Sam Bith will be buried today in Battambang

Monday, February 18, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The body of Sam Bith, the former KR army commander, who died on 15 February will be buried by his family in Wat Sdao pagoda, Ratanak Mondul district, Battambang province, this Monday. Khim Ry, Sam Bith’s wife, said that her husband was born in Dong village, Sre Khlong commune, Chhuk district, Kampot province. He is of Sino-Khmer origin, and that is why his relatives decided to hold a Chinese-custom burial for him. Sam Bith died at 9:40 PM on Friday 15 February, at the hospital, due to high blood pressure and diabetes. Sam Bith was a former KR army commander for the Southwest region, and he was jailed by the government for kidnapping and killing three European foreigners after the court sentenced him to life in prison. He had chronic disease for several years while he was jailed. Thon Saray, President of Adhoc human rights organization, regrets that Sam Bith died because he would be an important witness for the KR Tribunal in the near future, as he knew a lot about the events under the KR regime.