This is my letter to the editor of the Cambodia Daily. It was printed and placed in the opinion section of the newspaper on Wednesday, November 9, 2005.
I was astonished after reading “Euthanasia Web sites Causing Storm in Kampot” (Nov 2, page one), about euthanasia tourism in Kampot, a tourist town.
“You are going to die anyway, so why not in Cambodia?” asked one of the Web sites promoting euthanasia here.
The ads make me think that outsiders, although not at large, consider Cambodia as a famous international killing field.
Cambodian citizens of course have to learn about basic human rights, but this new freedom recently introduced is too far from the context of our society.
Although I use the term ‘outsiders’, but I respect them as persons and for their contribution to the development of my country.
This case, in some ways, may be acceptable in modern countries.
However, I cannot foresee what’s going happen next.
Can someone else from European country or another continent come in and promote nude tourism in Sihanoukville?
Cambodia has the potential as a tourist destination; we neither need to promote sex tourism nor suicide tourism.
Beaches, city nightlife, ancient temples, peaceful rural areas, and in particular friendly people welcome visitors from the four corners of the globe.
Bun Tharum
Phnom Penh
I was refused connection to the Cambodia Daily link. I hope that is just a temporary situation.
The link has been fixed.
But Cambodia Daily latest articles have never been published on the web. They select some feature articles and interesting news only to update occassionally.
Tharum:
Great letter! Cambodia is a beautiful country and wonderful place to visit because of the culture and people. I am appalled at the people who were promoting it as suicide destination.
Brilliant Tharum… sex, suicide… what next? I’d love to go and visit Cambodia to meet nice people there. Tell us more of just people: how people live on a daily basis. You seem to be getting more political.