Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: A journalist working for a pro-opposition Cambodian newspaper and his son were killed in a drive-by shooting in the capital, police said Saturday.
Khem Sambo, 47, reported on corruption and other social ills under the rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen for the anti-government newspaper Moneaseka Khmer.
He was riding a motorcycle with his 21-year-old son on Friday when they were each shot twice by a man who was also riding a motorcycle, Phnom Penh police Chief Yim Simony said. They died later in a hospital.
"At this stage we do not have any leads yet about the motive. We are collecting evidence and witnesses who could help us in searching for the attackers," Yim Simony said.
Moneaseka Khmer editor Dam Sith called the attack "the gravest threat" to his newspaper, which is affiliated with Cambodia's main opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
"We strongly condemn the killing and urge authorities to find the culprits and punish them," said Oum Sarin, president of the Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists.
Cambodian authorities have not arrested those responsible for the killing of journalists in the past, he said.
Khem Sambo's killing was the first of a Cambodian journalist this year, Oum Sarin said, adding that the incident is "creating a climate of fear" among journalists.
The killing was a "vicious" act that seriously threatens freedom of the press and affects the climate for campaigning ahead of July 27 national elections, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, a coalition of 21 private groups, said in a statement.
It said it suspected the killings were linked to the many articles Khem Sambo wrote about issues such as illegal logging, illegal fishing deals and land grabbing that involved powerful government officials.
Khieu Kanharith, Cambodia's information minister, said the "culprits cannot be forgiven and must be found."
Khem Sambo, 47, reported on corruption and other social ills under the rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen for the anti-government newspaper Moneaseka Khmer.
He was riding a motorcycle with his 21-year-old son on Friday when they were each shot twice by a man who was also riding a motorcycle, Phnom Penh police Chief Yim Simony said. They died later in a hospital.
"At this stage we do not have any leads yet about the motive. We are collecting evidence and witnesses who could help us in searching for the attackers," Yim Simony said.
Moneaseka Khmer editor Dam Sith called the attack "the gravest threat" to his newspaper, which is affiliated with Cambodia's main opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
"We strongly condemn the killing and urge authorities to find the culprits and punish them," said Oum Sarin, president of the Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists.
Cambodian authorities have not arrested those responsible for the killing of journalists in the past, he said.
Khem Sambo's killing was the first of a Cambodian journalist this year, Oum Sarin said, adding that the incident is "creating a climate of fear" among journalists.
The killing was a "vicious" act that seriously threatens freedom of the press and affects the climate for campaigning ahead of July 27 national elections, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, a coalition of 21 private groups, said in a statement.
It said it suspected the killings were linked to the many articles Khem Sambo wrote about issues such as illegal logging, illegal fishing deals and land grabbing that involved powerful government officials.
Khieu Kanharith, Cambodia's information minister, said the "culprits cannot be forgiven and must be found."
8 comments:
Yes, and please put all SRP members under investigation. Motorcycle shooting originated not too far from Long Beach.
4 10 pm,
you think this is a joke.
wait til this kind of stuff come toward you or your
family.
gutless corrupted coward spokesman for a bunch of thieves.
I personally know of a family that is going to marry their pretty daughter to a fat ugly son of a high ranking cpp parliament member.
They admit the motive is to move up the social ladder insuring their economic prosperity for generations. But thats the normal standard to all cambodians and anyone else living in a poor country.
I feel so sorry for these khmer people.
You ignorant fool (8:35), FYI, Cambodia never had any motorcycle assassin since the invention of motorcycle; and only a few years after the stupid movie (Terminator) came out that we started to have motorcycle assassins all over the places.
Hey Kanofshit you should find another job, have some pride, money is not everything.
Sure, but only if you got too much money.
Fuck CPP and HUN SEN, they always sending their killer after Cambodian.
LOL my ass about no intimidation or non-violence!
HUN SEN is a fake democracy.
Fuck all CPP!!!
Christ!!! Get the azzhole who did this and give them the taste of justice.
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