Intellasia News Services -- S. Korean Embassy in Cambodia denies accusation of human trafficking

S. Korean Embassy in Cambodia denies accusation of human trafficking
Source: 23-APR-2008 Intellasia | Bernama
23 Apr, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM
The South Korean Embassy has denied the accusation by the Cambodian government that its country's marriage brokerage companies in Cambodia, is engaged in human trafficking, a national media said on Monday.

Ambassador Shin Hyun-suk expressed regret that Cambodian officials had used the term "human trafficking" to identify the way that was legally allowed to arrange "married life in the era of globalisation," China's Xinhua news agency quoted the English-Khmer language newspaper, as saying in a statement on Monday.

"I have so far never heard those words of threats, kidnapping, deception and abuse, as well as using force or taking a chance when the victims are weak, for the purpose of making business in marriages between Cambodians and Koreans.

"They all get married out of their own free will, according to the procedures of both countries," he said.

However, he also admitted that "some aspects of the system of international marriages need to be improved and corrected."

The Cambodian government indefinitely banned marriages between Cambodians and foreigners from all countries on March 29, following the release of an International Organisation of Migration report warning of the vulnerability of Cambodian brides, who have been flocking to South Korea in increasing numbers over the past few years.