Thursday, May 20, 2010
Narrative: Srey neang--Life of a Modern Day Slave
Most Americans are ignorant of the fact that millions of lives around the world are affected by the illegal trafficking of human beings. An average person living in America would not even be able to fathom how real this evil practice may be. The movies and/or the news serve as the only source of information revealing the truth behind this subject. Thus it has become so surreal to think that such an evil force may be dominant in our world’s society that the point has been reached where most are blind to the fact that it could be occurring in their own backyard. A pure example of such a life which has been so surreally touched can be found in David Batstone’s Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade—and How We Can Fight It—she goes by the name of Srey Neang. After being sold into the hands of traffickers by her Cambodian parents in order for their chance to sustain the lives of their other children, Srey Neang was bought as a “house servant”(slave) at the mere age of seven. As she grew up, she, contradictorily, was constantly brought down. Srey was tricked many times into being sold into the hands of people who had the intention of treating her as an object instead of a person. She was so abused that one’s own imagination cannot fathom how such cruelty can exist in the world. Eventually, she ended up at a sex slave at a karaoke bar in Thailand where she ironically became a mentor for other girls who were in the same position as she. However, she still dealt with much persecution: “[their owner] forced women to have sex with ten men each day on average” (Batstone 36). Srey Neang’s life not only serves as an example of the evil exemplified by human trafficking, but also it serves as an inspiration for the rest of the world to prevent such things from happening.
One can only imagine the pain and helplessness someone can feel when being abandoned by family. Srey Neang dealt with this early in her life. She was never once addressed by name. She cooked her master’s meals, gave her baths, did her laundry, scrubbed her house floors, and “performed any other chore demanded of her” (Batstone 20). She was never once addressed by name; sometimes she would “[whisper] her own name softly to herself simply so that she would not forget” (Batstone 20). Everyday she would wake up before the sun rose just to prepare her master’s meals. She then would toil away for the rest of the day until her master lay her head down on her pillow for a night’s rest. The absurdity of these duties are magnified when taking into consideration that Srey is only seven years old when she has started working for this woman. Luckily, the woman dies when Srey is at the young age of twelve. Srey is then taken into the arms of the woman’s son and his wife. She did the same work, but this time physical abuse was added into the mix. “Both husband and wife beat her with a reedy switch or the slightest offense: the porridge was too salty, or the front door of the house had been left open. Often they beat [her] for things she did not even do” (Batstone 20). The was definitely not a family/working system. Rather it became a master/slave relationship.
Naturally, as Srey grew older she developed a desire to have a relationship with a person of the opposite sex. This is when Sovanna comes into play. Sovanna was a married man from Phnom Penh who, in his early twenties, looked as if her were sixteen. However for Srey, Sovanna became the man of her dreams and they eventually formed a relationship outside of the house she toiled away at. Little did Srey know that Sovanna held a secret agenda. Sovanna tricked Srey into escaping from her master’s home and believing that his mother oculd provide her a job and an education in Thailand. He used sweet sounding works such as these: “My mother could use your help in her shop. You could attend school and work for her on the weekends” (Batstone 26). In the end, Srey was tricked into becoming a sex slave at a Thai karaoke club.
From the instant Srey arrived at the club, she looked for the chance to escape. Each girl held captive at this place had sex at an average of ten dollars a day at a rate of only two dollars and fifty cents for every twenty minutes. “The johns [would] behave like adolescents, publicly pawing their ‘dates,’ squeezing their buttocks and breasts with little shame” (Batstone 60). Srey lived at the bar for an unbearable amount of time until she finally stumbled upon her own serendipity. One of the johns which she was picked to have sex with noticed a wound from one of Srey’s beatings. As conversation between the two picked up, Srey’s emotions began to spill out. All of a sudden, the john realized the whole scheme behind this karaoke club. He realized that women were being held captive to be beaten and have sex with any man willing to pay. He then helped her escape from the club and she was taken into a shelter named Hagar which was for women in the same situation as she.
Srey Neang’s story is one of the thousands of other stories which exist. If we as Americans think life is hard as it is, we should take into consideration the lives of people who are actually suffering at the hands of heartless business men. These slave owners in third world countries treat innocent, helpless women and children worse than Americans would reat their pets. “Twenty-seven million slaves exist in our world today” (Batstone 1). Imagine hearing twenty-seven million more stories like Srey Neang’s. This evil practice must stop now and awareness is the first step.
Interview Write Up Prepared by Andrew Madlambayan
The interview took place at Saint Ignatius High School in San Francisco. We interviewed Zak Batstone, son of the author Not for Sale. He is just a student in high school but he travels with his father to places like Cambodia to play with the trafficked kids. In the interview he talked about his experiences when he visited Cambodia on spring break. He said that he helped the kids who were slaved and abandoned. He played basketball with the kids and described them as "Full of joy". Zack was also saddened seeing these kids and hearing what they have gone through. He also gave us information on third world countries and shared most of his stories that he had heard in Cambodia.
When we met our interviewee he was very welcoming and was very excited to be interviewed. He did not mind being asked a couple questions and answered all the questions that we wanted to know. He was very open by sharing all his information and emotions he felt with his experiences. Zak was a very outgoing person and was very easy to start a conversation with. He wanted to give us all the information that we needed and really informed us on third world countries.
I expected to hear harsh and heart stopping stories of how kid and adults were beaten and enslaved. I wanted to learn more about the effects on what the kids were like after being slaved and how difficult it was to transform back into a regular child. Zak states that, "The kids seemed joyful that he was there to help and play basketball with them". He told us that he thought it was amazing that he is just eighteen years old and is already helping the kids who need help, just like his father.
