Your Excellency, Australian Ambassador in Japan

My name is Satoshi Ito.

Because I am sure that Australian people respect justice and human rights, I am writing to ask you and Australian government to check the activity of an Australian non-government organization, “Australia Cambodia Foundation, Sunrise Children’s Village” (president: Ms. Geraldine Cox, chairman: Mr. Gerald Trevor).

Please find attached appeal letter. It is clear for me that this organization has been violating human rights of the orphan children in an orphanage in Cambodia. However it is very difficult to solve this problem in Cambodia because the Cambodian government pays no attention to justice and human rights. To our regret, in Cambodia those who have and pay money get power and win. So our network (hundreds people in Japan, Korea and in other countries already share concern in this matter) plans to make an appeal to international public opinion - also through media.  

If the “mother” gets arrested by police, it will be really international problem which for example AMNESTY also will take a concern in. I hope that the Australian government intervenes to solve this problem for justice before. 

By the way it’s not enough if Australian government just listens to this organization because they have been improving their excuses. An assailant tells often only a part of the whole or tells lies like some Japanese who try to justify the war 60 years ago. You must also listen to sufferers ? the orphan children. (I have enough evidences and witnesses.)

I thank you very much for your efforts for weak people. 

Yours Sincerely

Tokyo, Sept. 22. 2005

Satoshi Ito itosatoshijapan@yahoo.co.jp

在日オーストラリア大使閣下 

私は伊藤聡と申します。

私はオーストラリアの人々が正義と人権を尊重すると確信しておりますので、閣下およびオーストラリア政府にオーストラリアのNGO,「オーストラリア・カンボジア基金、サンライズ・チルドレン・ビレッジ」の活動を調査されるようお願い申し上げます。 

添付のアピール文書をご参照下さい。私が見る限り、このNGOがカンボジアのある孤児院の子供たちの人権を侵害し続けていることは明らかな事実であります。しかしながら、カンボジア国内でこの問題を解決することはきわめて困難であります。なぜなら、カンボジア政府は人権にも正義にもなんら関心を示さないからです。カンボジアでは金がある者、金を払う者が力を持ち、勝利するからであります。 そこで私たちのネットワーク（日本、韓国、シンガポール、マレーシア、アメリカ合衆国の各地ですでに数百人の人々が関心を共有しております）は国際世論に対する ? メディアをも駆使しつつ ? アピールを計画しております。 

もし万一、「お母さん」が警察によって逮捕されるような事態になれば、事はたとえばアムネスティも乗り出してくるような本格的な国際問題になるでしょう。そうなる前にオーストラリア政府が正義のために問題解決に介入することを期待いたしております。

 因みに、オーストラリア政府がこのNGOの話を聞くだけでは不十分です。このNGOはより巧みに弁解するすべを学んできているからです。加害者というものは往々にして全体の一部のみを語り、もしくは嘘を語るものです。60年前の戦争を正当化しようとする一部の日本人のようにです。被害者である孤児たちの声も聞かなければなりません。（当方には十分な証拠と証人があります。）

弱者のためのご尽力、感謝いたします。 

東京、2005年9月22日

伊藤　聡

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Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, Ms. Lisa Kim Filipetto

Mail-address: Australia.embassy.cambodia@dfat.gov.au

 Mail from Singapore

To Your Excellency Ms Lisa Kim Filipetto, Ambassador to Cambodia, Cindy Rose, Political and Economic Section, Singapore High Commission Tony Lendon, Second Secretary , Singapore High Commission　Kirsten Green , Client Manager, State Government of Australia
cc: Satoshi Ito - Hope this email to Her Excellency and Embassy staffs helps protect the children in the orphanage being acted against their will.
 
Dear Ambassador, Your Excellency, Tony, Cindy and Kristen,

I write to you expressing concern over the allegations that the Australia Cambodia Foundation, Sunrise Children’s Village in Cambodia is violating human rights concerns at the orphanage in Cambodia, Siem Reap -- forcing the children into the Sunrise Children's home against their wishes (come 1st Oct 2005,) and to be separated with their primary caregiver 'mother'.

It is my deep conviction that as a developed and democratic society, we should never force anyone, even orphan children, to act against their will. Therefore, it is with deep anxiety as I read of the allegations sent by Mr Satoshi Ito, backed up by Mr. David Jarboe and Mr Bob Lee -- of the things that Sunrise Children's village is doing, against the will of the orphaned children and their primary care-taker.

I had visited the Siem Reap Provincial Orphanage last year in Sep 04 after attending the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Organization conference, and spoke to Ms Thou Ream, the primary and only care-giver there. I had noted how happy the children were -- under her charge -- and how devoted she is to her 'children'. Therefore, I urged your kindself to contact the directors of Australia Cambodia Foundation, Sunrise Children’s Village, to raise your similar concern over this matter.

