Leigh Ramsay
Citipointe church
322 Wecker Rd
Carindale QLD 4152 26th Oct 2012
Dear Leigh
As you know, Chanti and her husband Chhork have yet again made a formal request that Rosa and Chita (Srey Mal) be returned to their family. I hope that you do not ignore this request as you have ignored all previous requests this past four years.
The translation of the following document may be a little imprecise but its meaning is clear: Chanti and Chhork want Rosa and Chita (Srey Mal) to leave the ‘She’ Refuge and return to live with their family. They have been requesting this for a long time and you have promised, many times, that Citipointe would return the girls to Chanti’s care ‘soon’. Your promises have proved to be empty and, as the months and years pass, it seems clear to me that the church has no intention of relinquishing control of Chanti’s daughters.
This time the request is being made via the Commune Chief who has visited Chanti and Chhork’s home and determined that they are capable of taking care of Rosa and Chita.
We, Phnun Chhork, male, aged 28; and the wife, YEM CHANTI, aged 27, currently residing at Rented House...(address)
Respectfully submit to
Director of Phnom Penh Municipal Department of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation
Subject: Request for intervention in the case of two children in Citipointe Organization
1 PHUN ROSA Sex: Female Age 10
2 PHUN CHITA Sex: Female Age 8
WIth regard to the above subject, because presently we can afford to raise our children, we would like them to live together again with our family.
Therefore, the director of Phnom Penh Municipal Department of Social Affairs please intervene in taking the two children from the organization at your favourable decision.
I wish you good health and success
Guardians
Father Mother
(Thumb Print) (Thumb Print)
Russei Keo, 24th Oct 2012
(signed and stamped) Moul Vireak
I have, today, bought Chanti’s family the first half of a tuk tuk - the motor cycle component. On Monday Chanti and Chhork will take possession of the other half - the cabin in which passengers sit. I will be making a down-payment on this but it will be up to Chanti and Chhork pay off the remainder over for the next 10 months. If Citipointe would like to make a financial contribution to the acquisition of the tuk tuk, a vital step towards making the family self-sufficient (one of Citipointe’s professed goals), it would be much appreciated by Chanti and myself. The same applies for when Rosa and Chita are returned to the care of Chanti and Chhork, as I trust they will be shortly. Even with the tuk tuk and what Chanti can earn selling books, survival for the family will be a constant struggle - as it is for all poor Cambodians. I will be helping out to the best of my financial ability. I trust that Citipointe will also continue to provide some support for Rosa and Chita whilst living in their family home so that they may continue with their schooling and have regular access to medical and dental care.
best wishes
James Ricketson
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