had called infinite times to threaten tat marina with all kinds of name calling, and at the same time Svay Sitha threatened Marina not to ever leave him, and if , Marina would ever leave him, he would not forgive her.He will look for her and killing her with his Land Cruiser. That was exactly what Svay said to Marina.

Khun Sophal had called to Tat Marina and called her all kinds of name, and it got to the point that Marina couln't take this name calling anymore, she then call Khun Sophal "OLD COW ",and that was it.

What Khun Sopal said about Marina called her and calling her names with insolent insults was an untrue story,it was the other way around. This is just an excuse to get away with it by Khun Sopal.

June of 1999 when I was there, there was a phone call, it was a male voice, and I believed it was Khun Sopal nephew( Khun Vandy). He called her name and threatened her with acid. I told my sister to be aware with her every move. If!!If! I only knew that Khun Sopal carried out her plot, I, myself would have stay in Cambodia longer to protect my sister. I would never ever allow Khun sopal to get away an inch away from the scene of the attacks. I would douse acid back on her or even throw her in one of those frying pan.

I agreed that it was my sister fault to have an affair with a married man, and especially someone who have enough connection with Hun Sen to get away with all kinds of murders.

Khun Sopal could not forgive my sister for her unintentional mistake, and so do I, I would never ever forgive Khun Sopal for the brutal attrocity she,her nephews,her sister and other young men who were conpiracied in the attacked on one helpless little girl.

None of our family supportted Marina to be involve in someone else husband. My mother had begged Marina countless time to leave Svay and asked Svay to leave her. I was there to hear my mother begging.Svay refused and he guaranteed all her safetiness.One day Svay got highly mad at marina for asking him if they could split. He took a gun and shot her in between the legs.

Now after Khun Sopal did to Marina, did it ever stop Svay Sitha from having more affairs with different women? I am expecting Khun Sopal to carry out more of her brutal action.

Svay Sitha was the man who cheated on her.Svay Sitha was the man who caused pain for his own children.She should be attacking her husband.

Anonymous said...

Marina paid her life for her mistake. Khun Sopal should pay her time for her crime. Khun Sopal did not effetct only Marina,but to many people. I used to have countless nightmares before I even fall asleep. I was able to worked for 10 or 2o hours per week, because I was too busy taking care of her. Life for me was extremely difficult for almost 2 years until Marina got better and able to take care of herself.

I'm here to ask all my compatriots in Cambodia to please stop hurting each others. Hurting someone is not only effecting that person alone, but to many lives.

Sequndo, Tat

Anonymous said...

This is very very sad. If Pouk Ah Scam Rainxy hadn't influenced her with evil westerner ideology, she would never got burn in the first place.

Anonymous said...

if only Hun Sen know how to give love and justice to all his people then Cambodian wouldn't kill each others. Silly Cambodian.

Anonymous said...

Ahquelle belle parole 8:25 je ne suis Scam Ranixy iste mais moralisateur vous roulez avec quoi et vous buvez quoi et vous habillez comment vous parlez si bien si bien je me pose la question qui se cache derrriere petit conseil ce n'est ce mecque eScam ect ect qui est responsable mais plutaôt L'INCOMPETENCE du ministre de la femme qu'il faut metttre en cause KIOM KHMER LEU Ps je suis sur que vous etes en permanence en vacances alors que moi je dois travailler dour pour non pas SURVIVRE mais vivre

Anonymous said...

Even Bun Rany protect Khoun Sophal at the day of the acid's attack...

CPP's people knows it!

Anonymous said...

If you voted for CPP (Cambodian People's Party):

Also known as:

Communist People's Party
Khmer Rouge People's Party
Khmer Krorhorm People's Party
Khmer Revolution Party


You're support the killing of 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples from 1975 to 1979 in Cambodia.

You're support the killing at least twelve innocent men, women and children on March 30, 1997 Grenade Attack in Cambodia.

You're support assassination of journalists in Cambodia.

You're support political assassination and killing in Cambodia.

You're support attempted assassination and murder of leader of the free trade union in Cambodia.

You're support corruptions in Cambodia.

You're support murder of Piseth Pilika (Hun Sen's affaire).

You're support Hun Sen Regime burn poor people's house down to the ground and leave them homeless.


Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng Samrin was a former Khmer Rouge commanders.

Now, Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng Samrin are Khmer Rouge leaders, since their leader (Pol Pot) is dead.

From 1975 to 1979, these Khmer Rouge commanders responsible for killing 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples in Cambodia.

From 1980 to present, these Khmer Rouge leaders responsible for killing innocent men, women and children on March 30, 1997, assassinated journalists, political assassination and killing, murder of Piseth Pilika (Hun Sen's affaire) and attempted assassinate and murder of leader of the free trade union in Cambodia.

When is the ECCC going to bring these three criminals to U.N. Khmer Rouge Tribunal?

Khmer Rouge Regime is a genocide organization.

Hun Sen Regime is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Bodyguards is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Death Squad is a terrorist organization.
Cambodian People's Party is a terrorist organization.

I have declare the current Cambodian government which is lead by the Cambodian People's Party as a terrorist organization.

Whoever associate with the current Cambodian government are associate with a terrorist organization.


Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:

Torture
Execution
Massacre
Atrocity
War Crimes
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvation
Overwork to Death
Slavery
Rape
Abuse
Assault and Battery


Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Regime had committed:

Assassination
Murder
Killing
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Intimidation
Death Threat
Threatening
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Mass Eviction
Land Grabbing
Corruptions
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Acid Attacks
Injustice
Steal Votes
Violate the Constitution


These are the Trade Marks of Hun Sen's Khmer Rouge Regime.

Under Hun Sen Regime, no criminals that has been committed murder and all other crimes within Hun Sen's government ever been brought to justice.


Information change without notice as it become available.

Anonymous said...

Dear Poster 7:45 PM
I have been Cambodia many trips. I knew the mentality of Cambodian man with power. They look down to woman like dirt. Look at Piseth Pilika and Touch srey Nich and others.
Your sister was just 16 years at that time. She was only a child. This man shouldn't use his position to threat a child for sex and for an affair at all. It was not a fault of your sister at all. What she had done just to fill her empty stomach. She had live in a regime in which the leaders of the regime included Svay Sitha have forced most Cambodian young women into prostitution and desparation in lives. They have closed all opportunities for people to survive except their clan. Therefore your sister has suffered in life by the regime. Svay Sitha has used this opportunity to abuse on your sister life. Therefore you should make an application to UN office in Cambodia to follow up this crime for your sister. She needs to live in good life for another 60 years with good education and good job instead of suffering with this kind of acid attack. She to have at least 5 millions in compensation from svay Sitha and put him to jail for having sex with under age. Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

I guest the reason Khun Sophal made the attacked was because Marina was very young and beautiful. If Svay Sitha had an affair with women her age it would be okay. This is what Svay Sitha had told Marina,and what Marina had told me. His wife was outraged because he had an affair with young beautiful girl.


Who was Svay Sitha?, I never knew nor even I ever heard of this name. I learnt of his name until the incident.

Sequndo , Tat

Anonymous said...

Tat,
I would do what Areak Prey suggested. file with the UN and they may give you a free lawyer because svy sitha is a dick head/ phedophile.
why are you a US citizen and not her?

Anonymous said...

Working on it. Justice must be serve for Cambodian throughout the country, not just for Marina. Cambodia belongs to every Cambodian,not just for a bunch of those corrupted hyenas. It is time that khmer should live with value and dignity.

Sequndo Tat

Anonymous said...

Who in Cambodia would like to make a few thousand dollars? I'll pay you to put acid on Khun Sopal and the nephew.

Anonymous said...

7:32AM.
It is a good feeling to seek justice, but it is not going to happen on this earth not only in Cambodia. My deepest sympathy for victim woman.

But please understand what Lord Buddha taught. What we received are all our Bapkam we did in our past or past life.
Everyone of us all have Bapkam.


Those who did to this victim will receive Bapkam, but we don't know when but they will.

Anonymous said...

If we continue to take lord buddaha as our soul supreme ruler and to keep on following his philosphy, then there wouldn't be any justice and peace in human society. If someone chopped off my arm, I would chop off their arm too. Justice is what we all need to have people respects each others.

Anonymous said...

Dirty fucking country. Drity like the fucking Cambodian fucking firtst lady. Bun Rany is so fucking fat and fucking ugly bacon.