A few months ago, when my family
was driving from Phnom Penh toward Kampong Cham province at about 11pm, we saw
a man in his min 40 maybe beating a woman who looked like 30 years old or
something. My father stopped the car and had a look on what really happening. My
mum noticed that the woman whisper the world “Help”. I then search for polices
numbers from other people who might have them. After about 5mn, I got two
numbers which are hot line police for emergency cases. I was glad to get the
number, but guess what? Nobody pick up both phones. I call and call and call
many times, still no answer. That man walked to our car and told us “This is my
family issue, just go.” My father decided to open the car window and told that
man the he already called polices and polices are coming. That man picked her up
from the ground, started his motorbike and quickly left that place. We followed
while I keep trying to call that two hot line numbers. After about 2kilomaters,
we realize that his motorbike was very very fast which could cause accident and
the woman was behind him without the helmet, so we decided to stop following;
otherwise, we would driver faster as we follow. I was sad that we couldn’t help
much; but more importantly, that the hot line isn’t helpful. Polices were
sleeping.
Last night at about 11pm, I got a
call from a friend who relative was missing since 6pm. The lost girl was 17
years old. History has shown that she cannot be running with someone else since
she has never had a boyfriend or any issues within her family. Her family of
course files a complaint to the police office in her village already. My friend
asked if I know any numbers for emergency contact or any assistant to find her.
My sister, my brother in law, my boyfriend, and I spend one hour looking for
hot line numbers whom we hope might be able to do something. We found many hot
line numbers included head of police in that village, child abuse hot line,
child help line, human trafficking hot line, ministry, and a lot more NGOs. My
friends called to all the number I gave her, and guess what? Nothing works.
Most of the hot line numbers ring without anyone answering the phone, the
police said he already told his team to work on it but he was at home sleeping,
the ministry said please file a complaint tomorrow, some NGOs said it is
outside of our coverage area. After mid night, we lose hope and stop trying to
call. It is morning now. That little girl has lost for 15 hours already. If
that was a human trafficking act, she might end up in prostitute already.
Shame on hot line numbers! How do
they dare to put their numbers in the Emergency Contact list and call
themselves “Hot Line” if they don’t even pick up the phone? Where and who can
we, poor people, reach for help in such cases?
