Page 492 - El État de los derechos humanos en el desarrollo sostenible

EL ETAT DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS EN EL DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE

On the wedding day, men and women were asked to stand in two rows. Then the village
chief would ask the couples to hold each other’s hands and to vow to live together for the

rest of their lives; that signified they were married. The brief celebration ended when some

food was served.

After the marriage ceremony couples were forced to spend the night together and were
expected to consummate their marriage. Once married, the couple was allowed to stay

together for a few days and then went back to their work groups. They would be allowed to

come back home to see each other once every seven to ten days.

Those who refused, in most cases women, were subjected to coercive measures, such as

violence or threats. The main purpose of weddings, for the Khmer Rouge, was not to form

family units, but to produce children who could serve the revolution.

In the Khmer Rouge era, marriage like everything else was forced and controlled by the

Khmer Rouge, often with ideological aims in mind. Ugly people were matched up with
beautiful people, peasants were joined with urbanites and the illiterate were united with

intellectuals in an effort to create a better society. Not surprisingly many of these couples

divorced after the Khmer Rouge years were over. [4]

SOME CHANGING IN MARRIAGE

Today most Cambodian men choose their own wives, although they still seek the advice and
approval of their parents for two reasons. First, he wants to preserve their honor by not

marrying a ‘dirty’ girl. A good son wouldn't go against his parents’ wishes. Second, he needs

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