Cambodian mother 'nailed child's foot'

Rights groups say children face widespread domestic violence

A mother in Cambodia could face criminal charges after allegedly nailing the foot of her 13-year-old daughter to the floor for disobedience.

Officials in Kampong Thom province said that Mao Savoeurn, 35, drove a five-centimetre (two-inch) nail through the right foot of the girl after she returned from a party during the country's annual Water Festival last week.

Many parents think... violence can correct their children

Sou Sophoannara
information manager for Save The Children-Norway

She had reportedly asked the girl to stay at home to do household chores.

A local human rights group is calling for the woman to be given a jail sentence amid concern that a culture of violence still dominates Cambodian society years after Khmer Rouge rule.

A district police chief, Srey Puthy, told Reuters news agency that the case was being sent to the prosecutor.

"She was shedding tears but this is a crime," he said.

War legacy

Earlier, a police source told The Associated Press that officers were reluctant to do more than issue a formal warning as Mao Savoeurn had four daughters depending upon her.

But a field officer for the Cambodian human rights group Licadho, Men Chan Than, said that the alleged punishment had been particularly brutal, with the injury inflicted as the girl slept.

She was later reportedly forced to draw water from a distant well despite her injured foot.

He said the mother should be imprisoned.

Sou Sophoannara, information manager for the humanitarian aid group Save The Children-Norway, told AP that the case highlighted the social problems in Cambodia's war-torn society.

"Many parents don't understand children's rights and psychology. They think... violence can correct their children," the spokesman said.

The Cambodian parliament is shortly due to debate a bill on domestic violence.