Gender crimes at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal

A trans woman has been the first person to submit a gender related crime complaint to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. Very little has been written on sexual violence under the Khmer Rouge but hopefully Som Southevy's complaint will inspire other women to come forward and make formal complaints.

Som Southevy’s story also highlights the contemporary situation with regard to sexual violence in Cambodia, which many observers and human rights organisations believe is getting worse.

Southevy told a press conference this week she had been accused of so-called ‘moral crimes’ and acting like a woman by the Khmer Rouge and incarcerated in several detention centres.

Weeping as she spoke, Southevy said that while she was in these prisons she was repeatedly sexually assaulted and gang raped by Khmer Rouge officials and cadres.

Although she cannot reveal all of the details, many of which are the subject of the official complaint to the tribunal, she was also forced to have her hair cut and wear men’s clothing.

"If I had not followed these orders I would have been killed," she said. "I was forced to marry a woman and after ten days they [the Khmer Rouge] investigated whether it was a genuine marriage -- that is they tested whether we had had sexual intercourse."

Whether by accident or design sex crimes were not included in the law establishing the KRT but all Cambodians have the right to bring complaints to the tribunal. It seems an incredible oversight given the high levels of rape, domestic violence and child sexual abuse present in Cambodia today.

Rape, forced marriage and violence was part of daily life under the Khmer Rouge but it did not end with them. There is gender based and domestic violence reported every day. Som Southevy's complaint will at the very least prompt an investigation into gender based and sexual violence under the KR, which may lead to a more equitable society in the future.

Benedict fucks up again

Via Shakesville

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Nuclear arms proliferation, environmental pollution and economic inequality are threats to world peace -- but so are abortion, birth control and same-sex marriage, Pope Benedict XVI said in a statement released by the Vatican Tuesday (Dec. 11). (Source)

What is the matter with Benedict? Threats to peace? Seriously, has he gone insane? He is a very convincing argument for dismissing the ridiculous notion of papal infallibility.

Let's run through is short but glorious time as Pope. In addition to yesterday's raving, he abolished limbo and promoted religious conflict through his 'we are right and you are wrong' doctrine. Do the PTB not see that Benedict's statements are inappropriate especially now? Does he pine for the days of the Holy Roman Empire and the discrimination that the church promoted? Perhaps he can increase the hate some more by inciting a new 'crusade'.

He is not promoting peace or goodwill. By stating that abortion, birth control and same-sex marriage and threats to world peace, he is not only showing the depth of his ignorance about the realities of living in the real world and a profound disrespect for those of us who work to establish peace, but he is also making it open season to attack women and gays. How fucking typical. We have actually emerged from the dark ages. We don't burn women at the stake any more, literally at least. Figuratively is another matter...

As far as I remember from religion class, Christ's number one commandment was 'love one another as I have loved you'. He did not say except if you are a woman, use contraception, have abortions, are gay, support gay marriage, or are Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist. He said to 'love your neighbour as yourself'.

So Benny, why are you continuing to promote hate and violence. It would seem to be in direct violation of your mandate. As a Catholic, I must ask for your immediate resignation.

EDIT: The more I think about this, the angrier I get. This is the leader of the Catholic church? This is the man that I am supposed to believe in infallible? This is the man that promotes hate? I struggle enough with the church being a Catholic and a feminist and with this misogynist homophobe as leader, it may be time to cut ties. Anyone know of a church that believes in love, peace and understanding? I sure don't.

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PM rejects daughter for being gay

This seems to be a case of do as I say, not as I do. The PM is disowning his adopted daughter because she is gay. He is afraid that she will claim assets from his family

Cambodian's prime minister said Tuesday he was severing ties with his adopted daughter, who is a lesbian, but appealed to people not to discriminate against gays.

Hun Sen said he plans to file a civil court case to disown his adopted daughter so that she cannot claim any inheritance from his family.

"We are concerned that she might one day cause us trouble ... and try to stake her claim for a share of our assets," he said. (Source)

And he is apparently terrified of lesbians. He has actually imagined the following scenario.

"I felt very regretted with her and that the lesbian case happened in family. I and my wife will send a complaint to court to deprive her of any will and property of my family," he said.

"I and my wife adopted her while she was 18 days in 1988 and she used my family name from that time. She brought her girls to my house and slept together with them," he said.

"We are concerned that one day her girls take bombs and poisonous materials to our house and we all will die. Who knows in advance? I have five children and one adopted daughter," he said. (Source)

"I sent her to study in the USA, but she went to have a wife and someday she might bring her wife to our home with a grenade" (Cambodia Daily 31/10/2007)

Of course homophobia and paranoia are playing a role here but is the strong man of Cambodia terrified of homosexuals? He is afraid that his ex-daughter's girlfriends would murder him. Where does that fear come from?

Unfortunately people pay closer attention to actions than words. The PM disowned his daughter for marrying a woman and yet a government spokesman claims that ain't the fact that she's gay but her behaviour...

He is worried that his family name Hun might be used ... His point is that parents should not discriminate but the court should be aware if his daughter creates any problems outside the home, it won't involve him. (Cambodia Daily 31/10/2007)

Oh noes not his family name associated with homosexuality! That is discrimination. Calling for an end to discrimination doesn't hold much weight when one publicly disowns a daughter for marrying another women. Such claims ring false when one is terrified of being murdered by gays.

Unfortunately homosexuality is still quite a taboo in Cambodia. If you read the comments, following the sources I used, quite a nasty picture begins to form. Hopefully acceptance will come with time.