A young Japanese photographer Go Takamaya has been jailed in Siem Reap soon after taking pictures about a Khmer married couple. His camera was confiscated. He face charge producing pornography.
"The 78 photographs depict a couple hugging and holding each other" The photos didn't show any nudity, the man had his shirt off and halfway through the shoot the woman took her blouse off as well. The man had on shorts and the woman had on trousers throughout the entire shoot and there was no explicit sexual activity."
Most of the Journalist, photographer, documentary filmmaker are living in Cambodia or planning to write or shoot documentary, must be very careful with the sensitive topics like child labor, eviction, prostitution, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, drug, etc...
Very important to note! Unexpected things can happen even if they are experienced and cautious and have legal shooting permit to shoot or do the interview. There are many ways to warn or stop journalists definitely at the developing countries. Those journalists, directly not linked to any mainstream foreign media in or outside the country are more defenseless, definitely if they are living in the country or already settled. They have many thing to risk or loose.
Why happened what is happened with Go Takamaya? I don't think he knew so much about the Cambodian custom, neither nor that how dangerous could be the mission he figured out. In any case, before someone going to do a project, first think must be to make a detailed plan. Even if the situation is looks quite safe to jump into a mission, assignment, etc... don't have to think twice to hire a reliable fixer. Sometime better to change the story and/or make a new plan.
Anyway, something is stinky. At first sight it looks, that was a carefully set up trap and the photographer walked in. Maybe that's not such a simple like looks like. That could have been a signal to the workshop or festival organizers to be careful with the subjects. Photojournalism workshops and related exhibitions are focusing to serious local subjects are not welcomed in Cambodia, definitely not in Siem Reap, where a lots of tourist gathering from all around word.
How about the half nude, carved Apsaras on the historical temples at the Angkor park? Oh, pardon. This is already a different century but the Cambodian custom is totally different than many of the westerners think.
I don't know whether the couple were expected or got money or not for the photo shoot, but the police appeared on the spot very fast. Usually, couple of bucks used to be enough to solve the problem. This time something else must be behind the seen, if the Japanese photographer is in custody for two weeks now. What does his defense lawyer do?
What's is the definition of the word "pornography" at the Siem Reap "Cambodian" police dictionary or in the Cambodian Law?
Hereby with my photo "Khmer woman breath feeding her child nearby a slum where people were warning for eviction in Siem Reap" I'm protesting the abusive Judiciary system in Cambodia". There are a huge different between Art, Nudity, Natural behavior or Pornography in democratic countries.
I urge the Cambodian authorities to acquit Takayama of all charges made against him.
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