I enclose a email I sent to Ms Geraldine Cox (copy this email too,) the President of Sunrise Children's Village -- for your reading and better understanding of my expressed concerned.

I believe Mr. Satoshi Ito, Mr. David Jarboe and Mr. Bob Lee can, and will reply to all of you with further updates on the latest allegations of the human rights abuses.

I sincerely hope that your High Commission will act quickly to resolve this controversial allegation, and save the children from being forcefully separated from their primary caregiver 'mother'.

Thank you for your time in reading this letter.

Do keep in touch again when we next meet up. Cheers,

Steve Chia
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
Singapore

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Mail from Malaysia

28/9/05
Sokha Chea
Political Assistant to
U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, Joseph A Mussomeli

Dear Sokha

We need your help.
In his Sept. 22nd. message before His Majesty the King, Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli spoke of his mission for a "more prosperous, happier and freer Cambodia." To that end I am sending you this note and ask that you present this letter and its attachments to Mr. Mussomeli for immediate attention. We have a critical situation which potentially reaches a "defining moment" on Oct. 1 and clearly defies the goals of the Ambassador and the U.S. State Department. I seek your intervention on behalf of 60 kids and their "mom."

I am a retired American businessman who for years, together with friends from around the world, has provided support to a government orphanage in Siem Reap. An agreement was reached in the fall of 2004 with Cambodian authorities to turn the site over to an Australian organization with a very successful program in Phnom Penh. 

With a record of success and plans to enhance facilities and program, the Australia Cambodia Foundation,Sunrise Children's Village had an exceptional opportunity to retain the site caretaker, Ms.Thou Raem. Devoted to the children who in turn call her "mom", this site, which lacked so many material things, had some of the happiest children you could hope to find in an orphanage anywhere in the world.

However, Sunrise has complained about the caretaker to me,( with what I consider questionable and unfounded charges ),  and at the outset offered her a diminished role that would basically take her away from the children. The kids protested, and she refused to abandon them. The "standoff" has continued since.

October 1 of this year the caretaker will be 55 years old. And while government authorities often work beyond this age by choice, Sunrise leadership and government authorities appear to be attempting to force Ms. Thou Raem's retirement and we expect once again they will try and remove her. Since the fall of 2004 Sunrise has imposed restrictrions on entry to the grounds and placed a guard at the entrance. It has discouraged volunteers from helping. I am told that representatives from Sunrise made a trip to Bangkok to convince Bangkok Airways to discontinue daily deliveries of food;- deliveries have stopped.  Mr. Trevor did tell me that at one point they deliberately cut off electric current from the site resulting in the caretaker placing her own line. The kids have kept records and report other acts of intimidation. 

I have been in orphanages all over the world, but rarely found the kind of love that exists today in this Siem Reap site. Sunrise, in my opinion, missed the opportunity they had for a harmonious transition. It is one thing to start an orphanage from the "ground up" and quite another thing to "take one over."

Several of us have tried to discuss the matter with Mr. Trevor, Sunrise Chairman, and he has not been open to our appeal or that of the kids. Those of us who love these children and respect their plea have tried to "fill in the gap" of care given the diminished flow of food and loss of financial support that used to flow naturally to the site.

This family wants to stay together. They need each other. They deserve to stay together!

I ask for your help in one small sector of the country to help make Cambodia a "happier and freer" place to live. 

Sincerely,

Bob Lee
e-mail: boblee@oregoncoast.com
PO Box 114, Oceanside, Oregon 97134
or:
159 Road 5, Minden Heights, 11700 Gelugor
Penang, Malaysia

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Mail from Germany

Dear honourable Ambassadaor, dear Mrs. Fayle,  

we are writing to you because we hope you can help us! 

We support several projects of our Japanese friend Ito Satoshi in Cambodia, 

among them an orphanage in Siem Reap.

Mr. Ito Satoshi has founded and built it up together with friends and helpers. 

You can get more information: http://www.geocities.jp/cambodia_life_net/
 
Now there are several problems with an Australian Cambodia relief organization (official name:
The Australian Foundation Inc. Sunrise Angkor Children’s Village) which tries to get control over this orphanage partly with means 
are irresponsible. 
 
Enclosed you find an explanation of the doubtful action of this "Australian relief organization" and the international calls for help our friends(APPEAL.doc).

We do hope that you as the representative of the Australian government in Germany can do something to stop this organization.

Our friends are going also to ask the Australian embassies in Japan, Singapore and the USA for help in that matter. We would be very pleases if you could support us.

Sincerely yours, 

Wolf und Renate Brueggemann

Heinz und Else Schaber 

E-mail to Australian Ebmassies 2005. September