Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06PHNOMPENH1406, PHNOM PENH'S CHINESE SEX TOURISM INDUSTRY

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06PHNOMPENH1406.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06PHNOMPENH1406 2006-08-07 08:49 2011-07-11 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Phnom Penh
VZCZCXRO2233
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #1406/01 2190849
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 070849Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7113
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2392
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0590
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0189
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PHNOM PENH 001406 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR G/TIP, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL KJUS CB KWMN SNAR
SUBJECT: PHNOM PENH'S CHINESE SEX TOURISM INDUSTRY 
 
 1.  (U)  Summary.  Typically shrouded behind legitimate 
businesses, Phnom Penh's sex establishments catering to the 
Chinese operate relatively discretely.  Generally, Chinese 
men come to Phnom Penh for business reasons, not for the 
purpose of sex tourism.  Chinese clientele refrain from the 
low-end brothels used by average Cambodians, preferring 
karaoke bars and massage parlors that cater to the Chinese. 
Some of these establishments have girls suspected of being 
trafficked from Vietnam and increasingly from China; numbers 
of underage girls present are hard to estimate, but girls as 
young as 14-15 years of age are not uncommon.  Debt bondage 
draws some Chinese sex workers to Cambodia.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU)  Chinese-speaking Pol/Econ intern and Poleconoff of 
Asian descent surveyed various Phnom Penh sex establishments 
posing as customers.  Information was gathered by asking 
Chinese businessmen, hostesses, and managers about 
Chinese-speaking visitors to Cambodia, and how they factor 
into the trafficking for sex industry in Cambodia. 
 
Catering to Chinese Sex Tourism 
------------------------------- 
 
3.  (U)  An estimated 72,000 Chinese-speaking foreigners came 
to Cambodia from Mainland China and Taiwan in the first six 
months of 2006, making them second only to Koreans in the 
number of visitors to Cambodia.  Most Chinese sex customers 
come to Phnom Penh on business and engage in commercial sex 
as a diversion.  Local business associates sometimes take 
their clients to these locales to "experience" Cambodia.  As 
in Chinese business etiquette, business partners associates 
have an obligation to make sure that the clients are 
satisfied with their stay in Cambodia.  Often, business 
associates encourage foreign clients to sleep with a woman, 
based on a bawdy saying that someone does not "know" a 
country until he has had sex with its women. 
 
4.  (U)  The Chinese do not typically like to receive sexual 
services at local brothels.  The small, cramped, and often 
dirty facilities deter Chinese clients from taking advantage 
of the comparatively cheaper services.  Instead, they prefer 
to choose cleaner, high-end facilities such as hotels, 
massage parlors, and karaoke bars.  Many of these businesses 
have separate VIP rooms which customers can rent and use for 
sexual activities.  Prices range from USD 20 to USD 150 
depending on the type of service and ethnicity of the girl. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Karaoke Bars: More Than Just Songs 
---------------------------------- 
 
5.  (U)  Sexual service in Cambodia is almost synonymous with 
karaoke bars.  These bars are typically located in hotels and 
are intended to entertain resident guests.  Some are located 
within an arcade-like mall or within an entertainment 
complex.  Though sexual services are not blatantly 
advertised, the exteriors are distinctive and recognizable to 
Asian male clientele.  Depending on the karaoke bar, room 
charges can either be calculated by hourly fees or by drinks. 
 Female company for drinks can be purchased for approximately 
five dollars per hour. 
 
6.  (U)  Most hostesses are not just hired for karaoke 
company, but prostituted by the owners.  After the customers 
are seated, a manager parades a line-up of girls from which 
the customer may choose.  The girls wear seductive apparel 
and often have a numerical badge to which the customer can 
refer when choosing girls.   Nightly rates are approximately 
USD 40 for Khmer, USD 50 for Vietnamese, and USD 150 for 
Chinese girls.  At one bar, the manager tried to sell her 
daughter to Emboffs.  Once paid for, the girls can be taken 
to a hotel for sexual services; tipping is discretionary. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Massage Parlors with Special Services 
------------------------------------- 
 
7.  (U)  Though there are reputable massage establishments in 
Phnom Penh, many businesses also provide sexual services. 
These parlors are typically distinguished by blackened 
windows, gaudy exterior lights and suggestive advertisements. 
 Some of these girls are trafficked, while others work of 
their own volition.  Parlors charge approximately seven 
dollars an hour for room rental, but sexual services are 
negotiated with the girl.  Most girls charge between USD 
10-20 with a portion going to the parlor owner. 
 
