Cablegate: Police Action Against Prostitution -- Cause For

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PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHPF #1607/01 2500008
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070008Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7264
INFO RUEHZS/ASEAN COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 001607

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KWMN KJUS CB
SUBJECT: POLICE ACTION AGAINST PROSTITUTION -- CAUSE FOR
CELEBRATION?

1. (U) Summary: Recently, the police of Toul Kork district
started a campaign against prostitution, rounding up 47 prostitutes
from nine brothels and other venues in the area and referring them
to NGO shelters. Twenty-seven customers and two facilitators were
arrested during the operations, but all were later released. Police
claimed these raids are part of the government's agenda to eliminate
prostitution. The NGO community believes that the police should be
focusing on arresting pimps and brothel owners rather than merely
removing sex workers from brothels. End Summary.

The Raids
---------

2. (U) On August 24, local police authorities of Toul Kork
districts raided nine brothels in Stung Meanchey area. (Note: this
area is a well-known red light district in Phnom Penh. End Note.)
The raid resulted in the removal of 35 voluntary sex workers and
arrests of 27 customers who were visiting the brothels at the time
of raid. The women were referred to AFESIP for psychological
counseling and social services. The customers reportedly were
counseled and released by the police.

3. (U) A few days later, police authorities conducted a similar
raid on street-based prostitutes along Street 336 in Tuol Kork who
were deemed an eyesore to the public. During this raid, police
picked up 12 sex workers and two intermediaries. Police referred
the sex workers to the Department of Social Affairs for further
referrals as AFESIP's shelter had reached full capacity. The
intermediaries were released after being counseled.

4. (SBU) Mr. Hout Yaran, a police officer in charge of the
operations, claimed the raids are part of the "drizzling campaign"--
a regular and steady operation to eliminate prostitution. They were
done following an order from the Phnom Penh Municipal Governor, he
explained, noting that all districts in capital will have to
implement this campaign. However, no one was prosecuted as a result
of this operation. When asked, Yaran said that police have
identified some suspects believed to be the organizers of
prostitution rings and the police are trying to obtain arrest
warrants from a court prosecutor.

5. (U) Ung Sokunthea, Director of the Cambodian National Police's
Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department,
corroborated that the raids were part of the implementation of the
MOI's action plan from July 2005. From that action plan, all the
provinces and municipalities are responsible for eliminating
prostitution in their territory of jurisdiction. She could not
explain as to why the Toul Kork police had not started implementing
the order sooner.

6. (U) AFESIP confirmed the receipt of 35 women removed from the
first raid, and maintained that it is AFESIP's policy to provide
assistance to these women, regardless of whether they are victims of
trafficking or voluntary sex workers. They have yet to determine
the age and situation of these women. Newspaper reports suggest
that all the women are voluntary sex workers and no trafficking
victims have been identified.

NGO Reaction
------------

7. (U) Christian Guth, advisor to the MOI, disapproved of the
action in that it targets vulnerable sex workers. Women turn to
prostitution because of a lack of choice, he noted, and NGO shelters
will not serve as their exit from prostitution. Guth thinks that
the raids may be another way to show the government's commitment
against immoral acts, citing the National Assembly's recent passage
of a law against adultery.

8. (U) From the legal point of view, Sok Sam Oeun, Executive
Director of NGO Cambodian Defenders Project, said there is no legal
background for police action. Pimping is illegal but prostitution
is not. Police should aim at eliminating pimping, rather than
collecting prostitutes. He noted from his experiences in training
police that some police officers do not understand the difference
between prostitution, pimping and trafficking.

9. (SBU) Comment: Targeting sex workers alone is not a viable
solution to ridding Cambodia of prostitution nor is it particularly
effective in addressing trafficking in persons. The fact that no
pimps or brothel owners have been held responsible after the raids
on nine brothels raises questions as to the government's
motivations. Police could have done a better job identifying and
arresting the pimps and closing down the brothels, instead of only
rounding up the prostitutes and turning them over to AFESIP. We
agree with Christian Guth's assessment that the women will likely
end up again on the streets. The Embassy will continue to follow up
with police to see if indeed there are any further arrests as a

PHNOM PENH 00001607 002 OF 002

result of recent actions. End Comment.

MUSSOMELI

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