By Douglas Gilllson and Phann Ana
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
"We know what our competent officials
are doing but it is completely dark."
—Khieu Sopheak,
Interior ministry
spokesman, on the state of
several high-profile
murder investigations
are doing but it is completely dark."
—Khieu Sopheak,
Interior ministry
spokesman, on the state of
several high-profile
murder investigations
Fugitive former Phnom Penh police chief Heng Pov has left Singapore and was traveling Wednesday to an unidentified third country, his Australia-based lawyer David Chen said.
Chen said an official statement from Heng Pov, who on Monday claimed to have information on criminal activity in the government, will be issued when both lawyer and client have arrived at their destination.
"He is on his way to a third country, the name of which you will find out in due course," Chen wrote in an e-mail.
"I will be flying out to join him in that third country tonight, too.... An official statement from Mr. Heng Pov will be issued when we arrive," Chen wrote.
"I hope you appreciate the sensitivity of this matter and I apologize for being a bit vague at this stage," he added.
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said Tuesday that Heng Pov— who is wanted in Cambodia in connection with a host of crimes— did not qualify for asylum under the laws of any nation.
Heng Pov's much-publicized flight and the accusations against him have returned the question of high-profile, unsolved killings in Cambodia to public view in spectacular fashion.
After three years, authorities at last alleged in recent days that it was Heng Pov who was behind the April 2003 killing of Municipal Court Judge Sok Sethamony.
Police have also alleged that Heng Pov plotted to kill Military Police Commander Sao Sokha, Chief Municipal Court Prosecutor Ouk Savouth and Electricite du Cambodge official Kim Daravuth, who was shot in the neck in November but survived.
But the rapid progress in investigating Heng Pov’s alleged criminal activity stands in harsh contrast to other unsolved high-profile murders and shootings, human rights workers said.
In July 1999, much-loved Cambodian actress Piseth Peaklica was gunned down execution-style as she shopped in Phnom Penh. Piseth Peaklica, who died a week later, was widely rumored to have been the mistress of a top government official. Her 8-year-old niece was also shot in the back by the gunmen, but survived.
Singer Touch Srey Nich, then 24, survived three gunshots to the head and neck in October 2003 after unidentified assailants opened fire in Phnom Penh. Her mother was killed. Touch Srey Nich had recently recorded songs in favor of the royalist party.
Two days earlier, an assassin approached Chuor Chetharith, 37, a reporter for the pro-Funcinpec radio station Ta Prohm FM 90.5, and killed him with a single shot to the head.
In February of the same election year, Sam Bunthoeun, president of the Buddhist Center for Meditation of Udong, was shot dead by gunmen outside Wat Lanka. Sam Bunthoeun was apparently in favor of monks voting in the general election.
Evidence for the convictions of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, who were convicted in August 2005 of the murder of Free Trade Union leader Chea Vichea, has been heavily disputed.
Ros Sovannareth, a chief representative for the FTU, was also shot dead in May 2004. Thach Saveth, an RCAF paratrooper, was convicted of that killing in February 2005.
An RCAF paratrooper was also convicted of killing Funcinpec advisor Om Radsady, who was shot dead in February 2003 as he left a restaurant in Phnom Penh.
"It's many years already but the government has not given the public the results of their investigations," Kem Sokha, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said Wednesday.
Heng Pov’s fall from grace could be the result of internal conflict, Kem Sokha said, hastening to add that he had no idea what could have motivated the other unsolved killings.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the government was making an honest effort to find the killers in all the lingering cases. "We know what our competent officials are doing but it is completely dark. Excellency Deputy Prime Minister [Sar Kheng] still pushes to continue investigation into these cases but there is no light at all," he said.
"If we have any evidence, witnesses who can explain the cases, we will solve them," he said. 'The cases are not closed. We keep waiting until the criminals appear to arrest them."
Chea Vannath, former president of the Center for Social Development, said the prosecution of Heng Pov appeared to be "selective prosecution."
"I don't want to jump to any conclusions to be fair to everybody. But in my experience in institutions I know you cannot do anything without the blessing or the complaisance of your boss," she said.
She also said she doubted international investigations could shed light on what was happening in Cambodia.
"So far the investigation of the grenade attack in front of the National Assembly by the [US Federal Bureau of Investigation] never became public," she said, referring to a March 1997 grenade attack on a Sam Rainsy Party demonstration that killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 100.
The perpetrators of that crime have never been apprehended.
International investigations, such as the one launched by the UN into the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005, are reserved for world leaders and others of international stature, Chea Vannath said. The international community has little interest in disturbing the political status quo in Cambodia, she added.
"There are so many crises in Asia, in the world, the international community doesn't want Cambodia to be another one."
Chen said an official statement from Heng Pov, who on Monday claimed to have information on criminal activity in the government, will be issued when both lawyer and client have arrived at their destination.
"He is on his way to a third country, the name of which you will find out in due course," Chen wrote in an e-mail.
"I will be flying out to join him in that third country tonight, too.... An official statement from Mr. Heng Pov will be issued when we arrive," Chen wrote.
"I hope you appreciate the sensitivity of this matter and I apologize for being a bit vague at this stage," he added.
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said Tuesday that Heng Pov— who is wanted in Cambodia in connection with a host of crimes— did not qualify for asylum under the laws of any nation.
Heng Pov's much-publicized flight and the accusations against him have returned the question of high-profile, unsolved killings in Cambodia to public view in spectacular fashion.
After three years, authorities at last alleged in recent days that it was Heng Pov who was behind the April 2003 killing of Municipal Court Judge Sok Sethamony.
