Health

AIDS Colony Condemned: An Open Letter to the Cambodian Government

by peder.sande | July 28, 2009 at 01:50 pm

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The Cambodian Government has been reportedly creating an AIDS colony, where families affected by HIV are being placed. The supposed AIDS colony is located in Tuol Sambo, a ghetto 25 km outside the capital of Phnom Penh. Interest was first raised by human rights activists when 20 families from Borei Keila, were relocated to the "Aids village" as it is being referred to by neighbors.

In June 2009, the Cambodian government forcibly relocated 20 HIV-affected families living in Borei Keila, a housing development in Phnom Penh, to substandard housing at Tuol Sambo, a remote site 25 kilometers from the city. Another 20 families were moved there on July 23.

20 more families have been moved to the AIDS colony and rights groups have written an open letter to the Cambodian government.

We are deeply disturbed by the Cambodian authorities' creation of a de facto AIDS colony at Tuol Sambo.

The government's response, however, has been minimal. So far, they have stated that they are "trying to find clean water for them," and stated that they will allow a free clinic to open in the settlement.

The houses, which are distinctive than other developments in the area, have poor sanitation and are not hospitable. AIDs families are relocated due to homelessness, risk of homelessness, or victimization by landlords who refuse to rent to people living with HIV. Other groups have been relocated to areas in the vicinity; however, the contrast of living conditions is creating an outcry from human rights groups.

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rng

at 15:45 on July 28th, 2009

More insight here at the Phnom Penh Post which is a great paper. It is more multi-faceted than the article above presents it, I have spent tine in Cambodia and the region, and the situation there is complex. It is too easy to judge some of this from a Western perspective, and while there are human right abuses and a fragility to the democracy in Cambodia, some social issues are treated differently in a country with an average daily wage @$1.64. Some here might want to argue against a public health system, I do not think you would hear many complaints if it was offered in Cambodia. Infrastructure challenges, poverty and corruption are endemic, and sometimes what appears inhumane may be the best option available where there are no monies available to fund alternatives.