Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Three years ago today (22 Jan 2004), 36 year old Chea Vichea, the leader of Cambodia's largest trade union, was murdered for what the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) suspects to be politically motivated reasons. At 9:00 AM, two men on a Honda motorcycle fired three shots at point blank range, killing Vichea while he was reading the morning news. His wife (seven months pregnant at the time) and two year old daughter fled the country and have found refuge in Finland.
Over the last three years, the judicial manipulation of Mr. Chea's case has reinforced a culture of impunity in this country that the ruling party continues to use to deny true justice to the real victims. Two men (Sok Som Oeun and Born Samnang) were quickly accused of the murder. They drafted statements of guilt, though later announced that these statements were forced under police brutality. Heng Thirith, the first judge to receive notice of the case against the two men, dismissed it due to lack of evidence. He publicly stated that "the arrests were very illegal," and claims to have received pressure from top government officials to accept the case. The Supreme Council of Magistracy subsequently removed Judge Heng from the Municipal Court, prompting (among others) the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia to question the politicization of the court system. Mr. Sok and Mr. Born were convicted of murder by the appeals court, and are today in jail. Heng Pov, the former head of the Phnom Penh police, has implicated the National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy in ordering the murder of Chea Vichea.
This saga only further deepens the wound in Cambodia's side that was created by the killing of Chea Vichea, a man considered to be a hero of the workers' movement. In 1997, he was a co-founder of the Free Trade Union of Workers, and was elected President of the union in 1999, 2001 and 2003. He was a tireless advocate for workers rights, including leading protests and strikes in the face of violent intimidation. Vichea was on more than one occasion the target of death threats and attacks on his body, including a grenade attack during a rally in 1997. His devotion to equity and rights for garment workers remains an inspiration, and this statement is sent forward to keep his name and his vision in the forefront of our minds. We owe it to Vichea's memory.
Therefore, we, the Members of Parliament of the Sam Rainsy Party, on the occasion of the third anniversary of the murder of Chea Vichea, call for:
SRP Members of Parliament
For detailed information contact:
Ph. 012 858 857
Over the last three years, the judicial manipulation of Mr. Chea's case has reinforced a culture of impunity in this country that the ruling party continues to use to deny true justice to the real victims. Two men (Sok Som Oeun and Born Samnang) were quickly accused of the murder. They drafted statements of guilt, though later announced that these statements were forced under police brutality. Heng Thirith, the first judge to receive notice of the case against the two men, dismissed it due to lack of evidence. He publicly stated that "the arrests were very illegal," and claims to have received pressure from top government officials to accept the case. The Supreme Council of Magistracy subsequently removed Judge Heng from the Municipal Court, prompting (among others) the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia to question the politicization of the court system. Mr. Sok and Mr. Born were convicted of murder by the appeals court, and are today in jail. Heng Pov, the former head of the Phnom Penh police, has implicated the National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy in ordering the murder of Chea Vichea.
This saga only further deepens the wound in Cambodia's side that was created by the killing of Chea Vichea, a man considered to be a hero of the workers' movement. In 1997, he was a co-founder of the Free Trade Union of Workers, and was elected President of the union in 1999, 2001 and 2003. He was a tireless advocate for workers rights, including leading protests and strikes in the face of violent intimidation. Vichea was on more than one occasion the target of death threats and attacks on his body, including a grenade attack during a rally in 1997. His devotion to equity and rights for garment workers remains an inspiration, and this statement is sent forward to keep his name and his vision in the forefront of our minds. We owe it to Vichea's memory.
Therefore, we, the Members of Parliament of the Sam Rainsy Party, on the occasion of the third anniversary of the murder of Chea Vichea, call for:
- A release of all documents related to the investigation of the murder of Chea Vichea;
- An immediate release of the two wrongly accused and illegitimately tried men;
- The police to take into full consideration the sound reports of third parties like Amnesty International (http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa230082004);
- A truly independent police investigation into the murder of Chea Vichea; and
- The government to respond to Heng Pov's implication of Hok Lundy.
SRP Members of Parliament
For detailed information contact:
Ph. 012 858 857
4 comments:
Hok Lundy the head of Mafia in Cambodia. Hok Lundy is a doubled Viet agent. His real mame is Nguyen Van Son. A cold blood killer of Cambodian people.
http://www.rossie.com/camboddebate.htm
"----Many years ago, I chased the current Police Chief of Cambodia around Tay Ninh Province of the then Republic of Vietnam. Though now known as Hok Lundy, he was then named Nguyen Van Son. "
Happy evil's day to all SRP
members.
Hun Sen is a greatest obstacle for Cambodia to grow. Hun Sen is a least educated and the most brutal Evil/Beast Khmer Rouge ever lives.
Barachey ah/me Chor Yiek Cong
VIVA KAMBOJA!!
Ki troll.
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