Sam Rainsy, opposition leader (Photo: RFA)23 August 2006
By Mayarith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Sam Rainsy, SRP president, declared that he plans on meeting US FBI officials to push the US investigation agency to pay attention on the information revealed by Heng Pov, the former Phnom Penh police chief, regarding the assassination by grenade attacks on a group of demonstrators at the end of March 1997.
This is the transcript of the interview with Sam Rainsy by Mayarith on this event:
Mayarith (RFA): I heard that during your visit in the US, you will push for the FBI investigation based on the declaration made by Heng Pov, the former Phnom Penh police chief, regarding the past grenade attack. Can you provide more information on this issue?
Sam Rainsy (SR): During my visit in the US, I will take the opportunity to request the US authority, in particular, the FBI, to pay attention on the proofs and declaration provided by Heng Pov. He held a high ranking position in the national institution, and he was the former police chief, so he knew about internal affairs of Cambodian leaders. Furthermore, if he can provide information pertaining to the grenade attack in front of the National Assembly in 1997, then I am requesting the US FBI agency to reopen the investigation and to take into consideration the revelations made by Mr. Heng Pov, and also to request the FBI to interview Mr. Heng Pov for additional information in order to unmask the criminals involved.
RFA: Do you know where does Heng Pov stay right now?
SR: I do not know, I listened to the radio, watched TV like everybody else, but I don’t know where he is at right now.
RFA: Regarding the FBI issue, did you meet with the FBI yet?
SR: I want to. Soon, I will leaving California to visit a number of states, and I will meet influential people in the US.
RFA: According to the 9-page statement issued by Mr. Heng Pov, it appears that Mr. Heng Pov had some contacts with the SRP in the past. What is your reaction? Did Mr. Heng Pov meet with any member of your party?
SR: I do not consider Mr. Heng Pov as a member of the SRP. To the contrary, Mr. Heng Pov is a member of the CPP. Only CPP members can occupy important positions like Mr. Heng Pov did until recently.
However, all private activities of Mr. Heng Pov when he held a senior position in a national institution, I did not hear or know anything about them, I just follow the news like everybody else. But on certain issues raised by Mr. Heng Pov, I can clarify, I will clarify and I already clarified to the UN which has an office in charge of refugees, the UNHCR, which is an institution that decides on who will receive the refugee status and grant the refugee status. To be accepted as a refugee, one must fulfill a certain number of criteria. As for some of the various information I have heard and known, I provided this information to the UNHCR which is a UN institution.
RFA: Does the SRP defend any witness revealing [information] on the past grenade attack or not?
SR: I cannot tell you what I told the UNHCR. The UNHCR is the ultimate decision maker, they have their own source of information, and they will investigate if the information is true or not, to see whether the information is relevant or not. They are the ultimate decision maker.
RFA: It is said that Heng Pov who is currently leveling charges on the misdeeds happening in Cambodia, is looking for help from politicians or from another country to obtain a refugee status in a third country. What is your reaction to his effort?
SR: Once again, the ultimate decision maker is the UN. The UN wants to collect information from all the sources so that they can judge. I saw the declaration made by Mr. Heng Pov, I believe that there are a number of points of interest that cannot be completely refuted, some of the stories seem to have a basis because Mr. Heng Pov used to hold a senior position. In the information he revealed, there are many points of interest.
RFA: Are you worried about impending difficulties arising from clashes (between SRP and the government) that could happen (resulting from this affair)?
SR: The SRP does not have anything directly related to Mr. Heng Pov. We are only following this story just like anybody else, the same as the UN following this story. If there are information related to the security of Cambodia, related to terrorist acts such as the grenade attack in front of the National Assembly in 1997, [we are interested because] the SRP was a victim.
Information we have gathered, we provided them to the UN, to the US FBI, to the US court because the SRP had brought lawsuits in the US and in France. The Cambodian court system does not have independence, we cannot rely on the Cambodian court system. We are relying on the US and French court system to help find the culprits.
This is the transcript of the interview with Sam Rainsy by Mayarith on this event:
Mayarith (RFA): I heard that during your visit in the US, you will push for the FBI investigation based on the declaration made by Heng Pov, the former Phnom Penh police chief, regarding the past grenade attack. Can you provide more information on this issue?
