04th March 2005
Phnom Penh,

To Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister of Cambodia

We are the vulnerable people of Cambodia would like to express our
deep thankfulness to the Prime Minister who has supported us in
stopping the unethical clinical trial of a HIV prevention drug,
Tenofovir, last August 2004. Samdech is a true father who always has
compassion and is very thoughtful about the benefits to his children,
and stays with us when we are in difficulty.

Dear Prime Minister!

At the same time with your thoughtfulness and care for us, there are
some groups that are trying, with different tricks, to make the
unethical trial yet again possible in Cambodia. They continue to try
to persuade your daughters again and again to participate in this
unethical trial. We are very concerned that if the trial will take
place, the negative side effects that it will have on us, the most
vulnerable group, physically, emotionally, on our lives as well as
Cambodian society as a whole.

There are some NGOs still pushing women to participate in the
unethical trial. Those people only think about their own benefit, not
ours. They have not provided information and documents related to the
trial to us the. Although Samdech has made a public announcement on
stopping the unethical trial, we are still worried that the research
group will in any way possible, continue to lobby the Cambodian
government to change their decision and to accept the unethical trial
with their conditions. At this moment, people in Thailand are
challenging the research group for the unethical trial not to take
place. Similarly in Cameroon, the government stopped an unethical
trial that was to be undertaken in the same manner as the unethical
trial in Cambodia. However, there was much pressure from interested
parties on Cameroon government to continue the unethical trial.

What worries us the most is that the research group does not have a
clear ethics protocol for this clinical trial. They are pushing us to
do what they think is right and take no concern about our lives.

Therefore, what we would like is a community committee to supervise
the ethics of any clinical trails to be set up, with the participation
of the participants of the trial.

We are your children, would like to implore you and the Government of
Cambodia to not change your mind. We do believe in you; who always
cares and thinks about the lives of your people as the first priority.
We hope that Samdech will issue an announcement to stop all of the
activities of the research group, NGOs and related Ministries that are
still pushing for this unethical trial without taking full
responsibility.

The world congratulates you for your stand on human rights, as you
truly respect these rights. Every Cambodian has the right to live, to
participate, to make decisions but the research group does not give us
these rights, but only thinks about their benefits and exploits us;
the poor and powerless instead.

"Cambodian people are not waste and Cambodia is not waste bin!"

We would like to thank for your meaningful statement when you stopped
the unethical clinical trial. We would like to wish you good health
and that you stay in power, to continue to govern and lead Cambodia to
peace and development.

Yours Faithfully,

The Secretariat of The Women Network for Unity
Ms Keo Tha (+855 12 471093)
Ms So Mayunang (+855 11 210876)
Ms Pich Sokchea (+855 11 782459)
Ms Sou Sotheavy (+855 11 999271)

C/O WAC office
#1, Sisowat Quay, Srah Chak, Daun Penh Phnom Penh
womensnetwork@...
_______________________________
The Womens Network for Unity (WNU)is grassroots representative
collective of Phnom Penh based Sex Workers. The network seeks to
promote the rights of Sex Workers to earn a living in a safe
environment, free from exploitation and social stigma. The network has
approximately 5000 active members in 13 provinces and cities in
Cambodia and we hope to be able to provide the same level of services
and support to these members as those in Phnom Penh.

http://www.womynsagenda.org/Program/SWs/SWNU.html