SIHANOUKVILLE: It is a case which Cambodians have never heard of when a young man grieves the death of his mother, whom he has cared for almost 10 years, but after her passing, her body was taken away by his sister’s and relatives to be buried in a different place, contrary to his mother's wishes.
Regarding the matter where burying their mother's body, the two sisters (Sun Vanny and Sun Vanna), are arguing with their youngest brother, Sun Chivly. The sisters could not be reached for clarification because they were busy preparing to send their mother's body to be buried in Prey Nob district, Sihanoukville province, while the story went viral, surprising the locals.
Meanwhile, Sun Chivly, who claims to be the youngest child in the family, is breaking down in tears, saying, "Please forgive me for not being able to serve you, especially for being incapable of fulfilling my mother's wishes, because I am alone without a wife or family, and I do not have wealth like the two sisters. Only my neighbors came to encourage me, but they still could not help me."
In an interview with the media, Sun Chivly said that he had been taking care of his mother until her passing and that his mother had asked a lawyer to write down and to record her will in her voice.
He said: "But everything is meaningless: his two sisters brought relatives to threaten and beat me into agreeing to hand over the body of their mother. When they were preparing to send my mother's body away, I refused, and they beat me; even the district authorities and police stood by and watched the injustice, even though I put up my mother's will at the front of the funeral. They said that the authorities support the majority voice and that it is just a family affair. Whereas when my brother-in-law used violence against me, they did not see. Where is justice for the weak like me? Only leaders at all levels and Samdach Puk (Prime Minister Hun Sen) could give me justice; please help me, Samdech Puk Samdach Mae (Prime Minister Hun Sen and First Lady)."
76-year-old Li Jian, who lives next door, described that the youngest son was the one who took care of his mother until the day she passed away. As for the two sisters, she only saw them once in a while.
"As for the last word of Heng Mala, the mother who passed away, she used to tell me that, when she died, she let her youngest son put her in a pagoda and also let him be in charge. She did not want to be buried in Veal Renh," she said.
Ratana, in her 30s, who claims to be Sun Chivly's godsister, described the story as "tragic" that a child who has been looking after his mother for so many years is unable to fulfill her last words.
"Chivly is the most miserable boy; now that his mother has passed away, he has no one else; his relatives have also abandoned him because he has no wealth, unlike his two sisters," she said. "Only the soul of Chivly's mother knows who has cared for her until her last breath. Ungratefulness and greed in children will doom them. Instead, the gratitude of every child will compensate them in happiness, both physically and mentally."
Meanwhile, Sun Pisey, Deputy Governor of Stung Hav District, who arrived at the scene with Ros Kei, Prey Nup District Police, stated it was the decision of her family, which he has no authority to decide.
