By John Maloy
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Retired King Norodom Sihanouk has offered to pay for Cambodian women who have been left homeless in foreign countries or are working as prostitutes abroad to be repatriated to Cambodia.
In a statement emailed to media outlets Saturday, the retired King wrote that there are Cambodian women living in Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and southern Vietnam who all need to be brought home.
"Taiwanese 'Gentlemen' have brought Khmer women to be their 'spouses.' Today, these Khmer women have been thrown into the streets by these very arrogant and contemptuous false Husbands," Norodom Sihanouk wrote from Beijing.
"With the very high permission of our Great Leader, our Consul(?) in Taipei could send them back to Phnom Penh at my expense (economy class air travel)," Norodom Sihanouk said, adding that there are women in similar circumstances in South Korea.
Norodom Sihanouk also offered to pay for women working as prostitutes in Malaysia, Thailand and southern Vietnam to be brought home.
At least 79 Cambodian spouses living in Taiwan are currently in legal limbo, partly because their official Cambodian documents bear the words "PRC use only," referring to the People's Republic of China, according to an email from a Taiwanese official to SRP lawmaker Son Chhay earlier this month.
Cambodia has followed a strict One China policy for years, and refuses to accept Taiwan as an independent country.
Hsinyi Luo, secretary to Taiwanese Interior Minister Lee Yi-yang, wrote to Son Chhay on Jan 9 stating that it is currently difficult to resolve bureaucratic problems concerning Cambodians in Taiwan, as Taiwanese and Cambodian officials have such little contact.
Son Chhay sent a letter to the retired King on Monday asking for his approval for Taiwan to reestablish its Economic and Cultural Office in Phnom Penh, according to a copy of the letter.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary of State Long Visalo said he was too busy to speak with a reporter.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
In a statement emailed to media outlets Saturday, the retired King wrote that there are Cambodian women living in Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and southern Vietnam who all need to be brought home.
"Taiwanese 'Gentlemen' have brought Khmer women to be their 'spouses.' Today, these Khmer women have been thrown into the streets by these very arrogant and contemptuous false Husbands," Norodom Sihanouk wrote from Beijing.
"With the very high permission of our Great Leader, our Consul(?) in Taipei could send them back to Phnom Penh at my expense (economy class air travel)," Norodom Sihanouk said, adding that there are women in similar circumstances in South Korea.
Norodom Sihanouk also offered to pay for women working as prostitutes in Malaysia, Thailand and southern Vietnam to be brought home.
At least 79 Cambodian spouses living in Taiwan are currently in legal limbo, partly because their official Cambodian documents bear the words "PRC use only," referring to the People's Republic of China, according to an email from a Taiwanese official to SRP lawmaker Son Chhay earlier this month.
Cambodia has followed a strict One China policy for years, and refuses to accept Taiwan as an independent country.
Hsinyi Luo, secretary to Taiwanese Interior Minister Lee Yi-yang, wrote to Son Chhay on Jan 9 stating that it is currently difficult to resolve bureaucratic problems concerning Cambodians in Taiwan, as Taiwanese and Cambodian officials have such little contact.
Son Chhay sent a letter to the retired King on Monday asking for his approval for Taiwan to reestablish its Economic and Cultural Office in Phnom Penh, according to a copy of the letter.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary of State Long Visalo said he was too busy to speak with a reporter.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
5 comments:
Tears drop for the Great King!!!!
Ordianry Khmers
Hun Sen Government is very good to defend their corrupted officials,but it is failed to protect Cambodians right who were violated by their cronies and other countries.
Like father looking after his daughters. More power to The King!
Dear King,
Excellent job to elevate Khmers' dignity. Long live...
Long Live Somdach Euv, but I must
say that Cambodia is not yet heaven
for anyone who would like to
returned here, except for a few
who can't hack their situation.
I believed many will enjoyed the
life-style in Taiwan even if it
mean being a prostitute. Let's
face fact. What is there for
them to return to in Cambodia.
The same prostetute jobs?
Seriously, the struggle for power
must be stopped at all cost. We
need to work together to get
everyone on their feet again,
and then attacking the many dogs
who was raised in Pol Pot era
without any moral education.
That is the only chance that we
really have to get of poverty
anytime soon. Think about that
and think hard if you are serious
about helping Khmers.
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