World Khmer Radio - Touch Sunnix (September 2011)

Mr. San Savit would like to provide an audio clip of his conversation with Mr. Sieng Touch, Ms. Touch Sunnix's father, whom at this time have taken refuge in the U.S. for six years already. To follow up on the family's current living situation and Touch Sunnix's health status please continue to listen to Mr. San Savit provide details of his conversation as follows: Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, next month marks the 20th anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia and is also the eighth anniversary of the attempted assassination of Touch Sunnix/Sreynich, a popular singer on October 21, 2003. Some sources state that the four killers are Vietnamese, who rode on their motorcycles after Touch Sunnix and her mother in front of a flower shop on Monireth Street and shot both of them. Her mother, a doctor, used her body to block her daughter consequently costing her life. As for Touch Sunnix, a bullet damaged her spinal cord causing paralysis of all four limbs and torso. It's not a mystery that Mr. Sieng Touch, who was an ophthalmic nurse has devoted his life to protecting and raising his children, as both a father and mother. Even if a decade has passed, Mr. Sieng Touch's family is still worried about impending danger from the enemy that looms large even though they are located in the U.S. now, that has provided improved safety. A few hours ago, I contacted Mr. Sieng Touch because Mr. Ouch Kosol, who claims that he has supernatural powers and produced a physical powerful device that he has named "Baramey" that can treat human illnesses along with handing one device to Touch Sunnix while adding that she can connect to the device and claims that she will recover and be able to walk by the end of the year. It is for this story that I called Mr. Sieng Touch to converse about his family's living condition in the U.S. I would like to inform you that I questioned about the outcome of Ouch Kosol's device and Mr. Sieng Touch has explained that they are only in the beginning stage of testing it and do not know its true outcome yet and powerful capability to fully recover Touch Sunnix. They have to use the device for an extended period of time. But Mr. Sieng Touch still has expressed deep gratitude for Ouch Kosol for his generosity in wanting to help his sad daughter. Mr. Sieng Touch stated that if she is fully recovered, he will never forget Ouch Kosol's kindness. Whatever he has to give as a token of appreciation, he will give it to him all, including his life. In the following conversation with Mr. Sieng Touch, we do not speak of the device's method in treating Touch Sunnix. In the case of further developments of the device, I will provide you with further details. Please continue to listen: Hello, Mr. Touch. Hello. Thank you to World Khmer Radio. I have a few questions. You are Touch Sunnix's father who has helped; oh, I am getting teary. ...who has helped to take care of Touch Sunnix ever since the shooting event and led her from Cambodia to the U.S. for many years now. At this point, how is everything? I have been living in the U.S. for a total of six years now. In a second, a long six years has already passed. In those six years, my family have not been too​ happy regardless if we're in the U.S. that many consider as a heavenly nation. But as for me, we are a family with suffering. Suffering because of an unjustified action upon my family member. They committed an action on a good family making us fall into a of life of misery. In my family that came to the U.S., there are four members. Myself, my two children, and my niece. Nephew or niece? Niece. My first child, Sreynich has been handicapped ever since and only sits in the wheelchair or lays in bed. But we are also fortunate in a way. It's important to note the differences between the U.S. and Cambodia. Ever since our arrival to the U.S. until now,​ the government has provided support with everything. They consider the rights and wrongs, they assist with treatment, they help with everything. They are not like in our homeland where no one helps anyone. If we don't help ourself, there is only death. But in this country, they provide assistance. But that assistance is only in terms of living comfortably. We don't live a rich and well off life here as many Americans already know, yet many Cambodians in Cambodia assume otherwise. It's just that the U.S. doesn't permit disorderly human conduct; they don't allow humans to harm each other. And where are you located? Please share. I am located in Sacramento, CA. Sacramento's the capital, correct? Yes, it's the capital of California. And do Cambodians that reside there provide support to your family? Yes, many Cambodians often miss Touch Sunnix and they come to ask about her health regularly. I welcome them all regularly, anyone who would like to come visit. But I would like to inform you Mr. Savit, when Cambodians come to visit do you know how they react to Touch Sunnix's life? I don't know. Please share their thoughts. When they first came, they didn't immediately ask about Sunnix's health. They came and directly started cursing. Who did they curse at? They cursed...excuse my language, for these are the direct words that the visitors used before asking about her health. Before they inquired about her health, they said, "Who the f-ck did this to Touch Sunnix who is a good person?" Most of the time, they curse at the perpetrators who committed this indecent crime before asking about her health. I believe that that is the reaction of many Cambodians who are filled with anger that the perpetrators could harm a young woman who is worthy of our compassion or even your family. Especially Touch Sunnix who was a famous singer in Cambodia. In regards to Touch Sunnix's health apart from her immobility, is there anything positive to note? Yes, I've observed that her mind is still sharp. Currently, she has been studying a lot of English. Before, it was really hard to find an interpreter. Now, she is able to speak to physicians, nurses, Americans, reporters because she has been studying with two American teachers. One female teacher teaches her English and another elderly teacher about the age of 60 volunteered to teach her about American History. Because she understands the laws of the U.S. well, she knows that Sunnix's health supplies will be discontinued if she is not a citizen within the next five to six years. So, she is preparing to become a naturalized citizen? Yes, become a naturalized citizen. So, her teacher had the idea of teaching her History to prepare for naturalization. Therefore, Sunnix is very knowledgeable. She knows about English and American History. Can you inform us about her treatment schedule, Mr. Touch? The nurse comes to assess her four times a week. Every month, she sees her general medical doctor. If she has symptoms with a particular body system, she will see a specialist. Every year, they do blood draws, ultrasounds, scans in general. Every month, she sees her physician. Four times a week, a nurse assesses her. So her five to six years here in the U.S., she has been given constant medical attention? Yes. And my family members also assist with passive range of motion exercises so that her muscles and joints don't waste away. I will ask one last question. Are you hopeful that she will regain her mobility again and return to her singing career? Yes, this is a good issue. The physicians also question, is there hope for recovery or not?​​​​ They don't provide a direct answer. But also, we are hopeful about stem cell research. Millions of dollars have been granted to support stem cell research. We have also seen on television that some people have been treated successfully. In Sacramento, there are UC Davis, Mercy, many big hospitals, particularly UC Davis. We have contacted them and they are currently conducting stem cell trials. Therefore, we have a lot of hope for stem cell research. Thank you. I have one more question that may be a bit personal. Does Touch Sunnix still sing? In regards to singing, her voice is still the same but she is quickly short of breath. Her voice is still melodious. Sometimes when she's bored, she will sing to karaoke. Her voice is the same but she is quickly short of breath. Before her lung functioning was at 100% but now it is only at 30-40%. Thank you, Mr. Sieng Touch. Thank you for providing updates to our listeners related to Touch Sunnix's current health status. I am hopeful that she will make a full recovery​ soon. I believe that the perpetrators' actions will not go unseen and their fate is awaiting them. Thank you, Mr. San Savit. Thank you all. May Khmer World Radio always be supported.