In a flash of Flame, so many lives are suffering
March 8 2010 marked the 99th anniversary of the International Women's Day all over the world. The world is celebrating the day, highlighting the achievement made to improve the women's rights situation, rights of the workers, and continue the emphasis on the women's right violation in many part of the earth. I was joining in a small celebration of my fellow colleauges who after so much hard work were able to put out an event of the International women's day focusing on women's rights to employement. I was listeninig to talk about the difficult working conditions of women garment factory workers in which the boss keep continue to employed under short term contract work ranging from one to three to six months basis. This is the way to keep workers unders control of the capitalist and prevent them from organising and strengthening their bargaining power for better working condition and a living wages.
The fascinating event ended sadly for me as another shocking event emerged. A fire took place very close to my area upon my return home. It is the moment that I was feeling total powerless, as a citizen. I saw the fire, it is going on, but i could not do anything to help the people there, women, children, elder, men... The fire till now unknowned of the cause, took place at 7pm. While many families must be gathering around a dining table to enjoy the meals, not only the 150+ families affected by the fire around the area were so shocked of the fire but the many others families in the nearby areas as well. One of my friend who lives in the area very close to the area recalled to me that what she heard around her area were the cry of the children asking their parents when will the flame of the fire cease?
Yes that is the question!!! When will the fire cease? Even if it is coming from an innocent child of nearly 3 years old, I also asked the same question. The fire took place at around 7.10 pm and only until 7.40pm did we hear the police car arrive the area and only later did we hear the serene of the fireman car coming. By then, so many house have been taken by the fire.
Nearly 24 hours after the fire took place, in a very hot city of Phnom Penh capital, there was a big rain fall. It is the very unexpected rain fall in the middle of the dry season. I was getting wet by the rain when I was leaving from a dinner with friends and colleauges. While driving home, feeling wet and tremble, I was thinking of how those whose house were taken by the fire the previous night manage to put their head under the roof? Were they safe? How would the chidren, babe and sick people shelter themselves? Later I heard from my parents that the pagoda nearby (where 4 buildings in the pagoda were taken by the fire) allows the victims to stay in there temporarily.
I have not visited the area but my friends have been there and upon her return she shared with me how sad she feel to see the situation. Fortunately, there are some aid agencies doing some relief work overthere. I made a small mobilising among friends to contribute some basic materials need to give to a charity organisation that will deliver to the needed families. Thats what i can do post the suffering situation.
The question remains to many of us today is: WHY?
1- Why the fireman cannot be arriving on time when the fire start? Why does not our government put in place a system that can be responsive to the traumatic situation like fire? Many people would argue that because the area is a squarter area and there is no road access for the fireman truck...
2- Why the squarter area isn't accessible? With much of our recent development, we have good road in many of the area where the rich lives but at the area of the poor, this is not at the attention. One of the loudest question I hear echoing from my friend who visited the area was: Is It a Curse To Be Poor?
Many people are talking and murmuring about the cause of the fire. The area is a conflict area. The households living there has been under negotative with the company for them to move out of the area but they have not reached the agreement yet. Then there was an unknown fire taking place. Let PONDER LOUD what is the cause!!! It is a crime against humanity if the cause of the fire is a purposeful one used as a mean to chase people out of the area...
A girl neighboured to the victim area
S.
The fascinating event ended sadly for me as another shocking event emerged. A fire took place very close to my area upon my return home. It is the moment that I was feeling total powerless, as a citizen. I saw the fire, it is going on, but i could not do anything to help the people there, women, children, elder, men... The fire till now unknowned of the cause, took place at 7pm. While many families must be gathering around a dining table to enjoy the meals, not only the 150+ families affected by the fire around the area were so shocked of the fire but the many others families in the nearby areas as well. One of my friend who lives in the area very close to the area recalled to me that what she heard around her area were the cry of the children asking their parents when will the flame of the fire cease?
Yes that is the question!!! When will the fire cease? Even if it is coming from an innocent child of nearly 3 years old, I also asked the same question. The fire took place at around 7.10 pm and only until 7.40pm did we hear the police car arrive the area and only later did we hear the serene of the fireman car coming. By then, so many house have been taken by the fire.
Nearly 24 hours after the fire took place, in a very hot city of Phnom Penh capital, there was a big rain fall. It is the very unexpected rain fall in the middle of the dry season. I was getting wet by the rain when I was leaving from a dinner with friends and colleauges. While driving home, feeling wet and tremble, I was thinking of how those whose house were taken by the fire the previous night manage to put their head under the roof? Were they safe? How would the chidren, babe and sick people shelter themselves? Later I heard from my parents that the pagoda nearby (where 4 buildings in the pagoda were taken by the fire) allows the victims to stay in there temporarily.
I have not visited the area but my friends have been there and upon her return she shared with me how sad she feel to see the situation. Fortunately, there are some aid agencies doing some relief work overthere. I made a small mobilising among friends to contribute some basic materials need to give to a charity organisation that will deliver to the needed families. Thats what i can do post the suffering situation.
The question remains to many of us today is: WHY?
1- Why the fireman cannot be arriving on time when the fire start? Why does not our government put in place a system that can be responsive to the traumatic situation like fire? Many people would argue that because the area is a squarter area and there is no road access for the fireman truck...
2- Why the squarter area isn't accessible? With much of our recent development, we have good road in many of the area where the rich lives but at the area of the poor, this is not at the attention. One of the loudest question I hear echoing from my friend who visited the area was: Is It a Curse To Be Poor?
Many people are talking and murmuring about the cause of the fire. The area is a conflict area. The households living there has been under negotative with the company for them to move out of the area but they have not reached the agreement yet. Then there was an unknown fire taking place. Let PONDER LOUD what is the cause!!! It is a crime against humanity if the cause of the fire is a purposeful one used as a mean to chase people out of the area...
A girl neighboured to the victim area
S.
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