AS AN "adopted American daughter" of a Chuukese family, I would like to respond to the sentencing of Mrs. Cha for the Blue House brothel crimes.
In February 2011, I attended every day of the Blue House trial at the District Court House. As this court room had been equipped with the latest computer technology, only individual jurors, defense and prosecuting attorneys could view exhibits presented during the trial. Subsequently, I positioned myself behind one of the attorneys' computer monitors and observed each of the exhibits – from the medical abortion records to the "kabuki-style" white makeup which the island girls were forced to wear while "on duty."
Ninth Circuit District Judge Dean Pregerson was once a public defender on Guam representing under-served clients. In California he served inmates on death row at San Quentin Prison. On Thursday he once again showed his compassion for victims in his remarks from the bench.
He announced that while the impact victim statements were "very important to the court," they had not been made public. He said Mrs. Cha's acts were "not far removed from slavery. The defendant owned the bodies of these girls."
He addressed the first of two victims who were sentenced as a result of a plea bargain. "You are worthy of forgiveness. Hold your head high. Look upon yourself as a good person."
I, too, feel justice has been served. And I encourage the people of Guam and Chuuk to be supportive of these women whose lives have forever been damaged. May God bless these brave young women who bravely spoke up and helped Mrs. Cha receive justice. Let us consider them not victims but survivors.
Kinisou Chapur!
Dianne M. Strong,
Ed.D.
Yoña
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Letter to the Editor 
Support the Blue House victims
Support the Blue House victims
Support the Blue House victims
- Tuesday, 25 Sep 2012 03:00am
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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