A week in Cambodia is not much time at all. It’s just enough time to look around and to see that the country has a lot of potential. Although Cambodia is entrenched with ancient history it’s a very young country in a lot of ways. As I’ve mentioned, everything seems to be run by people in their 20’s and younger but from what I can tell there’s a good work ethic amidst the general population. Also, I didn’t notice any outward signs of impending civil unrest which is good for attracting tourist and investors. I believe the desire of most every Cambodian is to be able to earn a good quality of life and to live in peace.From what I can tell things look good for Cambodia’s future but as a traveler passing through you never really know what’s just below the surface. There are a couple of disturbing issues that do stand out.
The most apparent issue is with the flow of foreign investors money in and out of the country. With so many foreign developers creating businesses in Cambodia and taking profits out of the country I fear that Cambodia may not benefit as much as it could. I’m all for free enterprise and capitalism but a weak government coupled with loose laws and corruption can negate any sense of fairness. I was amazed by all of the Lexus SUVs’ and other expensive vehicles I saw in Phnom Penn. It was really quite strange considering how most everyone in Cambodia is very poor. As with most all 3rd world countries a frighteningly few have msot all the money as everyone else lives in poverty. I wouldn’t be surprised if the few with all of the money in Cambodia aren’t even Cambodians.
The most disturbing thing about Cambodia is its current ranking as the #1 destination for sex tourists. It’s especially popular for pedophiles. Cambodia’s moral compass is confused. Considering the history of the country it’s not so difficult to understand why. It’s not uncommon for some families to sell or offer their child into the sex industry in order to make a couple of dollars. Yes, just a couple of dollars. In reality, despite a couple of profitable tourist enclaves and Lexus vehicles in Phnom Penn, Cambodia is a very poor country. Real poverty can cause people to do some awfully desperate things.
A nice benefit to traveling with my friend Deb, while in S.E. Asia, was that I never got solicited for sex when I was with her. However, if I walked the streets by myself at night offers were common. I'm totally averse to prostitution and am completely disgusted by the mere thought of pedophilia. The Cambodian authorities have outlawed sex with a child but in some cases police may actually be involved in promoting it. All with the motivation of making a couple of dollars. A prostitute can be bought for the entire night for $5 and the money is split several ways. Sex is sold all over the place for those who are interested. The most blatant I saw was a street just off the Phnom Penn water front. It was lined with clubs suggestively named and you would have to be stupid not to know what goes on in those places. Actually, this is problem in many parts of S.E. Asia but in Cambodia it is especially bad.
Fortunately some offenders are being prosecuted and a number of nongovernmental organizations are involved with combating the issue. For those who are interested in knowing more about the problems and what can be done about it here’s a link to an organization that a friend of mine works for: http://transitionsglobal.org/volunteer.php
Fortunately, for the most part, Cambodia seems to be moving forward towards the better. It’s not like the Cambodian people aren’t aware of the issues I’ve disclosed. The combination of outside investors, NGO’s, and the history of Pol Pots' regime combined with greed and corruption is bound to create an air of uncertainty and distrust amidst the current populations. This could take a lot of time, if not generations, to sort out and overcome. My hope is that Cambodia finds a clear moral compass. Hopefully this will lead to stronger leadership amidst its own people so they can live and prosper freely under a just government. Well, that’s my ideal hope at least…
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