Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Death of a Khmer Krom monk: Some associations denounce the lack of investigation

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

By Ung Chansophea
Cambodge Soir

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Click here to read Cambodge Soir's original article in French

Several associations have denounced the slowness of the justice following the mysterious death of a Khmer Krom monk in a Kandal province pagoda.

The death of a monk from Kampuchea Krom, who was found with a slit throat in his room on 28 Feb, in the Boeng Thom commune, Ang Snuol district, Kandal province, still remains shrouded with mystery. Local authorities maintain the suicide under the influence of drug motive, whereas the associations suspect an assassination.

On March 5, six NGOs, including Licadho and Adhoc, sent a letter to the Kandal provincial court asking for an investigation into the case. Ang Chanrith, the executive director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization (KKHRO), denounced the lack of reaction from the Kandal court which did not respond to a request for an autopsy of the monk who was buried at night on the same day of his death.

Monk Yoeun Sin, President of the Association of Khmer Krom Monks based in Phnom Penh, also demanded up to now, in vain, for an investigation and an autopsy.

Huot Vuthy, the prosecutor in charge of this affair, answered that an investigation was opened, but that it must be conducted step by step, according to the legal procedure.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Once again, thank you for translating and publishing Cambodge Soir articles in English. But we'd appreciate KI media to publish links to the original articles on Cambodge Soir's website each time you use them... Thanks. Laurent (Cambodge Soir), legouanvic.laurent@cambodgesoir.info / www.cambodgesoir.info