By Saing Soenthrith
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
A Prey Veng police officer who shot and seriously wounded two SRP activists Saturday for allegedly taking his photograph during an argument over land in Peam Chor district remains at large, police said Tuesday.
Peam Chor district police officer Saom Chea, 49, and his military police officer son, Van Thon, 24— who reportedly threatened villagers with a hand grenade during the incident—are being sought by police, deputy provincial police chief Vann Saroeun said.
Vietnamese authorities stationed opposite Koh Roka commune where the shooting took place have been asked to cooperate in the search for Saom Chea, who also goes by the name Hun Savann, Vann Saroeun said.
Tith Bros, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, visited the scene of the shooting Monday, which he said was just 10 meters from a Cambodian border checkpoint.
"They did not arrest the gunmen. It means the border policemen allowed the offenders to escape," Tith Bros alleged.
According to witnesses, Tith Bros said, Saom Chea arrived in the area Saturday with his son and took photographs of villagers who had begun to prepare for rice planting on 32 hectares of flood plain, which they have done for years.
Saom Chea accused the villagers of trespassing on his private property and became enraged when villager and SRP activist Chhou Sarann, 33, produced his own camera and photographed the officer back, Tith Bros said. Saom Chea shot between Chhou Sarann's legs then shot him in the stomach. He then allegedly pointed his gun at the wounded man's head but was prevented from firing off a second shot by villagers who grabbed his gun, Tith Bros said. Saom Chea squeezed off a second bullet that hit villager and fellow SRP activist Nhem Thoeung in the hand, he added.
Saom Chea and his son fled by boat in the direction of Vietnam and the two injured men were also taken to hospital in Vietnam, Tith Bros said.
Peam Chor district police officer Saom Chea, 49, and his military police officer son, Van Thon, 24— who reportedly threatened villagers with a hand grenade during the incident—are being sought by police, deputy provincial police chief Vann Saroeun said.
Vietnamese authorities stationed opposite Koh Roka commune where the shooting took place have been asked to cooperate in the search for Saom Chea, who also goes by the name Hun Savann, Vann Saroeun said.
Tith Bros, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, visited the scene of the shooting Monday, which he said was just 10 meters from a Cambodian border checkpoint.
"They did not arrest the gunmen. It means the border policemen allowed the offenders to escape," Tith Bros alleged.
According to witnesses, Tith Bros said, Saom Chea arrived in the area Saturday with his son and took photographs of villagers who had begun to prepare for rice planting on 32 hectares of flood plain, which they have done for years.
Saom Chea accused the villagers of trespassing on his private property and became enraged when villager and SRP activist Chhou Sarann, 33, produced his own camera and photographed the officer back, Tith Bros said. Saom Chea shot between Chhou Sarann's legs then shot him in the stomach. He then allegedly pointed his gun at the wounded man's head but was prevented from firing off a second shot by villagers who grabbed his gun, Tith Bros said. Saom Chea squeezed off a second bullet that hit villager and fellow SRP activist Nhem Thoeung in the hand, he added.
Saom Chea and his son fled by boat in the direction of Vietnam and the two injured men were also taken to hospital in Vietnam, Tith Bros said.
2 comments:
If the police are not fully capable of following the law, then they are nothing, but mere thugs and hooligans. Examples can only be set from higher ups by prosecuting these offenders.
SRP is secretly expecting some votes from being vulnerable.
SiS
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