The 9th graders and some 8th graders had the opportunity to hear a woman from Cambodia talk about the work she does in her country. Mu Sochua lived in Cambodia until she was 18 years old. At that time, the Khmer Rouge took control of the government. Sochua told us that during the “three years, nine months, and twenty-eight days” that the Khmer Rouge was in power, 1.7 million Cambodians died. Their deaths can be attributed to starvation, exhaustion, exposure to the elements, and landmines. Although Mu Sochua was able to leave for France to continue her education, her family died under the Khmer Rouge. Her mission is to help the Cambodian people out of the lasting effects of the Khmer’s tyrannous rule. She told us that four million of the 14 million Cambodians earn less than $.50 a day. In Cambodia, there are 100,000 prostitutes. Of the 100,000, 70% are trafficked. The other 30% become prostitutes to support their families. The trafficked women are kidnapped from Cambodia and are forced into prostitution in another country, such as Vietnam. Of the 70,000 forced prostitutes, 40% are under 16 years old. When we asked what we can do, she told us that we need to create better economic opportunities, prosecute traffickers, and declare child prostitution a violation of human rights. We need to get the United Nations involved, in order to help the Cambodians. As a member of Parliament, Mu Sochua’s mission is to help the Cambodian people realize that they can have a voice against the government, that they don’t have to live in poverty and deprivation. In the Cambodian culture, the krama is like a scarf. However, it has many uses that are essential to both men and women’s lifestyle. To do our part, the ninth grade is going to create an event called “Krama,” to raise money for Cambodian rights. This event will hopefully take place this spring. Mu Sochua truly influenced the way that we look at life and how we take for granted what we have. We hope that our event will raise awareness of human rights in Cambodia.
Below is an audio clip of an interview with Mu Sochua on the Brian Lehrer Show:
Here is an article from the New Canaan News about our meeting with Mu Sochua.
Here is a link to Sochua's blog:
http://sochua.wordpress.com/
I wish I could have been there to hear her speak -- it must have been powerful. Thanks for your article!
ReplyDeleteIn Mourning
ReplyDeleteNovember 22, 2010
Palo Alto, California- As a nation we mourn the loss of hundreds of our sisters and brothers in the Koh Pich stampede today. As a nation we are shocked and horrified by the tragedy. Condolences to the families go beyond our feelings of grave sadness as we, as a nation must find means for the injured to recover, the orphans to find homes and the families to heal. We also want to know the causes so that such tragedy will never occur again. Safety and security of the people must come first and the truth must be told.
I truly believe that we must work together as a nation and heal as a nation. In the days and months to come, we will continue to pray for the souls of the people who paid dearly with their lives for merely wanting to celebrate the ancient Khmer tradition of Oum Touk- the Water Festival. This moment of great sadness for the hundreds of our sisters and brothers who died should also be a moment for re-evaluating the value of our people's lives because payments or gifts can not easily help rebuild lives that are shattered. Thorough independent investigations must be conducted and testimonies of the survivors taken into serious consideration and with great protection and sensitivity.
My most sincere gratitude goes to each and everyone for their courage, their heroism and their deep sense of duty. Many helped rescue those who were injured, those who cried out for help, the children who were being stampeded, while they themselves were looking for a safe escape.
In California, I am appealing for contributions for the children whose parents have died, for women and men who now are facing the burden of supporting their families alone. Their lives must be rebuilt. In the next days l will seek out each and every source for contribution and to bring this very tragic news to those whose hearts will also be touched by the Koh Pich tragedy.
Going with our beliefs, we must light candles and burn incense and place them on our family altar for the next 100 days.
Mu Sochua, MP