Go Beyond

Before boarding my flight home from Dubai last Saturday, I picked up a copy of the Khaleej Times — the English language newspaper published in the UAE. As I leafed through the pages of the newspaper, I came across an article that caught my attention: Former monk gets 17-year jail for filming nude girls. The story was about a thirty-seven year-old Buddhist monk from Cambodia who had secretly filmed two teenage girls as they bathed naked at a temple and more than six-hundred women doing the same. This high-tech monk then shared the footage with others via mobile phones. I have seen lots of Buddhist monks on my travels throughout Asia, many of whom had mobile phones. It is somewhat ironic to see these ochre-clad mendicants chatting on mobile phones — a questionable practice for those who are not supposed to own anything.

As for the peeping-monk, a Phnom Penh court handed him a stiff sentence for producing and distributing pornography. The court also ordered him to pay compensation to his young victims. The prosecutor said, “This sentence will serve as a key message to educate both ordinary and religious people in our society to stay away from such activities.” I applaud the Cambodian court for their decision and pray that they will go after some bigger game as well. Cambodia is a source, transit, and destination country for modern-day slaves — men, women and children sold into the sex trade. Some non-government organizations estimate that as many as 50,000 to 100,000 women and children are at risk in Cambodia, a popular destination for those seeking sex with children.

Cambodia has a long way to go in the fight against human trafficking. Corruption among some law enforcement and government officials make this fight even more difficult. In recent years the government has successfully prosecuted several police officials for trafficking-related corruption charges. Each victory is a step in the right direction. While traveling from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh last year, I spent one night in a modest little hotel and was pleased to see a bright yellow bumper sticker affixed to the wall next to the door: Child-Sex Tourists | Don’t Turn Away. Turn Them In. I don’t underestimate what good may result from someone seeing a message like this and reporting suspicious activity. When it comes to the fight against human trafficking, every small step in the right direction can lead to more victories for justice.

With more than half the population of Cambodia below the age of twenty, this Buddhist country faces some serious challenges to protect its young population from the dangers of human trafficking. Laws in Cambodia must be strengthened in order to protect victims and punish slaveholders. And, provision must be made to protect those who are the most vulnerable to being kidnapped and trafficked for sex and labor. No child should suffer the indignity of having their privacy violated by voyeurs or having their innocence stolen by sex-tourists.  I hope that the story of the peeping-monk and other victories for justice send a message to evildoers and cause them to think twice. “When justice is done, it is a joy for the righteous but terror to evildoers” (Prov. 21:15).