Sam Rainsy (SR): During my visit in the US, I will take the opportunity to request the US authority, in particular, the FBI, to pay attention on the proofs and declaration provided by Heng Pov. He held a high ranking position in the national institution, and he was the former police chief, so he knew about internal affairs of Cambodian leaders. Furthermore, if he can provide information pertaining to the grenade attack in front of the National Assembly in 1997, then I am requesting the US FBI agency to reopen the investigation and to take into consideration the revelations made by Mr. Heng Pov, and also to request the FBI to interview Mr. Heng Pov for additional information in order to unmask the criminals involved.
RFA: Do you know where does Heng Pov stay right now?
SR: I do not know, I listened to the radio, watched TV like everybody else, but I don’t know where he is at right now.
RFA: Regarding the FBI issue, did you meet with the FBI yet?
SR: I want to. Soon, I will leaving California to visit a number of states, and I will meet influential people in the US.
RFA: According to the 9-page statement issued by Mr. Heng Pov, it appears that Mr. Heng Pov had some contacts with the SRP in the past. What is your reaction? Did Mr. Heng Pov meet with any member of your party?
SR: I do not consider Mr. Heng Pov as a member of the SRP. To the contrary, Mr. Heng Pov is a member of the CPP. Only CPP members can occupy important positions like Mr. Heng Pov did until recently.
However, all private activities of Mr. Heng Pov when he held a senior position in a national institution, I did not hear or know anything about them, I just follow the news like everybody else. But on certain issues raised by Mr. Heng Pov, I can clarify, I will clarify and I already clarified to the UN which has an office in charge of refugees, the UNHCR, which is an institution that decides on who will receive the refugee status and grant the refugee status. To be accepted as a refugee, one must fulfill a certain number of criteria. As for some of the various information I have heard and known, I provided this information to the UNHCR which is a UN institution.
RFA: Does the SRP defend any witness revealing [information] on the past grenade attack or not?
SR: I cannot tell you what I told the UNHCR. The UNHCR is the ultimate decision maker, they have their own source of information, and they will investigate if the information is true or not, to see whether the information is relevant or not. They are the ultimate decision maker.
RFA: It is said that Heng Pov who is currently leveling charges on the misdeeds happening in Cambodia, is looking for help from politicians or from another country to obtain a refugee status in a third country. What is your reaction to his effort?
SR: Once again, the ultimate decision maker is the UN. The UN wants to collect information from all the sources so that they can judge. I saw the declaration made by Mr. Heng Pov, I believe that there are a number of points of interest that cannot be completely refuted, some of the stories seem to have a basis because Mr. Heng Pov used to hold a senior position. In the information he revealed, there are many points of interest.
RFA: Are you worried about impending difficulties arising from clashes (between SRP and the government) that could happen (resulting from this affair)?
SR: The SRP does not have anything directly related to Mr. Heng Pov. We are only following this story just like anybody else, the same as the UN following this story. If there are information related to the security of Cambodia, related to terrorist acts such as the grenade attack in front of the National Assembly in 1997, [we are interested because] the SRP was a victim.
Information we have gathered, we provided them to the UN, to the US FBI, to the US court because the SRP had brought lawsuits in the US and in France. The Cambodian court system does not have independence, we cannot rely on the Cambodian court system. We are relying on the US and French court system to help find the culprits.
7 comments:
Heng Peov will be a critical witness for any future investigation in the 97 attack on SRP peaceful demonstration. We hope the justice will serve the victims in the future.
10:38pm, i agree...
The interview could have been more illuminating.
SiS
I can see right now that Shit-hanouk going to write letter to discredit Heng Pov's claim. All I wish right now that someone ought to Shut Norodumb family for good.
They are no good. They are all evil like Hun Sen & Heartless for the people.
A agree with the idea of SRP
A agree with the idea of SRP
Anonymous said....
Shit-hanouk is barking for a second
chance because he knows his time is
going to be due soon.
The old dog is annoying. Can someone feed this dog with poisonous meat and makes it goes to
sleep.
Post a Comment