Cops Get Seized Weapons, Event Under Wraps
By Saing Soenthrith
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Hundreds of weapons used as evidence in court were turned over to Phnom Penh police to either use or destroy during a ceremony at the municipal court Thursday morning.
But coverage of the event was limited because officials initially barred reporters left off a pre-approved list of news organizations.
Court Director Chiv Keng said at the ceremony that police had seized the weapons between 2000 and 2004.
Police were returned 154 rifles, 101 handguns, two Armbrust antitank grenade launchers, 11 grenades, 3307 rounds of ammunition and 62 swords, Chiv Keng said.
Police will make use of the firearms that are in good condition and allowed by law, he said.
Municipal Governor Kep Chuktema who presided over the ceremony, reiterated Prime Minister Hun Sen's recent order for police to get tough on youth gangs.
"Hun Sen has given us a sword for all of you to cut at [the gang problem]; it is your mission," he told court and police officials.
He added that drunken policemen and RCAF soldiers perpetrate most nighttime shootings. If police are to retain the trust of the people they must eliminate this, he said.
"We must avoid the people blaming our police.... They say we can only arrest simple people," Kep Chuktema said.
But his remarks were nearly missed by several reporters.
Police guarding the courthouse barred reporters from The Cambodia Daily, Cambodge Soir and the pro-SRP newspaper Moneaksekar Khmer newspapers as well as Voice of Democracy radio, which operates under the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
One police corporal at the court who declined to give his name produced an order that listed the news agencies that were allowed entry.
Only the Khmer-language newspapers Koh Santepheap, Rasmei Kampuchea, Chakraval, Kampuchea Thmei, the Chinese-language Commercial News and local television networks weir listed.
The intervention of Municipal Chief Prosecutor Ouk Savuth secured entry for some of the banned journalists.
Chhim Thouny, chief of protocol for the municipality, said City Hall had only invited some agencies, and that Kep Chuktema had approved the list of approved media. She did not explain why certain newspapers were kept off the list.
Kep Chuktema said by telephone after the ceremony he was too busy to speak to a reporter.
But coverage of the event was limited because officials initially barred reporters left off a pre-approved list of news organizations.
Court Director Chiv Keng said at the ceremony that police had seized the weapons between 2000 and 2004.
Police were returned 154 rifles, 101 handguns, two Armbrust antitank grenade launchers, 11 grenades, 3307 rounds of ammunition and 62 swords, Chiv Keng said.
Police will make use of the firearms that are in good condition and allowed by law, he said.
Municipal Governor Kep Chuktema who presided over the ceremony, reiterated Prime Minister Hun Sen's recent order for police to get tough on youth gangs.
"Hun Sen has given us a sword for all of you to cut at [the gang problem]; it is your mission," he told court and police officials.
He added that drunken policemen and RCAF soldiers perpetrate most nighttime shootings. If police are to retain the trust of the people they must eliminate this, he said.
"We must avoid the people blaming our police.... They say we can only arrest simple people," Kep Chuktema said.
But his remarks were nearly missed by several reporters.
Police guarding the courthouse barred reporters from The Cambodia Daily, Cambodge Soir and the pro-SRP newspaper Moneaksekar Khmer newspapers as well as Voice of Democracy radio, which operates under the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
One police corporal at the court who declined to give his name produced an order that listed the news agencies that were allowed entry.
Only the Khmer-language newspapers Koh Santepheap, Rasmei Kampuchea, Chakraval, Kampuchea Thmei, the Chinese-language Commercial News and local television networks weir listed.
The intervention of Municipal Chief Prosecutor Ouk Savuth secured entry for some of the banned journalists.
Chhim Thouny, chief of protocol for the municipality, said City Hall had only invited some agencies, and that Kep Chuktema had approved the list of approved media. She did not explain why certain newspapers were kept off the list.
Kep Chuktema said by telephone after the ceremony he was too busy to speak to a reporter.
2 comments:
People know that for many years, those Cambodian Phkay Chor (Thief star)have smuggled weapons to Srey Langka, Abbu Sayaf and other rebels. The reason why diplomatically Srey Langka governemnt has placed an attache militaire in Phnom Penh.
The public doesn't need to know how or where the weapon came from... All they need to know is that we (CPP) have them and we (CPP) can use them........ON YOU!!!
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