By Pin Sisovann and Douglas Gillison
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Nearing the end of the three-day Water Festival on Monday, police said they were successful in protecting the festivities from an alleged bombing threat.
But nearly a week after six men were charged with plotting to bomb the festival, authorities on Monday would still not explain why and who wanted to carry out the alleged attack.
Local rights workers said they doubted the six arrested men were involved in what senior police called a bombing conspiracy.
"I cannot talk about it yet. It will spoil the work," National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy said by telephone on Monday.
"We are still looking for the masterminds," he said without elaborating further.
Bith Kimhong, director of the Interior Ministry's anti-terrorism department, announced Friday that police were seeking to arrest two more suspects involved in the plot.
Contacted Monday, Bith Kimhong would say only that smooth cooperation with municipal police had kept the festival safe.
Chhay Sinarith, director of the Interior Ministry's powerful intelligence unit General Information Department, said the two suspects were still at large. He too declined to reveal any information regarding a motive for the alleged attack.
"We haven't arrested them yet. We're looking for them as the court ordered," he said.
Lieutenant General Khieu Sopheak, Interior Ministry spokesman, said the ministry would release details in due course.
"We know clearly, but don't want to leak the information," he said. "After the plot has been completely uncovered, we will release every information."
SRP lawmaker Son Chhay said the refusal to reveal information was a disservice to the public and made it difficult to assess whether there actually was a bomb plot.
"It would be more realistic if the authorities were able to inform the public so we are able to take some precaution to protect ourselves," he said.
Chan Soveth, head of the monitoring section of local rights group Adhoc, said that he had interviewed relatives of all six suspects, and that he found the government's claims hard to believe.
"Only two of the six have money for their living conditions. The others are very poor. They don't like to go outside [their locality]," Chan Soveth said.
But nearly a week after six men were charged with plotting to bomb the festival, authorities on Monday would still not explain why and who wanted to carry out the alleged attack.
Local rights workers said they doubted the six arrested men were involved in what senior police called a bombing conspiracy.
"I cannot talk about it yet. It will spoil the work," National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy said by telephone on Monday.
"We are still looking for the masterminds," he said without elaborating further.
Bith Kimhong, director of the Interior Ministry's anti-terrorism department, announced Friday that police were seeking to arrest two more suspects involved in the plot.
Contacted Monday, Bith Kimhong would say only that smooth cooperation with municipal police had kept the festival safe.
Chhay Sinarith, director of the Interior Ministry's powerful intelligence unit General Information Department, said the two suspects were still at large. He too declined to reveal any information regarding a motive for the alleged attack.
"We haven't arrested them yet. We're looking for them as the court ordered," he said.
Lieutenant General Khieu Sopheak, Interior Ministry spokesman, said the ministry would release details in due course.
"We know clearly, but don't want to leak the information," he said. "After the plot has been completely uncovered, we will release every information."
SRP lawmaker Son Chhay said the refusal to reveal information was a disservice to the public and made it difficult to assess whether there actually was a bomb plot.
"It would be more realistic if the authorities were able to inform the public so we are able to take some precaution to protect ourselves," he said.
Chan Soveth, head of the monitoring section of local rights group Adhoc, said that he had interviewed relatives of all six suspects, and that he found the government's claims hard to believe.
"Only two of the six have money for their living conditions. The others are very poor. They don't like to go outside [their locality]," Chan Soveth said.
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