Comment to Media – Phnom Penh, 19 May 2011
CCHR condemns cowardly homophobic attack and police negligence amidst otherwise joyful PRIDE celebrations
In the early hours of Sunday 15 May 2011 the staff and clientele of the gay-friendly Rainbow Bar on Street 172 in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district were subjected to a vicious and unprovoked homophobic attack by neighbors, which left several people badly injured and caused significant damage to the bar. The establishment had been hosting a drag queen competition as part of Pride Week 2011 celebrations. More worryingly, according to witnesses, police refused to intervene until they had been paid a bribe of US$500.
The attack fell during Pride Week 2011, a week designed to promote tolerance of – and to celebrate – sexual and gender diversity. Pride Week 2011 passed off with great success in Cambodia, with more than 1,300 people showing their support and attending a wide range of events in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and other parts of the country. It is clear from the popularity of the festivities that ordinary Cambodians are beginning to embrace lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexual (“LGBTI”) people.
While the attack itself is a matter of concern, the failure of the police to intervene and discharge their duties to maintain the safety and security of the staff and patrons at the bar is a significantly more serious matter. The failure on the part of the police to intervene and arrest the perpetrators at best suggests negligence on their part and, at worst, tacit approval of the attack and its discriminatory motivations. Such failures on the part of the police are likely only to encourage additional homophobic and transphobic sentiments and attacks.
Responding to the violent attack on Rainbow Bar, Ou Virak, President of CCHR, a non-aligned, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia, commented:
“This is a shocking and entirely unprovoked attack on innocent people peacefully and joyfully celebrating Pride Week 2011. CCHR condemns this heinous and cowardly act, but congratulates the staff of Rainbow Bar for refusing to be cowed by such behavior and having the courage to continue with their Pride Week celebrations after the attack. However, we are gravely concerned by the reports of a lack of police intervention and urge that the attack be properly investigated. The ignorance of a bunch of thugs is one thing; gross negligence on the part of the authorities is altogether more troubling.”
For more information, please contact Ou Virak (tel: +855 (0) 12 40 40 51 or e-mail: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org).
Please find this media comment attached in English. A Khmer version will follow shortly.
Thank you and kind regards
2 comments:
What a heinous gross choice in being a Sodomite. There is nothing to be proud of in having chose this kind of an abominable life style. These groups/supporters can paint it glorious - but Creator God calls it an Abomination before him. God rain down fire & brimstones on Sodom & Gomorah in the land of Israel because the people in those days practiced this kind of thing. You can actually see the ruin today of what was Sodom&Gomora east of the Dead Sea. I was given a sulfur stone by a person who visited the once Sodom city.
Before God destroy Sodom, he actually visited it first to see if it was bad as reported. It was bad because the men of the city young & old want to have sex with the angels of God as they were staying in a righteous man's house. They almost broke down the door to get to them but the angel smote them with blindness until the righteous man was taken out from that city before he rain down judgment on the rest of them.
Those who support this kind of life style is in sin with those who practice this wickedness. God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that will he also reaps. Corruption is what he/she will reap. I only agree with God's truth, not a hater. Truth must be told and I tell you now, Sodomy is WRONG.
From! the way of one of the gay guy post the advertising in this comment blog! I think some of them do not know what to be respect and proper to other!
If those gay act like the one post kissing picture and anoy people in the wrong place I would not beat them but I would not help them either!
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