Somaly Mam ‘Ban’ Untrue

As it turns out, the claim that Cambodian anti-trafficking activist Somaly Mam was banned from running her nonprofit isn’t true. The rumor spread after Phay Siphan, a Cambodian official, made a comment on Facebook about Mam being unfit to run a nonprofit quickly went viral. In a statement and phone interview on Monday, Siphan said it was a “misunderstanding” and the country supports her work. In May, Newsweek reports alluded that Mam lied about her past and had others in her care lie about being trafficked. This month, new reports surfaced in Marie Claire that unraveled many of the previous accusations.