Chhun Yasith (L) and National police chief Hy Lung Doc (R)By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
18 April 2008
National Police Chief Hok Lundy welcomed the guilty verdict of Chhun Yasith in US federal court this week, calling it a warning to other groups who might think of attacking the government.
Chhun Yasith was found guilty of leading an armed attack on the government by the Cambodian Freedom Fighters in November 2000, in fighting that left at least seven people dead.
“The conviction against Chhun Yasith is a warning to other individuals, even any Khmer or foreigner, who engage armed forces in attempting to topple the government or engage in terrorism,” Hok Lundy said in a phone interview. Any such person “is to face law enforcement and a legal sentence.”
Chhun Yasith, a US citizen from Cambodia living in Long Beach, Calif., was convicted of conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, conspiracy to damage or destroy property in a foreign country, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States, and engaging in a military expedition against a nation with which the United States is at peace.
He faces up to life in prison and is set to be sentenced Sept. 8.
One witness of 13 who testified in front of a US jury this month said Chhun Yasith had denied the charges.
Chhun Yasith claimed “what he did was try to change the country from what he described as a dictatorial regime, and he also accused key witnesses of cheating and exaggerating in court,” the witness said.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation called two former lieutenants of the CFF, Thong Samean and Gilbert Sao, to testify to activities of Chhun Yasith as their leader.
The nighttime raid on government buildings left 13 people wounded and led to a round-up of CFF suspects, some of whom are now serving sentences in Cambodian prison.
Chhun Yasith was found guilty of leading an armed attack on the government by the Cambodian Freedom Fighters in November 2000, in fighting that left at least seven people dead.
“The conviction against Chhun Yasith is a warning to other individuals, even any Khmer or foreigner, who engage armed forces in attempting to topple the government or engage in terrorism,” Hok Lundy said in a phone interview. Any such person “is to face law enforcement and a legal sentence.”
Chhun Yasith, a US citizen from Cambodia living in Long Beach, Calif., was convicted of conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, conspiracy to damage or destroy property in a foreign country, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States, and engaging in a military expedition against a nation with which the United States is at peace.
He faces up to life in prison and is set to be sentenced Sept. 8.
One witness of 13 who testified in front of a US jury this month said Chhun Yasith had denied the charges.
Chhun Yasith claimed “what he did was try to change the country from what he described as a dictatorial regime, and he also accused key witnesses of cheating and exaggerating in court,” the witness said.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation called two former lieutenants of the CFF, Thong Samean and Gilbert Sao, to testify to activities of Chhun Yasith as their leader.
The nighttime raid on government buildings left 13 people wounded and led to a round-up of CFF suspects, some of whom are now serving sentences in Cambodian prison.
14 comments:
I am not Chhun Yasith's supporter, but I want to say that the verdict in Chhun Yasith case is not fair. It is a collaboration of The US with Hun Xen's government for some kind of a deal.
What is fare?
Yasith went around braging of hi crime!
Think before you act when concerning live and propepty of people and public!
why didn't Hun Xen arrest and punish those who threw hand grenades to kill dozen of people in 1997, you foolish idiot? What do you son of the devil think about the lives of those people? Their lives are worthy to live as the fking life of you?
Yes, Why?! Huh!
Uncle SAM doesn't like to deal with democratic leaders because democratic leaders have too many interests to accommodate and taking too much time to agree on everything! So Uncle SAM would prefer to deal with a dictator like AH HUN SEN because a dictator cares only his interest and doesn't give a fuck about anybody interest and that is why Uncle SAM chose to convict Chhun Yasith as a terrorist and not as democratic leader!
In addition, this whole conviction of Chhun Yasith says a lot about Uncle SAM judicial system! Since the 1997 grenade attacked against American citizen in Cambodia by AH HUN SEN military bodyguards and not a single perpetrator was brought to justice!
Thank to Uncle SAM and the dictator will exist in Cambodia for many more years to come!
I wish to Buddha that Hun Sen will be brought to trial for killing Khmer soon. Hun Sen, Hok Lundy and their youn master killed and are continueing to kill Khmer every day.
Hok Longdi was with Chhun Yasith!!Hok Longdi had made it with Yasith,Yasithwas thé crazy man and did what Ah Hok Longdi said.This is the crime's hok Londi since 05.06.juli 1997 that Ah Hun Xen kill khmer's people.
Chhunyasith is Khmer Serey and Hok-lundy is Yuon who killed Ho sok...!
The United States of america have condemned CHHUN Yasith and the Cambodia Freedom Figthers.
sam rainsy who says to himself democrat has never condemned clearly in public this overthrow pitifully failed.
This shows that sam rainsy is an extremist.
sam rainsy is nothing democratic.
Hok Lundy is a target of interest, he is extremely fearful of going out because many people want him dead. It is a garauntee that he will be one of the first to be killed in the most gruesome way imaginable once the farmers revolution is in full swing he wont have time to crawl back to his shit hole Vietnam.
To 9:34PM
Mr. Sam Rainsy doesn't need to draw unwanted attention and beside he always pursue democratic principle through peaceful and non-violence! And over the years he had proven through his action and his action speak louder than his words!
Mr. Sam Rainsy doesn't need to say a damn word about Chhun Yasith Cambodian Freedom Fighter issue because it is the issue of AH HUN SEN Vietcong puppet government between Mr. Chhun Yasith and the US government!
What about the issue of AH HUN SEN overthrows the democratic government in 1997 in a bloody military coup! What about the issue of AH HUN SEN in grenade attacked on Sam Rainsy peaceful demonstration in 1997 which injure Cambodian people and American citizen!
i miss you ghola'ap
yasith is more hero then Sam Rainsy thats all i kne
i agree, yasith is a hero in my eyes.
he is a strong man, even if he's in jail, he will always remain in our hearts and minds. He's just a guy who loves his country and its people.
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