A Cambodian man puts flowers in front of a portrait of late union president Chea Vichea to commemorate his assassination in Phnom Penh. Cambodian rights groups demanded a review of guilty verdicts against two men convicted of Chea Vichea - former head of the opposition-linked Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia - who was gunned down at a Phnom Penh food stall two years ago (AFP/Tang Chhin) Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 22-Jan-2006 14:54 hrs
Cambodian rights groups demanded a review of guilty verdicts against two men convicted of killing union president Chea Vichea, as more than 100 people marched to commemorate his assassination. Chea Vichea, who was head of the opposition-linked Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was gunned down at a Phnom Penh food stall two years ago. Two men, Born Samnang, 23, and Sok Sam Oeun, 36, were arrested just days after the daylight shooting and convicted of murder, but Cambodian and international activists insist the real killers remain at large. "Certainly, they are not the ones who ordered the killing," said Ou Virak, general secretary of the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia. "We demand a proper review of this court judgment, and further investigations by Cambodian authorities until the real culprits are caught and punished." The Phnom Penh Municipal Court dismissed the charges against the men in March 2004, but the decision was overruled, the judge transferred and the case sent to the Court of Appeal. Sok Sam Oeun's father, Vuon Phon, said the trial should be reopened. "I demand real justice ... the trial of my son was very unjust. It's not right," he said before the start of the march. The local director of the UN's human rights agency, Margo Picken, said the murder trial failed to meet any judicial standards and "therefore we do not think that they would be proved guilty to the charge." She also said a further investigation should be conducted into the handling of the trial, which was largely dismissed as a coverup for a political killing. The popular 36-year-old leader, who founded the union along with opposition leader Sam Rainsy and several others, had organised many protests fighting for the rights of garment workers. These frequently led to clashes with police. More than 100 people, including several prominent government critics recently released on bail from prison, marched from the union's offices to the spot where Chea Vichea was killed to place wreaths and make speeches in a low-key memorial. The march came amid a broad clampdown on dissent that has seen nearly a dozen people arrested or facing punishment, mostly for defamation. It took place under a heavy police presence. The defamation arrests have sparked international condemnation from rights groups and foreign governments accusing Prime Minister Hun Sen of using the courts to crush any opposition to his administration. Five key critics were granted bail last week in an apparent climbdown by the government, but Hun Sen said Sunday that the defamation charges against them would stand. "Right now they are culprits, so the government can guarantee them bail but the charges cannot be dropped," Hun Sen said. "After the trial I will see if their attitude has changed. I still have the ability to ask for clemency," he said, adding that he was unlikely to do so if they remained unrepentant. Organisers of the rally took the opportunity to urge more freedoms in Cambodia, leading chants of "Democracy forever, the government has to respect human rights". "This is very symbolic. The strategy is not confrontation," said opposition party member Mu Sochua when asked about the low turnout. "The strategy is holding on to democratic principles. It's a long way to go (to full democracy)." — AFP
Posted: 22-Jan-2006 14:54 hrs
Cambodian rights groups demanded a review of guilty verdicts against two men convicted of killing union president Chea Vichea, as more than 100 people marched to commemorate his assassination. Chea Vichea, who was head of the opposition-linked Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was gunned down at a Phnom Penh food stall two years ago. Two men, Born Samnang, 23, and Sok Sam Oeun, 36, were arrested just days after the daylight shooting and convicted of murder, but Cambodian and international activists insist the real killers remain at large. "Certainly, they are not the ones who ordered the killing," said Ou Virak, general secretary of the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia. "We demand a proper review of this court judgment, and further investigations by Cambodian authorities until the real culprits are caught and punished." The Phnom Penh Municipal Court dismissed the charges against the men in March 2004, but the decision was overruled, the judge transferred and the case sent to the Court of Appeal. Sok Sam Oeun's father, Vuon Phon, said the trial should be reopened. "I demand real justice ... the trial of my son was very unjust. It's not right," he said before the start of the march. The local director of the UN's human rights agency, Margo Picken, said the murder trial failed to meet any judicial standards and "therefore we do not think that they would be proved guilty to the charge." She also said a further investigation should be conducted into the handling of the trial, which was largely dismissed as a coverup for a political killing. The popular 36-year-old leader, who founded the union along with opposition leader Sam Rainsy and several others, had organised many protests fighting for the rights of garment workers. These frequently led to clashes with police. More than 100 people, including several prominent government critics recently released on bail from prison, marched from the union's offices to the spot where Chea Vichea was killed to place wreaths and make speeches in a low-key memorial. The march came amid a broad clampdown on dissent that has seen nearly a dozen people arrested or facing punishment, mostly for defamation. It took place under a heavy police presence. The defamation arrests have sparked international condemnation from rights groups and foreign governments accusing Prime Minister Hun Sen of using the courts to crush any opposition to his administration. Five key critics were granted bail last week in an apparent climbdown by the government, but Hun Sen said Sunday that the defamation charges against them would stand. "Right now they are culprits, so the government can guarantee them bail but the charges cannot be dropped," Hun Sen said. "After the trial I will see if their attitude has changed. I still have the ability to ask for clemency," he said, adding that he was unlikely to do so if they remained unrepentant. Organisers of the rally took the opportunity to urge more freedoms in Cambodia, leading chants of "Democracy forever, the government has to respect human rights". "This is very symbolic. The strategy is not confrontation," said opposition party member Mu Sochua when asked about the low turnout. "The strategy is holding on to democratic principles. It's a long way to go (to full democracy)." — AFP
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