Once called a vocation center, now envision Prey Speu Pagoda. It is a place with a troubled past. Prey Speu Pagoda stands near a facility. This facility was once known as a place of extrajudicial detention. Marginalized groups were held here. The homeless, drug users and sex workers were among them. Sometimes, even protesters were detained.
The Prey Speu center was meant to provide life skills training. Instead, it became a place of alleged horrors. A human rights NGO, Licadho, reported at least ten deaths. These deaths allegedly occurred in July and August. The report relied on eyewitness testimonies. These testimonies came from inside the center and a local pagoda.
The rights group stated that two people died in August. They fell sick and did not get adequate medical care. Licadho claimed evidence pointed to at least ten deaths. This occurred over a two-month period. The NGO called for the immediate closure of the facility. They wanted to end the horrors faced by those detained there.
Reporters visited the Prey Speu center. They asked to enter and meet with the director. They wanted to discuss the allegations made by Licadho. A security guard entered the facility. It is surrounded by high walls. Metal sheeting and barbed wire reinforce these walls.
Three men returned. The same guard was among them. They denied the allegations without opening the gates. One man claimed to be a staff member. He stated that there were no deaths in July and August. He also said there were no deaths this year. He mentioned an ambulance and a health center with doctors. These were supposedly for sick inmates. The men then walked away. They did not respond to further questions.
Reporters also visited Wat Prey Speu. It is a short distance from the center. A monk said he was unaware of any cremations of inmates. Laymen who perform funerals also denied cremating anyone from the center. One layman stated there were no bodies from the Prey Speu center. They claimed bodies were taken to Wat Russei Saeng. However, a layman there said their cremation furnace was out of order.
Licadho’s operations director, Am Sam Ath, said they had sufficient evidence. He could not reveal his sources. He stated witnesses saw what happened inside the center. They also witnessed events at the pagoda. This is where the bodies were allegedly sent for cremation. He said they knew the names and genders of the deceased. However, they could not find their families. Some were homeless.
The Ministry of Social Affairs spokesperson, Toch Channy, responded. He said the ministry would investigate the report. They would check if anything had happened. They would then take action accordingly. Channy claimed there had been improvement inside the center. He said there were no reports of physical abuse.
Phnom Penh officials and police routinely detain people. They target those living on the streets, drug users, and sex workers. These individuals are sent to Prey Speu. Staff have been accused of physical and sexual abuse.
The center was shut down in 2012. It reopened a year later. It was renamed Pur Senchey Vocational Training Center. Former U.N. special rapporteur Rhona Smith called for its overhaul. She even suggested permanent closure. Officials promised major changes at the time.
Despite the name Prey Speu Pagoda being close by, it seems worlds apart from the controversy. It stands as a testament to faith. It serves as a place of reflection. Yet, the pagoda’s proximity to the center cannot be ignored. It prompts reflection. It makes us think about the complexities of Cambodian society. It also makes us think about the ongoing struggles of its most vulnerable citizens.