TIP MEETING WITH CAMBODIAN POLICE DEPUTY

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 001606 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, G/TIP AND EAP/RSP BANGKOK FOR ICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CB KWMN SUBJECT: TIP MEETING WITH CAMBODIAN POLICE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER REF: A. A) SECSTATE 123359 ¶B. B) PHNOM PENH 1424 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. On September 5, the Acting DCM delivered the Tier 2 Watch List Action Plan demarche to Lieutenant General Neth Savoeun of the Cambodian National Police, emphasizing the recommendations in the reftel. The A/DCM asked that Cambodian police consider the recommendations as a way to help improve their TIP-fighting abilities. The Lieutenant General agreed with the recommendations but added that the police would need time to review its TIP plan to revise areas where shortcomings are identified. The case of an American citizen arrested for TIP was also discussed. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Acting DCM was accompanied by poloff (notetaker) and Pol/Econ LES staffmember; Savoeun was accompanied by Ung Sokhunthea, head of the CNP's Anti-TIP Department; Kirth Chantharith, chief of staff at the MOI; and Chea Peou, assistant to Commissioner General of National Police. MOI Deputy Commissioner Discusses TIP -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On September 5, the Acting DCM delivered the Trafficking in Persons demarche to Lieutenant General Neth Savoeun, the Deputy Commissioner General of National Police and presented copies of the reftel A non-paper in English and Khmei. The A/DCM noted that the RGC made good progress in previous rating period, and as a result had been upgraded from Tier 3 to the Tier 2 Watchlist in the 2006 TIP Report. She went on to press Savoeun in three areas. First she asked that the police speed up investigations of establishments known to have trafficking victims for sale, especially in Phnom Penh's Street 63 and Toul Kork areas. Second, she stated the Embassy is aware of a number of indebted Chinese and Vietnamese nationals coming to work in karoke and massage parlors in Cambodia. She asked that the Cambodian National Police (CNP) investigate such nationals coming to work in Cambodia with any eye towards reducing the number of trafficking victims. Third, the A/DCM stated that the USG is concerned with how official corruption aids TIP. Specifically, she stated that USG is concerned that establishments offering TIP victims continue to operate because of corruption. ¶4. (SBU) Savoeun thanked the A/DCM for her recommendations. He noted that the Ministry of Interior signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Justice Mission (IJM) that very day. He also highlighted that the CNP organized a seminar the previous month with the NGOs and the representatives of various Embassies about TIP. Savoeun stated that the CNP has been doing its best to fight TIP. ¶5. (SBU) Regarding the A/DCM recommendations, Savoeun stated that he would forward them to Commissioner General of the Police Hok Lundy. He agreed that CNP should speed up its investigations. Savoeun stated that a few months ago, the CNP came across some cases of Vietnamese trafficking victims; he said that the CNP is cooperating with neighboring countries on such transnational TIP cases. He said that he has reminded government officials that they cannot participate in illegal activity as well as investigated which officials were abusing the law. Savoeun promised to check the CNP's TIP strategy to see where the plan was lacking based on the recommendations. He also promised to have a meeting with all provincial police commissioners in one month and highlight the importance of TIP. Finally, the CNP Deputy Commissioner punctuated the conversation by stating that the CNP will not rest until Cambodia is Tier 1. Amcit TIP Case -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The A/DCM thanked Savoeun for his work and the commitment of the RGC to support anti-TIP measures. She also asked about the case of Amcit Terrence Darrell Smith, who was arrested in Sihanoukville on July 31 on charges of debauchery. Smith and his Vietnamese wife were recently released from a prison in Sihanoukville on bail. Savoeun stated that the case has been sent to the courts and promised to contact the Ministry of Justice and look into the matter. He also offered to work with the courts to issue a letter to the Embassy requesting that Smith not receive USG assistance to leave the country while his case was pending in the Cambodian courts. (Note: Smith is wanted in the state of Oregon on 17 counts of debauchery. End Note.) Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Neth Savoeun responded favorably on TIP-related matters. So far this year, however, little in terms of concrete progress in terms of arrests, prosecutions, and rescue of TIP victims has resulted when compared with statistics from the previous year. IJM has complained that their MOU agreement with the MOI has been stalled for months. The Ambassador presented the demarche (reftel B) to DPM and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng. This time, we wanted to reinforce with the CNP leadership several specific areas in which they could make useful inroads before the next TIP review. The next few months will see if positive action will result, and the Embassy will continue to press the RGC for tangible results. Septel describes recent anti-prostitution raids in Phnom Penh that did nothing to further the RGC's anti-TIP agenda. End Comment. MUSSOMELI