Hor Namhong (L) and Sam Rainsy (R) (Photo: RFA)Cambodian minister drops defamation suit against news editor
Jun 27, 2008
DPA
Phnom Penh - A senior Cambodian minister will withdraw a defamation complaint against an opposition newspaper editor who is also a candidate in upcoming national elections, he announced at a press conference Friday.
On June 8, Dam Sith, editor of pro-Sam Rainsy Party newspaper Moneaksekar Khmer, was arrested as he washed his car in the capital and spent a week in the notorious Prey Sar prison before Prime Minister Hun Sen intervened on his behalf.
His arrest followed a complaint by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong accusing Sith of defamation, 'insult' and disinformation regarding quotes by opposition leader Sam Rainsy his paper had published.
The quotes concerned claims made by Sam Rainsy in connection with the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime which the minister said were deeply hurtful and completely untrue.
'I was a victim of the regime, not a perpetrator,' he said.
He gave no reason for dropping the charges, but a board member for the Club of Cambodian Journalists said later Sith had written to Hor Namhong saying publishing the quotes had been 'a mistake.'
Hor Namhong said he would continue to sue Rainsy for defamation through the Paris courts. Rainsy holds a French passport.
'Some people claim the Cambodian courts are not independent, so I am taking legal action in France,' he said.
Sith's arrest provoked howls of protest from human rights and media activists around the world.
His unprecedented detention on civil charges also came at a politically sensitive time, with Cambodia gearing up for national elections on July 27 which Hor Namhong's dominant Cambodian People's Party is expected to win handsomely.
On June 8, Dam Sith, editor of pro-Sam Rainsy Party newspaper Moneaksekar Khmer, was arrested as he washed his car in the capital and spent a week in the notorious Prey Sar prison before Prime Minister Hun Sen intervened on his behalf.
His arrest followed a complaint by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong accusing Sith of defamation, 'insult' and disinformation regarding quotes by opposition leader Sam Rainsy his paper had published.
The quotes concerned claims made by Sam Rainsy in connection with the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime which the minister said were deeply hurtful and completely untrue.
'I was a victim of the regime, not a perpetrator,' he said.
He gave no reason for dropping the charges, but a board member for the Club of Cambodian Journalists said later Sith had written to Hor Namhong saying publishing the quotes had been 'a mistake.'
Hor Namhong said he would continue to sue Rainsy for defamation through the Paris courts. Rainsy holds a French passport.
'Some people claim the Cambodian courts are not independent, so I am taking legal action in France,' he said.
Sith's arrest provoked howls of protest from human rights and media activists around the world.
His unprecedented detention on civil charges also came at a politically sensitive time, with Cambodia gearing up for national elections on July 27 which Hor Namhong's dominant Cambodian People's Party is expected to win handsomely.
14 comments:
How interesting. Let's see what the French court will say.
Kuoy Pichet
KI Media headline gives its readers an impression that Sam Rainsy is off the hook as well. Why such misleading?
Dear 3:39 PM;
It is not in anyway to mislead but the author forget to add a word "a" to complete the sentence.
it shall be - Hor Namhong withdraws his lawsuit against Dam Sith, the Moneaksekar Khmer Editor - in - chief and "a" SRP MP candidate.
mediawatch-newstopia.blogspot.com
SRP Daily Radio Program
The Candlelight Radio Program is brought to you with the support of SRP USA/Canada, Finland, Norway, Austria and France. Their contributions cover airtime fees. We are currently seeking financial support for equipment and production (one producer, one male and one female news reader, two reporters and one program presenter). Interested donors can contact us at :
srpcabinet@online.com.kh
Support the Sam Rainsy Party
The Sam Rainsy Party accepts online donations through a secure Pay Pal system.
ttp://www.samrainsyparty.org
Please contact your nearest SRP chapter to send us your contribution.
Alternatively, you can send us your contribution by direct electronic
bank account wiring transfer to:
Beneficiary: Sam Rainsy Party
Account No.: 800-03-2 15931-6
Bank: Cambodian Commercial Bank Limited
Swift Code: SICOKHPP
Address: 26 Monivong Boulevard, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Telephone: (855) 23 426 145
Fax: (855) 23 426 116
Email: CCBPP@online.com.kh
Please mark "Elections" with your contribution.
4:40 PM
Ah Scam Rainxy's trial must be top priority after the eelection.
MR Sith Should Sue Hor Namhong and CPP government for compensation (wrongly arrest)and should Persue Namhong in Khmer rouge tribunal.
So to ensure that any former Khmer Rouge with Blood on their hands are brought to justice doesnot matter who they are, this include those who committ similar crime/murders during the Vietnamese invasion and occupation of Cambodia where many had dies and still go un-noticed.
Sounded like someone is desperate in Prosecute Mr. Killer Hor Namhong and the CPP former Khmer Rouge clan....
They should create another international court specificially for these guys and put them on the electric chair/ better let them ROT in goal for LIFE.
Lok Sam Rainsy would be good to make this challenge in INTL court.
Ah psychopath Hun sen's trial must be top priority after the election.
Ah Hor nam hong, ah youn kantop !
Ah Hor Nam Hong is the biggest thief of the kingdom khmer after Akka Moha Séné Padey Decho Hun Sen - BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG THIEF of the khmer people.
There is a term in khmer called " thick skin, or mok kras ". This term fits hornam hong.
HorNamHong is " mok kras ". He has no shame.
Whore is always busy suing somebody, I wonder if he has the time to do his job. He spend most of his time at the court, his should not be a foreign minister he should be judge in rural region.
According to the witness Hor Nam Hong is the former president of Beung Trabeak, and crimes against the innocence people during Khmer Rouge.
In addition, I believe everything that Sam Rainsy said about Hor Namhong is truth.
11:03pm the popet government of Ah Hun XEn only take order from Hanoi for it foreigne policy!
Ah PHD with no education and prout of ignarance!go to hell!
Well, there is nothing wrong with taking order that work. It is 100 times better than to follow Phd from Gorilla university that has not done any good for most Asia but destroyed it.
Post a Comment