May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post
A woman who claims to be the wife of the deputy governor of Kandal province’s Takhmao district has asked rights groups to intervene and prevent him from marrying another woman this Friday.
Uy Thavy, 40, claims that she married 43-year-old Takhmao deputy district governor Huy Ath in 1993, and pointed out that an additional marriage would be illegal, as their divorce has not yet been approved.
“I was shocked when I saw the invitation card. I am his official wife. I will not allow him to get married whatsoever. I need a husband and my kids need a father,” she said, claiming that she is taking care of four of Huy Ath’s sons.
She said she discovered in September that her husband was having an affair with a woman from Tien commune in Kandal Stung district.
“If the authorities do not help me, I will find my own way to stop the wedding,” she said. “My husband filed a complaint to get a divorce from me after I found out that he was having a relationship with a new woman. But I did not agree to get a divorce.”
Uy Thavy said that after telling Huy Ath of her objection to the wedding, Huy Ath threatened to imprison her if she caused any problems during the ceremony.
Keo Sok Ros, Tien commune chief, said that Huy Ath had presented him with a legal document stating that he had been legally divorced from Uy Thavy.
“I issued a marriage letter for him because he has a legal document. If he did not have the document, we would not issue the letter,” he said.
However, Men Makara, a provincial coordinator for the rights group Adhoc, said that Uy Thavy had shown him a document indicating that the divorce had not been approved, fuelling speculation that the document her husband had presented to Uy Thavy was fake.
Huy Ath could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Under the 2006 Law on Monogamy, a person found guilty of bigamy can face anywhere between six months to a year in prison and fines of between 200,000 riel (US$49) and 1,000,000 riel.
7 comments:
I sympathize her and hope I could talk to Mrs Uy Thavy directly. However, my aim to write this comment in relation to the issue purely intend to empower women in Cambodia and everywhere in the world to take charge for their own future and destiny.
I can understand the woman's fear and anger, but I can presume that this is not a catastrophic situation. Of course she needs all supports to look after herself and children and he will have to take every responsibility to provide them just that. I don't believe she could stop him from marrying an other woman, judging from the rule of laws and his position, and worse of all the morality and conducts of this type of husband and father has upheld. If this Uy Thavy is a smart woman, she will let go of him and make a civil arrangement for him to demand what she could be settled with to avoid ugly battle of matrimony. It's hurt and difficult, but I am sure she is in a far better position as a wife of a senior official, comparing to many poor women in the country. She would have some substantial possession to manage her life and the children, though it won't make her rich but would not end up on the mountain of rubbish. Don't get mad get even (quote of Donald Tramp's ex wife)by working hard to support yourself and others who are in needs of assistance. She would be very surprise of how happy to be an independent woman. Go on, set a role model and help to educate other choumtievs who forgets that they are living in the borrow times to be smarter and prepared for the rainy day like this.
Yeay Tep
Wow! Yeay Tep I agree. Work hard and get another husband - a better one.
We need to educate our Khmer braved heart lady that this present stinky gov't is not going to last forever.
Find an opposition man who object to such barbaric act like HS and his gangsters.
You will find peace once you set yourself as independent person, you will grab the world by storm.
My poor lady. I hope she didn't go out and beat other woman out there for her selfishness.
cpp......................pp
be strong and divorced his ass...get yourself another man and moved on. Not like other khmer lady who's allow to be the 5th wife.
women power
aH kWACK HUN XEN AND IT SUBORDINATE NEVER RESPECT LAWS!
OR MOTHERFUCKER PhD FROM HANOI JUST PLAIN JUNGLE STUPID!
i think in cambodia, if a couple isn't happy with each other for some reason, then get a divorce, instead of enduring domestic violence, abuses, etc! change your old thinking, ok!
Change your old thinking is easy to say...but to do it is more difficult.
If one divorce...will there be a job for her to work and take care her children! Event before 1975 - most women would stay in the marriage just for their children. She want her children to have enough financial needed met and security, period. It is no longer about her, but about her children.
in the US, many Khmer women left her husband...because they don't want to take the crab from their human. In addition, they can go out and work and take care their children without depending on men. The political system that exist in US or any others of OECD allow women to do this, but not in Cambodia.
In addition, in Cambodia, event the useless husband - you can throw him on the street...any women will gladly pick him. One woman's trash is another woman treasure.....Or better yet don't throw your trash yet...just said you are going to throw your trash...women will come waiting at your door step to pick him up....talking about men's power in Khmer society...but who fall...women are the mother of these men...cycle...cycle..
no wonder this man left her...cuz she's so stupid. If someone doesn't want to be with you, why the hell u hang on for? Just because he stays married to you doesn't mean he will sleep with you or take care of you or your kids financially.
When a dog strays, there's no point of pulling him back... .so let this fool go. You don't need to stay in a relationship that will only brings you pain and sorrows.
THERE'S PLENTY OF FISH IN THE SEA.
Post a Comment