Villagers in remote western Cambodia who were infected with HIV/AIDS by an unauthorized medical worker have been hit by a wave of thefts of cows and other property, and some local residents say they police have been indifferent to their plight.
Villagers from Roka commune in Sangke district of Battambang province, who were infected with HIV/AIDS by an unlicensed doctor who reused syringes, said the number of thefts have increased significantly over the past month. They say authorities have not tried to apprehend any suspects.
“We are concerned about our security,” one villager, who has HIV/AIDS but declined to be identified for fear of being stigmatized and discriminated against, told RFA’s Khmer Service.
“One of my neighbor’s houses had property worth 200,000 riel (U.S. $49) stolen,” he said. “The suspects are at large. Three days ago another neighbor’s house was burglarized. Because crime has increased, I am very concerned about security at night.”
Another villager, who declined to be named, told RFA that those infected with HIV/AIDS could not guard their property at night because the antiretroviral pills they are taking made them sick and weak.
“The HIV/AIDS antiretroviral drugs have caused side effects, so that when the thieves had the chance, they stole our belongings,” he said.
With many being physically unable to defend their property from thieves, and local officials turning a blind eye to the problem, another villager, who declined to be identified, said infected Roka residents didn’t know how to address the problem.
“We don’t know how to protect ourselves against the crimes,” he said. “There are many cases, so we are very concerned.”
Police chief denies claims
But Chhin Bunraing, Roka’s chief of police, dismissed the villagers’ claims, saying Roka was secure.
He added, however, that he had posted two additional police officers there to guard the village at night.
“We are guarding it at nighttime, but I have never seen any thieves,” he said. “If there are thieves, please contact the police. We will work out the issues.”
Heng Sayhong, the Battambang coordinator for Cambodian human rights group Licadho, said security was a vital issue for villagers infected with HIV/AIDS because it would reduce their already considerable stress.
“When the villagers have good security, they can sleep peacefully and don’t have to pay much attention to the effects of HIV/AIDS,” he said. “If the village is not secure, then their health will deteriorate,” he said.
Cambodian health experts say many living with the infection are rapidly declining with weakened immune systems that make them susceptible to disease, according to a report in The Phnom Penh Post.
Two infected people have died and nearly 250 others have been confirmed HIV-positive since an elderly man in the commune was found to be infected in late November.
Authorities have charged Yem Chhrem, the unauthorized medical practitioner who worked in an unlicensed village clinic, with murder and other crimes related to the mass infection after he admitted to reusing needles to treat patients.
Written by Hum Chamrouen for RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.