PHNOM PENH, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Finland said on Thursday it was giving a visa to a fugitive former Cambodian police chief because human rights groups were concerned about his conviction in absentia for the 2003 murder of a judge.
"The most important reason is the human rights aspect," said Lauri Korpinen, Finland's ambassador to Malaysia, where Heng Pov has been held for the last two months for overstaying his visa.
"We have received lots of information from human rights groups who are very worried about this matter," he told Reuters.
The one-legged former Phnom Penh police chief, who fled to Singapore in July shortly after he was sacked, was sentenced to 18 years in jail in September for involvement in the murder of judge Sok Sethamony.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namong attacked the Finnish decision, saying it had weakened international efforts to fight crime, and accused Helsinki of being taken in by Heng Pov's "fabricated claims".
"He has invented stories and made false claims to paint a black picture of the government and made himself appear as a victim of government persecution," Hor Namhong said in a statement in English.
"Nowadays in Cambodia, there are many criminals, charged under criminal law, who are serving their jail terms. If Finland wishes to provide care for them, Cambodia will be very pleased to send them to Finland," he said.
Korpinen said the visa had not yet been issued to Heng Pov, whose immigration violation case is still pending in the Malaysian courts. His lawyer has said there was a real risk of Heng Pov being tortured or killed if he were deported.
In 2004, Helsinki granted asylum to Sok Yoeun, a Cambodian opposition party member accused of trying to assassinate Prime Minister Hun Sen in a rocket attack on his convoy six years previously.
Sok Yeoun fled to Thailand, where he spent almost five years in prison, before being allowed to go to Finland.
"The most important reason is the human rights aspect," said Lauri Korpinen, Finland's ambassador to Malaysia, where Heng Pov has been held for the last two months for overstaying his visa.
"We have received lots of information from human rights groups who are very worried about this matter," he told Reuters.
The one-legged former Phnom Penh police chief, who fled to Singapore in July shortly after he was sacked, was sentenced to 18 years in jail in September for involvement in the murder of judge Sok Sethamony.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namong attacked the Finnish decision, saying it had weakened international efforts to fight crime, and accused Helsinki of being taken in by Heng Pov's "fabricated claims".
"He has invented stories and made false claims to paint a black picture of the government and made himself appear as a victim of government persecution," Hor Namhong said in a statement in English.
"Nowadays in Cambodia, there are many criminals, charged under criminal law, who are serving their jail terms. If Finland wishes to provide care for them, Cambodia will be very pleased to send them to Finland," he said.
Korpinen said the visa had not yet been issued to Heng Pov, whose immigration violation case is still pending in the Malaysian courts. His lawyer has said there was a real risk of Heng Pov being tortured or killed if he were deported.
In 2004, Helsinki granted asylum to Sok Yoeun, a Cambodian opposition party member accused of trying to assassinate Prime Minister Hun Sen in a rocket attack on his convoy six years previously.
Sok Yeoun fled to Thailand, where he spent almost five years in prison, before being allowed to go to Finland.
3 comments:
Finland is really committed to human rights cause. Other high profile countries like Australia ought to be ashamed of themselves.
SiS
Cambodia gov't ought to be shame to talk down of Finnland about credibility.
Hor Namhong has no right to tell Finland what to do. He is like a slug compare to those wise leaders of Finland. Namhong himself should be brought to justice of all the corruptions he has committed over the Cambodian people. Heng Pov may committed some crimes, but there are many horrific crimes committed by Lundy or Ah Hun Sen himself. Why not bring them to justice. Namhong said Cambodia has more people that Committed the crime. "If Finland wants some somemore he would send more criminal to Finland".
I want to see Hor Namhong send Ah Hun Sen to Finland to trial in the International court for the Crime against humanity that happened during the 1983 K-5 event that approximately 400,000 Khmer were killed according to Mr. Pen Sovann. If he meant what he said he would not dear to send his boss for trail. Watch out for what you said next time. Don't be so cheap like a crooked.
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