Police have also alleged that Heng Pov plotted to kill Military Police Commander Sao Sokha, Chief Municipal Court Prosecutor Ouk Savouth and Electricite du Cambodge official Kim Daravuth, who was shot in the neck in November but survived.
But the rapid progress in investigating Heng Pov’s alleged criminal activity stands in harsh contrast to other unsolved high-profile murders and shootings, human rights workers said.
In July 1999, much-loved Cambodian actress Piseth Peaklica was gunned down execution-style as she shopped in Phnom Penh. Piseth Peaklica, who died a week later, was widely rumored to have been the mistress of a top government official. Her 8-year-old niece was also shot in the back by the gunmen, but survived.
Singer Touch Srey Nich, then 24, survived three gunshots to the head and neck in October 2003 after unidentified assailants opened fire in Phnom Penh. Her mother was killed. Touch Srey Nich had recently recorded songs in favor of the royalist party.
Two days earlier, an assassin approached Chuor Chetharith, 37, a reporter for the pro-Funcinpec radio station Ta Prohm FM 90.5, and killed him with a single shot to the head.
In February of the same election year, Sam Bunthoeun, president of the Buddhist Center for Meditation of Udong, was shot dead by gunmen outside Wat Lanka. Sam Bunthoeun was apparently in favor of monks voting in the general election.
Evidence for the convictions of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, who were convicted in August 2005 of the murder of Free Trade Union leader Chea Vichea, has been heavily disputed.
Ros Sovannareth, a chief representative for the FTU, was also shot dead in May 2004. Thach Saveth, an RCAF paratrooper, was convicted of that killing in February 2005.
An RCAF paratrooper was also convicted of killing Funcinpec advisor Om Radsady, who was shot dead in February 2003 as he left a restaurant in Phnom Penh.
"It's many years already but the government has not given the public the results of their investigations," Kem Sokha, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said Wednesday.
Heng Pov’s fall from grace could be the result of internal conflict, Kem Sokha said, hastening to add that he had no idea what could have motivated the other unsolved killings.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the government was making an honest effort to find the killers in all the lingering cases. "We know what our competent officials are doing but it is completely dark. Excellency Deputy Prime Minister [Sar Kheng] still pushes to continue investigation into these cases but there is no light at all," he said.
"If we have any evidence, witnesses who can explain the cases, we will solve them," he said. 'The cases are not closed. We keep waiting until the criminals appear to arrest them."
Chea Vannath, former president of the Center for Social Development, said the prosecution of Heng Pov appeared to be "selective prosecution."
"I don't want to jump to any conclusions to be fair to everybody. But in my experience in institutions I know you cannot do anything without the blessing or the complaisance of your boss," she said.
She also said she doubted international investigations could shed light on what was happening in Cambodia.
"So far the investigation of the grenade attack in front of the National Assembly by the [US Federal Bureau of Investigation] never became public," she said, referring to a March 1997 grenade attack on a Sam Rainsy Party demonstration that killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 100.
The perpetrators of that crime have never been apprehended.
International investigations, such as the one launched by the UN into the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005, are reserved for world leaders and others of international stature, Chea Vannath said. The international community has little interest in disturbing the political status quo in Cambodia, she added.
"There are so many crises in Asia, in the world, the international community doesn't want Cambodia to be another one."
5 comments:
Good on you Heng Pov. Good of luck. At least you won't need to implement order from Hun sen again. Your lesson will be a wake up call to all Policemen in phnom Penh that after working for Hun Sen for the rest of your lives and at the end you have only a pair of cloths plus you have beared a name of crminal because Hun Sen order you to carry his ordor bu you were the one who has killed others.
It is true that Heng Pov problem is a wake up call for all police and all arm forces in Cambodia who are presently working under the instruction of a man( Hun Sen) designated by vietcong to carry out the killing of all Cambodian Nationalist to remember that, you kill your own brothers and sisters and at the end they will kill you just as animal. You must work together to protect your brothers and sisters instead of Vietcong. I have no doubt that Sao Sokha will be killed one day by vietcong too because he is a Cambodian. Learn your lesson.
I previously heard about somebody accussed Heng Pov as YOUN. Now I heard that he is Khmer. Pardon me people make me confused. Anyway my point is not YOUN or KHMER. it's about why did Phnom Penh Government and police leaders allowed him to escape, I'm almost quite sure they knew he carries himself with high value and confidential information? people don't need political analysts or brain surgeons to know these things. Just look at some facts : he was back then a major General and P.Penh police commissioner therefore he must be involved with important decision makings, he confessed to have involved with brides(perhaps multiple times), he can access to Hun Sen easily because he was his adviser, He used to work closely with Hok Lundy until 2000 and so forth...
So Is it a lapse of judgement in part of HUN SEN to let him out or other way around? If there is a long term plan behind this scene? suspiciously speaking. Remember this (but may be just only the stage: Chea Sim was escorted out of Phnom Penh by Hok Lundy to get on plane to Bangkok and was with him there at least several days).
Khmer or others you can see in the picture, need no body tell you!
Any one killing Cambodian or doing thing that cause Cambodian society to be ruine and sestroy are Youn that is shot for you all!
Soa Sokha (real Viet), Huk Lundy, Hon Sen and all those bad leaders including Ran Narith are YOUN to me!
The world bank and IMF, I wished they would stop donate monetary to Hun Sen. Instead, they should creat a Watch Dogs Agency to monitor corruption that is going on in Cambodia right now. They would get all of the facts and freeze all of the donation to these beggars.
A Watch Dog Agency is crucial right now for Khmer people. We are being killed one by one by our neighbors.
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