I was surprised that he had been to Cambodia during spring break and saw first-hand what the kids were like being trafficked. He told us that the kids were playing basketball with him and just enjoying life. I was amazed that these kids were having such a great time with Zak playing basketball because these kids have been through a lot and are still enjoying life. If i was slaved and abused I do not think that I would be happy. I then realized that these kids were very young and did not really know what is going on. I realized that it is just a shame that someone can slave a little child and have no sorrow or guilt.
The overall impression of the interview was eye-opening because Zak is only a senior in high school and is already doing things to help kids who have been victims of human trafficking. It shows me that i am not too young to help other kids who are in need and that every little bit of help counts. Zak played with the kids in Cambodia and lifted up their spirits giving hope to them and making them realized that they are loved. One day I wish I could do the same and dedicate little of my time to help the ones in need. Every little thing you could do can lift of the spirits of the trafficked, giving them hope.
Interview Write Up Prepared by Joshua Rabang
The interview my partner, Andrew Madlambayan, and I conducted took place at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco on March 31, 2010. Our interviewee, Zack Batstone, is the son of the author of the book I read regarding human trafficking, Not For Sale: The Return of Global Slave Trade—and Howe We Can Fight It. We chose Zack not only because of his affiliation with the cause of fighting human trafficking, but also because he is our age (a senior in high school). Zack and his father David are well known advocates of the fight against modern day slave trade and make frequent trips to impacted places to make a difference. Zack’s father has been involved in this type of business for many years and is internationally known for his firsthand experience in fighting several trafficking rings. The benefit of interviewing Zack instead of his father, however, was very significant because for one reason he was our age. Speaking to high school seniors rather than accomplished adults would take a huge amount of pressure off of anyone and would allow for a more casual, personable interview which could lead to a new friendship forming. Zack was very willing and enthusiastic to inform me and Andrew about what he knew and what he was seen around the world regarding this evil practice. He simply did not only inform us about the basic, fundamental facts about human trafficking (he already could tell we were knowledgeable in the subject due to our initial conversations/questions), rather he told a few inspiring stories about the places he has been to. Zack told Andrew and me about his trips to Cambodia (especially about his recent trip over spring break) and how he actually helped trafficked children recuperate. He spoke of how full of joy each child was and how sad how they were cold-heartedly taken advantage of. Later on he compared life here in America to life in such 3rd world countries and stated that “if we lived over there (Cambodia, India, etc.), half or over half of the people you see in front of you would not even be here. They would be either toiling their lives away in sweatshops or being abused in sex brothels.” Such a powerful statement touched Andrew and I to the point where we needed to speak more and ask more questions. Sadly Zack needed to leave, so we agreed to send more questions through email and he promised to answer them as soon as he could.
Zack, from the start, was very friendly. His being a friend of a friend already acquainted us with each other. He held eye-contact at all time and was very respectful throughout the interview. His willingness and enthusiasm was evident through his friendly voice, constant smiles, and our side conversations about sports. I can definitely say that he had the best attitude someone can have during an interview (enthusiastic, open, and friendly) and that we were treated as if we have been friends for a long time. Although Andrew and I were in “enemy-territory” (S.I.), everyone around us was very friendly as well.
Andrew and I did not expect to learn much regarding information, rather we expected to learn about what it really is like in places where trafficking is clearly evident. His recounting of the times he has been oversees for the sole reason of combating these evil forces provided this and much more. We definitely were given a good image of what it is like to live in a place such as India or Cambodia.
However, what surprised us is how incorporated into his father’s duties Zack was. Being only 18 years old, he was as involved or more involved as the professors at several colleges we have done our research at. Over spring break Zack went with his father to Cambodia to help the saved trafficked children recuperate from their abuse. What was also surprising was how Zack attached emotions to his stories. He made it real to Andrew and I by comparing life here in the United States to life in third world countries—this is definitely not what a book can ever do.
Overall, I think that the interview went very well and very smoothly. From beginning to end there was nothing else but good feelings. He answered every question we asked and even added more. The interview could not have gone any better. And I am happy that an informant as well as a friend was gained through this experience.
Action Reflection Prepared by Joshua Rabang
As an action taken against human trafficking, I created a poster to publicize this evil practice to the Serra community. I emphasized the slogan of my poster, “STOP Human Trafficking”, through the use of photo editing on a stop light that I took a picture of. Each light on the stop light had a face of a sufferer of human trafficking on it while the red light was illuminated, conveying that this practice had to be “stopped” as soon as possible.
Through this action, I hope to have informed more Serra students about human trafficking and maybe have sparked an interest in a few to do research into the subject. Before this project, I did not nearly know how bad modern slavery has gotten. Ever since I learned about the ending of slavery in early America, I did not even think that such a thing could go on in our world today. I want the younger students at Serra to be aware of this practice so they, too, can take action and be more aware of this injustice. Education is the key to success, and if I educate younger students, success will be produced. However, I do not know if my action succeeded as I have not seen any copies of my poster around school.
As a result of my taking action against human trafficking, I am inspired to take action on future justice issues that I encounter. I feel as if I have been given a responsibility to become a “light” to this world that can show and reveal social injustices. Before taking this action, I used to think that attempting to solve a worldwide problem was too big of a task for me to accomplish. However, I realized that not one person can solve international injustices. Issues such as human trafficking are solved communally, and it is our responsibility, as inhabitants of this world, to work together to solve things one step at a time.
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