OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PRESS RELEASE – MAY 25, 2021
IN CONVERSATION WITH VICE GLOBAL MEDIA
To our Cambodian Family,
We, as advocates in our Cambodian community, have been in communication with VICE Global Media over the past several weeks to find answers to our questions regarding the April 6, 2021 “Tuol Sleng” photo situation. Our conversation with VICE Editor in Chief in Asia-Pacific Natashya Gutierrez, VICE Chief People Officer Daisy Auger-Dominguez And VICE Chief Digital Officer Cory Haik is an important one that needed to happen. VICE Executives issued their sincere apology, took accountability, and put to practice an immediate action plan within their internal organization. We are pleased to hear what steps they took to investigate into the matter and furthermore their on-going plans to improve on their staff training and company policies on diversity, cultural sensitivity, and inclusivity.
VICE Executives took the time to listen to our needs, our appeals but importantly they listened to the hurt that they caused us and apologized.
We asked of VICE for their future articles to commit to being transparent, work with people from the original territory and have everything researched and fact checked by the original people of the territory. We also asked that their recruitment policies include inclusivity, diversity and working with marginalized groups to offer opportunities and create spaces for them. VICE was open and accepting to our requests.
We understand not everyone in the Cambodian community may accept VICE’s apology, but it is an important step towards acknowledging our community history, pain, and trauma and for that, we respect that VICE has taken the time to respond to us rather than ignore us.
As a community, we are resilient and strong. This matter which has transpired was a very hurtful one but collectively we came together from all parts of the world to petition injustice and reclaim what is rightfully ours - our identity, our culture, and our history! No one has the right to write our history except us.
We stand proud always,
KULA – CAMBODIAN ADVOCATES: Dany Pen, Savang Chhorm, Randy Kim, Khemarey Khoeun, Sambo Chhoeun, Jeanette Mey-Nou, and anonymous members.
The launch of this advocacy also included key members from the Cambodian community that also needs recognition: Christine Su, Ellen Chang-Richardson, Jean Sien Kin, Jean Baptiste Phou, Sorany Var, Kanha Hul, Lauren Lida, Tuol Sleng Museum, Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Kingdom of Cambodia. Thank you also to the many organizations and individuals world-wide who helped to sign the petition and share the advocacy.