16 Feb 2008By Sav Yuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
The Siem Reap branch of the HRP party claimed that a police official from the Chub Tatrav commune, Angkor Thom district, Siem Reap province, threatened a party activist and scared him, forcing him to flee from his home after the activist led party supporters to travel out of his village to participate at the inauguration of the party new office.
Sam Rithy, the HRP deputy executive director from Siem Reap province, claimed that in the afternoon of Friday 15 February, 56-year-old Din Thon from Pong Teuk village, Chub Tatrav commune, who is the NRP Angkor Thom district deputy committee chairman, was threatened by police in the afternoon of 09 February after he led a group of party supporters to participate at the inauguration of the HRP office in Siem Reap province.
Sam Rithy said: “Din Thon was in trouble because during night time, there were (suspicious) people walking back and forth in front of his home, and the dogs chased them.”
On Friday morning, Din Thon said at his home, that Yim Saroeun, a police officer from the Chub Tatrav commune station, came to his home to ask about his activity in leading villagers to Siem Reap province, and Yim Saroeun also tried to pull him out of the HRP because Din Thon used to be an important commune member of the CPP. Yim Saroeun also accused Din Thon of witchcraft, and by doing so, he instilled fear in Din Thon who had to flee his home for several days.
Din Thon said: “They accused me of knowing witchcraft. When they accused someone of witchcraft, it means that they want to kill and shoot that person down. There were many who died, that’s why I was so scared.”
Yim Sareoun could not be reached to obtain clarification on this issue.
Chheng Kong, the police chief of the Chub Tatrav commune police station, said that he ordered Yim Saroeun to go to Din Thon’s house to ask about his activity in leading people to Siem Reap province, because the police chief is concerned about demonstration only. However, regarding threat and accusation about witchcraft have nothing to do with his order, this is illegal.
The police chief said that accusation about witchcraft against somebody in his commune is very dangerous: “I told him to go do some research and ask a few questions, not to harm anybody. But, he was doing more than what he was asked to do. When it comes to witchcraft (accusation), people are very scared. When they hear about (someone involved with) witchcraft, they don’t shoot that person down, they sneak and hack them to death.”
NGO human rights officials are investigating this case, and they said that preventing people from supporting a political party is a violation of the law.
Sor Sovannara, an investigator for the Licadho human rights group, said that he is looking for measures so that the police chief and commune officials put to an end the accusations on people of witchcraft, because based on his knowledge, there were 2 villagers who were hacked to death already because they were accused of witchcraft.
Sor Sovannara said: “I met with the police chief and the commune office to take measure to end this story.”
HRP officials from Siem Reap province said that, since 09 February, 2 party activists were threatened when they reached the population to sign them up with the party.
Sam Rithy, the HRP deputy executive director from Siem Reap province, claimed that in the afternoon of Friday 15 February, 56-year-old Din Thon from Pong Teuk village, Chub Tatrav commune, who is the NRP Angkor Thom district deputy committee chairman, was threatened by police in the afternoon of 09 February after he led a group of party supporters to participate at the inauguration of the HRP office in Siem Reap province.
Sam Rithy said: “Din Thon was in trouble because during night time, there were (suspicious) people walking back and forth in front of his home, and the dogs chased them.”
On Friday morning, Din Thon said at his home, that Yim Saroeun, a police officer from the Chub Tatrav commune station, came to his home to ask about his activity in leading villagers to Siem Reap province, and Yim Saroeun also tried to pull him out of the HRP because Din Thon used to be an important commune member of the CPP. Yim Saroeun also accused Din Thon of witchcraft, and by doing so, he instilled fear in Din Thon who had to flee his home for several days.
Din Thon said: “They accused me of knowing witchcraft. When they accused someone of witchcraft, it means that they want to kill and shoot that person down. There were many who died, that’s why I was so scared.”
Yim Sareoun could not be reached to obtain clarification on this issue.
Chheng Kong, the police chief of the Chub Tatrav commune police station, said that he ordered Yim Saroeun to go to Din Thon’s house to ask about his activity in leading people to Siem Reap province, because the police chief is concerned about demonstration only. However, regarding threat and accusation about witchcraft have nothing to do with his order, this is illegal.
The police chief said that accusation about witchcraft against somebody in his commune is very dangerous: “I told him to go do some research and ask a few questions, not to harm anybody. But, he was doing more than what he was asked to do. When it comes to witchcraft (accusation), people are very scared. When they hear about (someone involved with) witchcraft, they don’t shoot that person down, they sneak and hack them to death.”
NGO human rights officials are investigating this case, and they said that preventing people from supporting a political party is a violation of the law.
Sor Sovannara, an investigator for the Licadho human rights group, said that he is looking for measures so that the police chief and commune officials put to an end the accusations on people of witchcraft, because based on his knowledge, there were 2 villagers who were hacked to death already because they were accused of witchcraft.
Sor Sovannara said: “I met with the police chief and the commune office to take measure to end this story.”
HRP officials from Siem Reap province said that, since 09 February, 2 party activists were threatened when they reached the population to sign them up with the party.
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