 
PHNOM PENH 00001406  002 OF 003 
 
 
8.  (SBU)  As is typical of Southeast Asia, the massage 
parlors are often equipped with a "fish bowl" viewing room. 
A large glass window divides the viewing room from the 
fishbowl with the girls on display.  Girls wearing scantily 
clad outfits and number badges sit in rows.  Their ages 
typically range from 15-27 years old.  Some parlors clothe 
their girls by ethnicity.  One parlor had Khmer girls wearing 
pink, Vietnamese in yellow, Chinese in red, and Russians in 
plain clothes.  Chinese and European women tend to be seen as 
most desirable (and therefore more expensive) because of 
their rarity in Phnom Penh, we suspect some of the foreign 
girls of being trafficking victims but estimating a 
percentage is difficult. 
 
9.  (U)  Customers sit on couches and are served drinks as 
they choose a girl.  After the client decides on a number, he 
notifies the manager who then calls out the number.  The girl 
enters the viewing room and leads the customer to a private 
room for massage and possibly sex.  Condom usage is suggested 
but reportedly negotiable. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
Techno Music, Drugs, and Girls:  Chinese Night Clubs 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
10.  (U)  Chinese night clubs are the newest fad in Phnom 
Penh and growing in popularity with Chinese tourists.  Phnom 
Penh boasts three main Chinese night clubs:  the Shanghai 
Beach Club at the Phnom Penh Hotel, the Casa Club, and the 
Holiday Hotel's Manhattan Club.  Chinese-speaking men fill 
these venues after midnight, usually with their friends or 
business associates.  Chinese-speaking Pol/econ intern 
observed that most of the girls were either Vietnamese, 
Chinese, or Sino-Khmer.  Once a customer enters the club, 
either a manager ("mamasan") or hostess will approach and 
inquire if the customer wants company.  Rates are negotiated 
and girls can serve as hostesses, dancing partners, or even 
bedroom company.  Costs typically range from USD 10-50 
depending on the girl and extent of relationship. 
 
11.  (U)  Once entering the club, customers can find an 
assortment of drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamines (ya 
ba/ya ma) and cocaine sold by either the girls working at the 
club or independent sellers.  Pol/econ intern noticed that 
almost all of the Chinese patrons appeared to be high on 
drugs, as were their female companions.  Security guards 
screen customers for weapons, but questionable substances 
were openly available and in use in these establishments. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Foreign Sex Workers in Phnom Penh 
--------------------------------- 
 
12.  (SBU)  Chinese sex workers are more prevalent now in 
Phnom Penh than in the past several years.  A handful of 
Chinese girls can be found in almost all of the high-end 
karaoke bars and massage parlors.  One worker told Emboffs 
she started working at the massage club because she owed USD 
10,000 in China, and had come to Phnom Penh to work off the 
debt as a prostitute.  Originally from southern China's 
Fujian province, she makes over USD 1,000 a month, and plans 
to pay back the debt within a year.  She said she first 
started working in a karaoke bar, but because she did not 
like to drink alcoholic beverages she moved to the massage 
parlor where she could make money without having to drink. 
She claimed that many Chinese sex-workers like herself have 
entered into agreements to come to Cambodia to work off 
debts.  After she pays her debt, she will purchase an 
airplane ticket and fly back to China.  (Note:  A former 
AFESIP staff member said she encountered a similar situation 
after police conducted a brothel raid.  Four Chinese sex 
workers were found to have three-year work visas in their 
passports.  End note.)  Another Chinese sex worker, 
college-educated, claimed that she was from Dalian in 
northeastern China.  Sharing a similar background, she has a 
network of friends in analogous professions working in 
Thailand and Malaysia.  Those countries will be her next 
destinations after she finishes working in Cambodia. 
 
13.  (SBU)  Though much rarer than Chinese workers, Russian 
sex-workers can be found in Phnom Penh.  Pol/econoff and 
Pol/Econ intern observed Russian sex-workers in a few massage 
parlors and at a Chinese night club.  At the karaoke club, 
two Russian females were offered for sexual services.  The 
manager asked for approximately USD 120 to take home a 
Russian girl for the entire night. 
 
 
PHNOM PENH 00001406  003 OF 003 
 
 
14.  (SBU)  Comment.  Within Cambodia's sex tourism industry, 
those facilities catering to Asian men have been largely 
uncharted territory for this Mission as well as for many in 
the NGO community, given the lack of personnel with Chinese 
language capability.  Interestingly, establishments geared 
for Chinese men are not frequented by large numbers of Korean 
or Japanese customers.  Chinese-speaking hostesses rarely 
entertained customers other than ethnic Chinese; no 
Westerners were encountered by Emboffs during their visits. 
It was difficult to assess the extent of human trafficking in 
these establishments, as girls are invariably coached to give 
their ages as 18-20 years to avoid police raids.  Only after 
Emboffs had engaged girls in conversation were they able to 
ascertain that some girls were as young as 14-15 years of 
age.  The issue of debt bondage among Chinese sex workers and 
the growing numbers of girls coming to Cambodia from China 
for sex work were also new aspects to the sex tourism 
industry in Cambodia.  End Comment. 
MUSSOMELI