Asia-Pacific News

Cambodian father kills for a baby boy

Aug 25, 2008, 6:42 GMT

Phnom Penh - A Cambodian father murdered two of his infant daughters and badly beat his pregnant wife before killing himself after he learned she was having a fifth girl, police said Monday. Ou Em, the police chief of Siem Reap province, 300 kilometres north of the capital, said Youen Nil, a 37-year-old father of four daughters, became distraught when his wife told him their unborn fifth child was also a girl. 'He first beat the mother, who ran, and then slit the throats of his 3 and 4-year-old before killing himself,' Ou Em said. 'The family was very poor and Nil was disappointed he was not having a son. Two other daughters were staying with their grandmother at the time or he would have killed them too.' The name of the wife and murdered children were not provided. As in many cultures, in Cambodia sons are traditionally more highly valued because it is believed they can look after their parents in old age and take over the family business. Police said Nil had 'lacked an understanding of domestic violence issues and women's rights.' They said the incident occurred Thursday.

Asia-Pacific News

Cambodian father kills for a baby boy

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