Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PHNOMPENH662
2006-04-07 09:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Phnom Penh
Cable title:  

TIP ON THE COAST OF CAMBODIA

Tags:  PHUM PREL KWMN CB 
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VZCZCXRO5465
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #0662/01 0970915
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070915Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6422
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1383
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000662 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR G/TIP, EAP/MLS AND EAP/RSP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KWMN CB
SUBJECT: TIP ON THE COAST OF CAMBODIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000662

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR G/TIP, EAP/MLS AND EAP/RSP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KWMN CB
SUBJECT: TIP ON THE COAST OF CAMBODIA


1. (SBU) Summary. PolOff traveled to Cambodia's coastal
regions to meet with anti-trafficking NGOs and government
officials to assess the human trafficking problem and the
efforts being made to combat TIP. NGOs in the port city of
Sihanoukville report good cooperation with the government and
a decrease in human trafficking following sustained efforts
to combat the problem. NGOs in remote Koh Kong report that
while cooperation with most government departments is good,
the provincial anti-trafficking unit remains problematic and
uncooperative. End Summary.


Sihanoukville
--------------


2. (SBU) During meetings with PolOff, NGOs Adhoc, LICADHO,
and AFESIP explained that human trafficking has decreased in
the province over the past two years, primarily because of
government efforts to combat human trafficking. These NGOs
explained many brothels have closed following police raids
and that recent convictions of human traffickers have been
effective deterrents. LICADHO explained that the police have
been very responsive to complaints, but expressed concern
that the police were negotiating out of court settlements
between the victims and the perpetrators, thereby
circumventing the judiciary. NGOs report dissatisfaction
with the judiciary, asserting that prosecution efforts have
been lax and prosecutors and judges unresponsive.


3. (SBU) AFESIP reported that there approximately 45
commercial sex establishments employing about 275 direct and
450 indirect sex workers. AFESIP explained that it has
access to all sex establishments and does not believe that
many of the workers are victims of trafficking. However,
AFESIP did express concern about one high-end karaoke club
that caters to wealthy Cambodian clientele. AFESIP reported
that although it has access to the workers of this club, it
is possible that trafficking victims are hidden from view.
PolOff conducted informal observation of the two primary
brothel districts in Sihanoukville, Blue Mountain and the New
Village, and did not observe any obvious underage girls;
however, it is impossible to determine whether any had been
forced, deceived or were in a situation of debt bondage.
While there were a couple of Western customers, the majority
appeared to be local Khmers and sailors from the nearby port.



4. (U) The anti-trafficking department informed PolOff that
there has been a significant decrease in the number of
commercial sex establishments in the last two years because
of increased police raids and government attention given to
the problem of human trafficking. The anti-trafficking
police received two training courses in 2005, which has
helped them to improve their investigations, victim
interviews, and case management. However, the department's
chief explained that while his department is trying to take
increased action, it does not have sufficient resources to
conduct the investigations and must resort to using personal
vehicles and gas for investigations.


5. (U) Sihanoukville Governor Say Hak reported that
combating human trafficking is a top priority for the
government. He explained that while the government is
trying to attract increased tourism with the regional airport
-- which is to be operational before the end of the year --
it is concerned that Sihanoukville could become a destination
for sex tourism. Hak explained that he has created a
provincial plan, comprised of various departments and police,
to prevent trafficking from increasing. He explained that
the Department of Women's Affairs has been active on the
prevention front, conducting information campaigns throughout
the province.

Koh Kong
--------------


6. (U) The remote province of Koh Kong is quickly opening
to the rest of Cambodia. Governor Yuth Phouthang informed
PolOff that the Thai government offered low-interest loans
for road construction and grants for bridges to span the four
rivers that are currently crossed via ferry and are to be
finished by the end of 2006 and 2007, respectively.
Phouthang explained that the government has prioritized
combating human trafficking, in addition to illegal logging,
fishing, and land grabbing. The Governor stated that
following receipt of a strict order from the central
government to increase cooperation with NGOs and various
government ministries on combating TIP, he established a
committee to prevent human trafficking and domestic violence.

PHNOM PENH 00000662 002 OF 002


The committee is comprised of all government departments and
relevant NGOs in order to collect and coordinate information
related to TIP and ensure that timely interventions are
conducted. The Department of Social Affairs (DoSVY)
explained that the government met with its Thai counterparts
to discuss anti-TIP strategies and is cooperating on
establishing a transit center for deported immigrants and
trafficking victims in the province.


7. SBU) Anti-trafficking NGOs reported that cooperation
with DoSVY and Women's Affairs is good; however, cooperation
with the anti-trafficking unit continues to be problematic.
NGOs complained that the police are reluctant to take action
and often demand financial assistance to enlist their
cooperation. DoSVY explained that the anti-trafficking
police do not conduct proactive investigations and have even
ignored complaints submitted by NGOs. However, DoSVY noted
that this unwillingness could be explained by financial and
technical constraints on part of the police, as they are
badly resourced and ill equipped. NGOs reported that the
Phnom Penh anti-trafficking unit recently conducted
operations in the province, resulting in successful raids and
rescues. (Note: These raids were conducted in collaboration
with and support by NGO International Justice Mission). NGOs
welcomed this outside action, as they have had to provide
transportation and food to the provincial anti-trafficking
unit in order to secure action from the police.


8. (U) The anti-trafficking unit explained to PolOff that
they had cooperated with the Phnom Penh unit in three recent
successful raids. The chief explained that the provincial
unit had just been created in 2005 and that it has received
very little training and even less funding. He explained
that his unit was not even equipped with a camera and was
required to hire a professional photographer in order to
document arrested traffickers.


9. (SBU) AFESIP reported that there are 12-14 brothels in
Koh Kong and approximately 95 sex workers. PolOff conducted
informal interviews with sex workers and observation of the
various commercial sex establishments located in the area
known as the Chicken Farm. It is very difficult to ascertain
the ages of the sex workers, but most appeared to be over
eighteen and all claimed to be voluntary adults. The workers
explained that the majority of their customers are local
Cambodians, with some Thai workers engaged in construction on
the new road, and an occasional foreigner. The women
explained that they have never met customers from or traveled
to the casinos along the border area. There were no reports
of commercial sex establishments located near the casinos on
the border area, contradicting rumors that the Thais are
traveling to Cambodia for gambling and girls.

Comment
--------------


10. (SBU) Although NGOs report very good cooperation with
the anti-trafficking police in the principal provinces,
cooperation in the remote regions like Koh Kong continues to
be problematic. While the central government's expression of
political will to combat human trafficking has reached the
provinces, the financial resources necessary to carry out the
fight have not been as forthcoming. End Comment.

Mussomeli