SRP Officials Say Activist Killing Was Political
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
An SRP activist in Prey Veng province was shot dead Saturday night in what party officials described as a political killing.
Moeung Matt, 24, was shot three times in the chest and once in each thigh while on his way to fish outside his village in Prey Veng district's Pean Rong commune, police said.
Pim Samnang, an aide to SRP leader Sam Rainsy, said Moeung Matt had recently been taking photos of supporters for party membership cards.
"I believe it was a politically motivated killing because he was very active in the party," he said.
District police chief Seng Ponlok said Moeung Matt was almost certainly killed by robbers.
"I cannot believe that this incident was politically motivated," he said.
None of the victim's possessions were missing, but the police chief said the robbers may have killed Moeung Matt because he may have witnessed their activities.
Seng Ponlok said Moeung Matt had also been shot at several months ago while fishing, but had escaped unharmed.
Pim Samnang claimed that shooting was also politically motivated, though Seng Ponlok said the same robbers had opened fire after Moeung Matt shone a flashlight on them.
Saturday's shooting marks the second killing of an SRP activist in Prey Veng province this month.
SRP member Rin Borey, 23, was bludgeoned to death in Kanh Chriech district on Nov 1.
Police said the victim was killed by his cousin after an argument over a fishing net. But the SRP said it believed police had arrested the wrong man, and that the attack was politically motivated.
Meng Rita, SRP acting secretary-general, said Sunday that he believes the killings are a response to the SRP’s growing popularity in Prey Veng.
"The CPP is afraid because a lot of [CPP members] have left to support the Sam Rainsy Party," he said.
Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said police would investigate the case. But he added that the SRP has a habit of claiming that every killing is politically motivated.
Moeung Matt, 24, was shot three times in the chest and once in each thigh while on his way to fish outside his village in Prey Veng district's Pean Rong commune, police said.
Pim Samnang, an aide to SRP leader Sam Rainsy, said Moeung Matt had recently been taking photos of supporters for party membership cards.
"I believe it was a politically motivated killing because he was very active in the party," he said.
District police chief Seng Ponlok said Moeung Matt was almost certainly killed by robbers.
"I cannot believe that this incident was politically motivated," he said.
None of the victim's possessions were missing, but the police chief said the robbers may have killed Moeung Matt because he may have witnessed their activities.
Seng Ponlok said Moeung Matt had also been shot at several months ago while fishing, but had escaped unharmed.
Pim Samnang claimed that shooting was also politically motivated, though Seng Ponlok said the same robbers had opened fire after Moeung Matt shone a flashlight on them.
Saturday's shooting marks the second killing of an SRP activist in Prey Veng province this month.
SRP member Rin Borey, 23, was bludgeoned to death in Kanh Chriech district on Nov 1.
Police said the victim was killed by his cousin after an argument over a fishing net. But the SRP said it believed police had arrested the wrong man, and that the attack was politically motivated.
Meng Rita, SRP acting secretary-general, said Sunday that he believes the killings are a response to the SRP’s growing popularity in Prey Veng.
"The CPP is afraid because a lot of [CPP members] have left to support the Sam Rainsy Party," he said.
Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said police would investigate the case. But he added that the SRP has a habit of claiming that every killing is politically motivated.
2 comments:
I have a solution to all the SRP killing! I say have all SRP member carry conceal weapon! The CPP better think twice before they mess with the SRP this time!
Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith has a habit of saying " police would investigate the case".
He also said every killing "Is not polictically motivated", however it must a TRREND for SRP member or MP died or get shot when it GET CLOSE TO ELECTION TIME.
Again Kanharith promised investigation until TODAY no arrest or real finding regarding the murder of killed SRP member or MP or any other victim involved or obstruct CPP!
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