Children removed in Cambodia orphanage raid
Lindsay Murdoch, Phnom Penh March 24, 2013
Twenty-one children were taken away by authorities.
Authorities have raided an Australian-run orphanage in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and taken away 21 children, some as young as one.
Police and government officials had received reports of beatings and neglect at the Love in Action orphanage founded by 71-year-old Australian Ruth Golder.
Mrs Golder, a former nurse who has worked with children in Cambodia for 13 years, admitted to Fairfax Media after the raid the orphanage was not registered with the Cambodian government, but denied the allegations of abuse and neglect of the children.
''I love the children with all my heart,'' she said, sobbing, after the raid by 17 government officials accompanied by Cambodian police and welfare staff from the anti-human trafficking and exploitation organisation SISHA. ''I will fight to get them back.''
The orphanage is supported by the Christian Outreach Centre, which has churches throughout Australia. It receives most of its funding from Australian donors and organisations.
The 21 children were taken away during the raid on Friday that was witnessed by Fairfax Media. The whereabouts of seven other children who were living at the orphanage is unknown.
http://m.theage.com.au/world/children-r ... 2gmuz.html