Phnom Penh Post, Issue 15 / 17, August 25 - September 7, 2006
Former Phnom Penh Police Chief Heng Pov's public allegations of crimes by high government officials negate any claim he may have to political asylum, a government spokesman said August 24.
"If Heng Pov says he knows about crimes within the government it means he is an accomplice to these crimes," said Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith. "So he has no right to seek political asylum."
One of Pov's key allegations pertains to the involvement of high-ranking government officials in the March 30, 1997 grenade attack on unarmed demonstrators in Phnom Penh.
Ron Abney, a US citizen injured during the grenade attack, has written to the FBI requesting that they reopen their investigation into the affair in light of Pov's revelations.
His call echoes that of opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who on August 16 said the government, Ministry of Interior, and police needed to undertake a thorough investigation into the attack using new information provided by Pov.
"Don't forget that Sam Rainsy was quick to accuse people in the government after the grenade attack and now Heng Pov has released a statement claiming to reveal the truth," Kanharith said. "The government is waiting to investigate who is telling the correct version of events."
It is currently uncertain whether Pov will be granted political asylum overseas or whether he will be returned to Cambodia by Singaporean authorities when his visa expires on August 26.
"We are hard pressed to say whether Heng Pov will be arrested and sent back to Cambodia," said Khieu Sopheak, Ministry of Interior spokesman. "The case is no longer under our jurisdiction; it is for the police to work on resolving this issue."
Earlier this week Pov's Australian-based lawyer, David Chen, said unless the government dropped its "trumped up" charges against Pov, the fugitive former police chief will be washing a lot more of the government's "dirty linen" in public.
Kanharith said that by making public statements, Pov is shooting himself in the foot.
"The more Heng Pov releases statements, the more he jeopardizes his claims for political asylum," he said. "There is no country that will give Pov political asylum."
"If Heng Pov says he knows about crimes within the government it means he is an accomplice to these crimes," said Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith. "So he has no right to seek political asylum."
One of Pov's key allegations pertains to the involvement of high-ranking government officials in the March 30, 1997 grenade attack on unarmed demonstrators in Phnom Penh.
Ron Abney, a US citizen injured during the grenade attack, has written to the FBI requesting that they reopen their investigation into the affair in light of Pov's revelations.
His call echoes that of opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who on August 16 said the government, Ministry of Interior, and police needed to undertake a thorough investigation into the attack using new information provided by Pov.
"Don't forget that Sam Rainsy was quick to accuse people in the government after the grenade attack and now Heng Pov has released a statement claiming to reveal the truth," Kanharith said. "The government is waiting to investigate who is telling the correct version of events."
It is currently uncertain whether Pov will be granted political asylum overseas or whether he will be returned to Cambodia by Singaporean authorities when his visa expires on August 26.
"We are hard pressed to say whether Heng Pov will be arrested and sent back to Cambodia," said Khieu Sopheak, Ministry of Interior spokesman. "The case is no longer under our jurisdiction; it is for the police to work on resolving this issue."
Earlier this week Pov's Australian-based lawyer, David Chen, said unless the government dropped its "trumped up" charges against Pov, the fugitive former police chief will be washing a lot more of the government's "dirty linen" in public.
Kanharith said that by making public statements, Pov is shooting himself in the foot.
"The more Heng Pov releases statements, the more he jeopardizes his claims for political asylum," he said. "There is no country that will give Pov political asylum."
6 comments:
Shut your big mouth ah evil hyprocrite Khieu kanharith.
Next on the line to be shot by Hun sen will be Khiev Sopheak. Hun Sen will never keep anyone outside of his family members to be high ranking policemen. He will kill them all. Today, you can laugh at Heng Pov, next day it will be you? You must forget Pol Pot regime. This animal Hun Sen is not different. He has no humankind at all. His hands are full of blood.
Khieu Kanharith, you must be shaking right now. Shaking not because of Heng Pov, but because you need some congac hennessey.
Be courage Heng Peov!! keep telling the truth.
Heng Pov, you are brave. Write or tell your lawyer your allegation. If something should happen to you, we will have your claim to pursue the Khmer Rouge regime (CPP) in the upcoming KRT by the ECCC.
Wonderful Mr. kiss-ass Ranaridh did not react when HP disclosed how cruel Hok Lundy did to his party members? A coward...
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