06 Sept 2006
By Or Phearith Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
One Human rights official in Kampong Cham indicated that a man was tortured and shot dead by a police officer guarding a rubber plantation in Ponhea Krek district.
Neang Savath, Adhoc human rights NGO official in Kampong Cham, claimed that during the night of 02 Oct, 26-year-old Nhor Nheuk from the Chrab village, Veal Mlou commune, Ponhea Krek district, was shot and killed when he and his brother-in-law went into a private rubber plantation located about 2 kilometers from the village, to collect rubber residues.
Neang Savath said: “We note that there is a reduction [of violence?] when the [plantation] security guards are confiscated of their weapons, and they were replaced by police officers. But, it [violence?] still remains just like a few days ago, it happened in Veal Mlou in the Krek rubber plantation. Therefore, the incidents will continue if the authorities are wrongly using their weapons.”
Yoan Yoeun, an eyewitness of the shooting who happens to be also the victim’s brother-in-law, said that when they were collecting the rubber refuse, they heard five warning gunshots. Yoan Yoeun decided to take off but before leaving the place, he saw his brother-in-law was being arrested. Yoan Yoeun also claimed that he saw his brother-in-law was being beaten with a wooden stick. As he was running away from the plantation, Yoan Yoeun heard another gunshot.
The next morning, the victim’s wife and family found the victim dead at the incident place. The victim bore several marks of brutal torture: his nose was broken, his right eye smashed, and a gunshot wound in his back and piercing all the way to his buttock. Nob Thet, another Adhoc official, said that the identity of the killer is known as the wife of the victim reported him by name.
Nob Thet said: “His (the killer) name is Phin, he is a police officer guarding the rubber plantation. After the killing, he went to the police station to return the gun and he fled. The victim’s wife knew about this and she reported his name directly.”
Human rights officials said that the fact that police officers are used to guard private rubber plantations constitutes in itself an illegal act.
Seng Sokim, deputy criminal police chief, admitted that the posting of police officers to guard private properties is indeed illegal, but he said that this is the duty of the district, and the file of the perpetrator has already been prepared and will be sent out on Satruday.
Seng Kimson said: “We already have his (the killer) picture, but we need to wait for information to find out where he fled to. Today, we are bringing charges on Phin, otherwise we will send the file to court on Saturday.
Human rights officials said that in 2005-2006, private security guards protecting the rubber plantations have inflicted torture on the bodies of poor people who went to collect rubber resin residues (small rubber pieces dropped on the ground and rejected) to sell for their survival. Furthermore, 4 of the residue collectors have been been shot and killed: one in Thmar Pech, one in Krek, and two in Chamkar Andaung communes. So far, none of the killers have been pursued in justice.
Mr. Min Sineath, husband of Sen Sophea, were gunned down in September 2005 in
Chamkar Andoung Rubber Plantation, Chamkar Leu District, Kompong Cham Province.
The first bullet went through his head damaged brain tissue. The second one went through his lower chest. (Photo: SRP)
Neang Savath, Adhoc human rights NGO official in Kampong Cham, claimed that during the night of 02 Oct, 26-year-old Nhor Nheuk from the Chrab village, Veal Mlou commune, Ponhea Krek district, was shot and killed when he and his brother-in-law went into a private rubber plantation located about 2 kilometers from the village, to collect rubber residues.
Neang Savath said: “We note that there is a reduction [of violence?] when the [plantation] security guards are confiscated of their weapons, and they were replaced by police officers. But, it [violence?] still remains just like a few days ago, it happened in Veal Mlou in the Krek rubber plantation. Therefore, the incidents will continue if the authorities are wrongly using their weapons.”
Yoan Yoeun, an eyewitness of the shooting who happens to be also the victim’s brother-in-law, said that when they were collecting the rubber refuse, they heard five warning gunshots. Yoan Yoeun decided to take off but before leaving the place, he saw his brother-in-law was being arrested. Yoan Yoeun also claimed that he saw his brother-in-law was being beaten with a wooden stick. As he was running away from the plantation, Yoan Yoeun heard another gunshot.
The next morning, the victim’s wife and family found the victim dead at the incident place. The victim bore several marks of brutal torture: his nose was broken, his right eye smashed, and a gunshot wound in his back and piercing all the way to his buttock. Nob Thet, another Adhoc official, said that the identity of the killer is known as the wife of the victim reported him by name.
Nob Thet said: “His (the killer) name is Phin, he is a police officer guarding the rubber plantation. After the killing, he went to the police station to return the gun and he fled. The victim’s wife knew about this and she reported his name directly.”
Human rights officials said that the fact that police officers are used to guard private rubber plantations constitutes in itself an illegal act.
Seng Sokim, deputy criminal police chief, admitted that the posting of police officers to guard private properties is indeed illegal, but he said that this is the duty of the district, and the file of the perpetrator has already been prepared and will be sent out on Satruday.
Seng Kimson said: “We already have his (the killer) picture, but we need to wait for information to find out where he fled to. Today, we are bringing charges on Phin, otherwise we will send the file to court on Saturday.
Human rights officials said that in 2005-2006, private security guards protecting the rubber plantations have inflicted torture on the bodies of poor people who went to collect rubber resin residues (small rubber pieces dropped on the ground and rejected) to sell for their survival. Furthermore, 4 of the residue collectors have been been shot and killed: one in Thmar Pech, one in Krek, and two in Chamkar Andaung communes. So far, none of the killers have been pursued in justice.
Warning:
The following photo of one of the victim killed in Chamkar Andaung may be too gruesome for senstive people. Click on the "more" button to view it.
Mr. Min Sineath, husband of Sen Sophea, were gunned down in September 2005 in
Chamkar Andoung Rubber Plantation, Chamkar Leu District, Kompong Cham Province.
The first bullet went through his head damaged brain tissue. The second one went through his lower chest. (Photo: SRP)
6 comments:
policemen should all take an oath to justice and be fire at first sign of trouble. Even put to jail. and Gaurds with weapons at plantation should be outlaw.
tsk.tsk.tsk...pukeko
This kind of killing is not accepted in any society or human tribal. The Police in question must be brought to justice to make sure that other will not repeat this mistake again. The employer is also need to be brought to justice by making him bankrupt to run this kind of business and banning to run any business for 5 years periods.
It is the usual problem happened in the HUN Sen's regime.
The murderer just follows what have been done by the Director of National police force, HUK Longdy.
This man was trespassing on private property and stealing. Beating and killing was not the job of the officer. But, surely everyone can understand the frustration and desire to discourage stealing. The problem begins with the lack of an honest justice system in Cambodia. If the people that are stealing were actually punished for their crimes then you would see a decline in crime and a decline in the violence committed by the victims, their families, and their officers. Comments such as, "This kind of killing is not accepted in any society or human tribal" is quite untrue. Most legal systems around the world allow you to protect your personal property by force if necessary. Imagine if you could not. Then anyone could simply steal your personal property and you could not stop them if they knew you couldn't hurt them. Is this where you want Cambodia to be? And, what if they try to hurt you in the process of you attempting to stop them. There has to be a balance. And, it all starts with getting the corruption out of you government officials.
WE ARE UNDER VIETNAMESE COMMUNIST CONTROL!
WE ARE SYSTEMATICLY KILLING BY THEM!
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