By Elizabeth Tomei and Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Local rights group Licadho called on Tuesday for more prosecutions in cases of police torture following the conviction on Friday of six municipal police officers found guilty of beating a woman to death in June 2005.
Licadho specified several alleged incidents of torture that have gone unpunished, including two men allegedly beaten to death while in police custody, one at the Ministry of Interior in 2003 and another at Prey Veng Provincial Prison in 2001.
Seventy-eight prison inmates interviewed by Licadho in the first five months of 2006 claim to have been tortured by police after their arrests. In 2005, 101 inmates made allegations of torture, according to the Licadho statement.
"One prosecution alone does not indicate a meaningful change in the official attitude toward the use of torture," Kek Galabru, Licadho president, said in a statement. "It is time for the police and courts to show real political will" to stop torture, she added.
Eang Ath, acting police chief for Mesang district in Prey Veng, confirmed that Eath Oeun, 35, died while in the custody of three officers in 2001, but claimed that his death was the result of illness and not torture as claimed in the Licadho statement.
"Those police officers did not actually torture the suspect seriously," he said, adding that two of the officers involved are still on duty while the third has retired.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak declined to comment on Licadho's claim that Rak Sitha, 20, died in 2003 while in the custody of off-duty officers at the Ministry of Interior.
The ministry considers Licadho's interviews with prisoners sufficient to monitor torture in the country, but Khieu Sopheak said Licadho would do better to communicate directly with the government rather than through a press release.
Khieu Sopheak also said that torture of detainees is declining.
"It is better to have constructive criticism," he added.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
Licadho specified several alleged incidents of torture that have gone unpunished, including two men allegedly beaten to death while in police custody, one at the Ministry of Interior in 2003 and another at Prey Veng Provincial Prison in 2001.
Seventy-eight prison inmates interviewed by Licadho in the first five months of 2006 claim to have been tortured by police after their arrests. In 2005, 101 inmates made allegations of torture, according to the Licadho statement.
"One prosecution alone does not indicate a meaningful change in the official attitude toward the use of torture," Kek Galabru, Licadho president, said in a statement. "It is time for the police and courts to show real political will" to stop torture, she added.
Eang Ath, acting police chief for Mesang district in Prey Veng, confirmed that Eath Oeun, 35, died while in the custody of three officers in 2001, but claimed that his death was the result of illness and not torture as claimed in the Licadho statement.
"Those police officers did not actually torture the suspect seriously," he said, adding that two of the officers involved are still on duty while the third has retired.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak declined to comment on Licadho's claim that Rak Sitha, 20, died in 2003 while in the custody of off-duty officers at the Ministry of Interior.
The ministry considers Licadho's interviews with prisoners sufficient to monitor torture in the country, but Khieu Sopheak said Licadho would do better to communicate directly with the government rather than through a press release.
Khieu Sopheak also said that torture of detainees is declining.
"It is better to have constructive criticism," he added.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
1 comment:
I wish all Khmers who are non-CPP to be united in order to win the next general election.It means those who will not vote for CPP won't fight each other and hold their hand to liberate our Homeland from.....? in order to promote prosperity to our people.And I also bag to those opportunist politicians of the Non- CPP's party to quit politic in 2008'election including Mr. Sam Rainsy who are trying to cheat our courageous Khmer Activists.
I wish NO:FUNCINPEC-CPP's government, NO:SAMRAINGSY-CPP's government and NO:FUNCINPEC-SAMRAINGSY-CPP'S government.
I wish after 2008's election Cambodia will be independent for the second time!!!!
A Khmer Patriotist
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