Wasted Lives

Cambodia’s local rag, the Phnom Penh Post is a fascinating read – full of the most gruesome but unfortunately too real stories.  Headlines read “Mother and Daughter Hacked to Death”, “Man Accused of Raping 13 Year Old Sweetheart”, and “No Phone Credit Leads Man to Down Rat Poison”.

There is frequent news of women being brutally hacked to death in rice fields while collecting firewood, others raped and murdered, their bodies, with eyes gouged out and legs broken,  found hanging from trees near their homes, while their assailants walk free.  Corruption is rife here with lazy police and officials opting for cash as opposed to the law.  In the case of the murdered girls (above), officials failed to collect forensic evidence; no finger prints, no sperm samples – Cambodia just isn’t geared up for it.   They let the suspects walk free, despite family of the victims having witnesses.

Three members of one family were killed last Tuesday in a remote district.  The Police Chief said searching for murder suspects “seems like finding a needle in the sea” – which translates to “I can’t be stuffed”.  The value of human life here is beyond woeful.

A local activist attempting to deliver petitions to Ban Ki-moon was beaten unconscious and arrested by police and military police as the UN Secretary General concluded his three-day visit to Cambodia.

Closer to home, one of our long-term Volunteers, Robyn, is fighting her own legal battle to release one of her ex-students, an 18-year old Khmer boy who has been imprisoned for the past five months for having sex with his underage girlfriend.  Believing her to be of legal age, 15, the couple had “Boom Boom” one night.  The following morning he was arrested, the mother demanding US$3,000 as an “out” (bail money of which a large percentage of would go to the police).  Obviously the boy’s family couldn’t afford this and he risks between 7 and 15 years in jail. 

Another wasted life.

Love Songs and Dedications

One of the great things about New Hope’s volunteer program is that it attracts so many interesting people with so many different skill sets and incredible life stories.  For the past week we’ve had a great lady, Lois, who runs her own real estate agency in Lennox Head.  She is also a professionally-trained singer who has performed in numerous plays and musicals in Australia. 

At New Hope Lois shared her talent with the advanced English class – a group of some 15 gorgeous young men ranging from about 15 through to 25.  They belted out Air Supply’s “All Out of Love” with such passion, it bought tears to our eyes. 

At the back of the class, Touen, the gorgeous Downs Syndrome boy who is cared for by the village, belted out his own version, swaying, perfectly out of time, with his hand on his heart.  A complete crack up, it was beautiful.

New Hope Football Teams

Each Friday New Hope’s football teams take to the dusty soccer ground adjacent to the school, resplendent in their Netherlands and Germany jerseys, (with three number 13’s and three number seven’s per side!). 

They begin the match with the Cambodian national anthem and then shake their opponents hands before literally kicking up a dust storm with their bare feet and agile limbs.  It’s hard to determine whether they follow the rules, but referee Kenneth does his best to keep order.

I completely failed in my attempt to get a cheer squad going!