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Future Forum's junior research fellow, Theang Soriya, was published in Kiripost on March 11th, 2024. Check out the original article HERE, or read it below.
BANG BANG!—Two shots rang out as former lawyer, Touch Vattanak, fired his CZp07 pistol at his girlfriend, Em Sovedeth, an online seller, in Khan Sen Sok at 8.40pm on February 8, 2024.
CCTV footage captured the moment when Em, 26, was shot in the head right after exiting her car. Touch then turned the gun on himself. Em was pronounced dead at the scene, while Touch succumbed to his injuries several days later.
Tragically, this recent incident is an example of intimate partner violence by shooting in Cambodia.
According to UN Women, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) refers to behavior by an intimate partner or ex-partner that results in physical, sexual, or psychological harm, which may include physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, and controlling behaviors.
This type of violence is all too common in our country. Based on the Cambodian Demographic Health Survey in 2021-2022, 21 percent of Cambodian women who have been in an intimate relationship have encountered emotional, physical, or sexual violence from their current or most recent partner.
Additionally, in the year leading up to the survey, 13 percent of women with one or more partners experienced at least one form of IPV.
IPV that involves firearms in Cambodia, while relatively less common compared to other forms of violence, nonetheless deserves attention because of the severity of the damage and trauma caused. These are cases that lead to injury or death, highlighting the lethal or life-altering consequences of such incidents for the victims.
Infrequent but deadly
IPV by shooting cases typically involve disputes between intimate partners that escalates to the use of firearms, often resulting in tragic outcomes. While specific statistics on such incidents may be limited, media reports and anecdotal evidence indicate the existence of these occurrences.
In 2017, for instance, a well-known singer and contestant on the Voice Cambodia, San Sreylai, was fatally shot at a cosmetics clinic near the Apsara TV station in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmorn district by her former spouse.
CCTV footage from the clinic captured a woman being shot in the torso and head before the gunman turned the weapon on himself.
This is among the most prominent IPV cases of the past decade, yet similar incidents frequently appear on news platforms.
In 2023, I came across at least two IPV-by-shooting incidents. The first involved a gunman, known as Ah Phnok, who killed his ex-wife and her family in Siem Reap before turning the gun on himself, sustaining injuries. Media reports did not provide any reasons for the attack.
The second incident occurred a month earlier when a man fatally shot his four-month-pregnant wife in the head in Dong Kor District. The perpetrator later confessed to police, citing jealousy as the motive, and was apprehended.
In 2022, there was a case in which a man, Chea Oun, killed his former wife, Nou Socheata, in her room. Before the event, the ex-husband visited his wife’s residence, leading to a verbal altercation fueled by jealousy. Following the argument, the ex-husband took his ex-wife to a room and shot her in the head. The perpetrator was taken to Chak Angre Krom Police Station for questioning and subsequent legal action.
In 2021, a military officer shot his wife in a rented room in Sen Sok District before turning the gun on himself. The wife sustained three gunshot wounds to her back and died after falling to her knees on the kitchen floor. The perpetrator died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Authorities speculated that jealousy might have been the motive, as the couple had a dispute before the incident.
In all the cases mentioned above, the victims were declared dead at the scene, while the perpetrators sought refuge through suicide or self-harm. Moreover, numerous other instances of IPV involving firearms can be found in various news outlets, Kampuchea Thmey, for example.
Control and isolation
IPV when a firearm is involved creates a pervasive atmosphere of control and isolation that can make it extremely difficult for victims to seek help or escape the cycle of abuse.
The presence of a firearm in an abusive relationship can serve as a constant reminder of the abuser’s power and control, even when the weapon is not being actively used. This can lead to a sense of helplessness and dependence on the abuser, as the victim may feel unable to escape the threat of violence.
A systematic pattern of this oppressive behavior often involves repetitive but minor physical harm and micromanagement of victims’ daily activities. Research shows that the most common behaviors of nonfatal use of a firearm in IPV included the partner displaying a firearm and threatening to shoot the victim, with the consequences ranging from concerns for safety and feeling fearful of missed days of work or school.
The use of firearms in IPV cases can also serve to isolate the victim from potential sources of support, as the presence of a weapon may deter friends, family, or authorities from intervening in an abusive relationship.
In the case of IPV by shooting in 2022, there was an attempted intervention by the victim’s family member. After the perpetrator, Chea Oun, dragged his former wife to the room, the victim’s brother entered the room to help mediate, but the ex-husband pulled out a K59 pistol and aimed at the victim’s brother and demanded he leaves, leaving the couple alone.
The brother immediately left, taking the couple’s young son with him. Tragically, the suspect then shot and killed his ex-wife in the room.
This is an issue that requires action
IPV cases involving firearms in Cambodia, although not as frequent as other types of violence, frequently lead to grave injury or death. This emphasizes the deadly ramifications of such incidents and reinforces the victim’s sense of control and isolation.
Addressing IPV by shooting cases in Cambodia requires a multi-pronged approach.
First, we need enhanced measures for gun control to prevent perpetrators of IPV from acquiring firearms. This may include enforcing more stringent background checks, licensing criteria, and regulations regarding the sale and ownership of firearms.
In Cambodia, only specific authorities are legally permitted to acquire weapons, including positions such as Chairman, Vice-President, and Senator of the National Assembly, as well as members of the Provincial Council and Chairman of the Municipal, District, and Khan Council.
In 2022, the Ministry of Interior issued permits for 1,265 short firearms and 472 long firearms, while illegal acquisition and possession of firearms remains a problem. Cambodia should look to others for best practices to prevent IPV involving firearms.
For example, the New Zealand government has concentrated on the suitability of individuals to possess firearms. This approach involves a requirement for a firearm license to possess and procure firearms, along with an evaluation by the New Zealand Police to determine if an individual seeking a firearm is deemed a fit and proper person to own a firearm, thus reducing the risk of unsuitable individuals obtaining firearms.
Raising awareness about the correlation between firearms and IPV among law enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals, and the general public are also crucial. Messaging around this issue can help these groups identify warning signs of potential violence and intervene effectively, potentially saving lives. This awareness can also contribute to a cultural shift in how society views the relationship between firearms and IPV, leading to more proactive measures to prevent such tragedies.
Support services for survivors of IPV by shooting cases are essential in addressing their immediate safety needs and facilitating their recovery. These services encompass various forms of support, such as shelters that provide temporary refuge and protection, counseling, and therapy to address emotional trauma, legal assistance to navigate the legal system, and financial and housing aid to achieve stability.
By prioritizing prevention, intervention, and support for survivors, Cambodia can work towards creating a society where all individuals can live free from the threat of intimate partner violence and firearm-related harm.
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