PHNOM PENH, Jul 13, 2008 (Xinhua) -- Family members held Sunday the funeral for their 47-year-old veteran journalist Khim Sambo and his elder son, who were shot dead in downtown Phnom Penh Friday.
The family wants the funeral to be conducted peacefully, without any involvement of political parties and infiltration of political factors, said a letter written by its members for the municipal government.
While attending the funeral at the Toul Tompong Pagoda, Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith told reporters that he would like to share the sadness of and pay condolences to Sambo's family.
His ministry also issued a statement saying that it strongly condemned the killing and appealed for the police authorities to catch and punish the killer by law.
"We would like to express our regret for losing this journalist and his son," it said.
Journalist associations in Cambodia also condemned the murder and thought it was a threat to freedom of expression, it added.
Meanwhile at the funeral, Pung Chiv Kek, president of local human rights organization Licadho, told reporters that "the killing of Sambo and his son sent a negative message for freedom of media, as the general election is currently going on in the country."
"We all condemn this crime and appeal for the authorities to arrest the murderer," she added.
Ly Somony, police chief for the district where Sambo and his elder son were murdered, also attended the funeral, telling reporters that police are investigating the crime and Sambo's family members need to provide evidence and information.
"So far we haven't found any hints as the family is busy with the funeral. The crime occurred in my zone and we are trying our best to follow the case," he added.
Khat Sarin Chan Krus Sna, Sambo's youngest son, told Xinhua that the family knows nothing about the killing of his father and brother.
"My brother died at the Calmette hospital about 12:00 p.m. Friday. My father died in the early evening near the Preah Buddha Pagoda, not far a way from Olympic stadium, where they used to have body exercise," he added.
Yim Sovann, senior official form the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and Chairman of the Committee for Interior and Social Security at the National Assembly, told reporters at the funeral that the killing is a cowardly act and police have to arrest the murderer to provide justice for the people.
However, he said, police have never arrested criminals who killed journalists in the past.
"The killing is a threat to opposition journalists and has intimidated freedom of expression," he added.
Sambo was part-time reporter of the Khmer Conscience News, a Cambodian-language newspaper closed affiliated with SRP. he used to write articles about corruption of senior officials at the Cambodian government.
He and his 22-year-old son were gunned down from their motorcycle Friday on the Monireth Boulevard and died in tandem.
This has been the worst crime so far during Cambodia's general election month, which started in June and will end on July 27.
The currently ruling Cambodian People's Party is widely expected to score a landslide victory and SRP is also ambitious to secure almost half of the 123 seats of the National Assembly.
The family wants the funeral to be conducted peacefully, without any involvement of political parties and infiltration of political factors, said a letter written by its members for the municipal government.
While attending the funeral at the Toul Tompong Pagoda, Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith told reporters that he would like to share the sadness of and pay condolences to Sambo's family.
His ministry also issued a statement saying that it strongly condemned the killing and appealed for the police authorities to catch and punish the killer by law.
"We would like to express our regret for losing this journalist and his son," it said.
Journalist associations in Cambodia also condemned the murder and thought it was a threat to freedom of expression, it added.
Meanwhile at the funeral, Pung Chiv Kek, president of local human rights organization Licadho, told reporters that "the killing of Sambo and his son sent a negative message for freedom of media, as the general election is currently going on in the country."
"We all condemn this crime and appeal for the authorities to arrest the murderer," she added.
Ly Somony, police chief for the district where Sambo and his elder son were murdered, also attended the funeral, telling reporters that police are investigating the crime and Sambo's family members need to provide evidence and information.
"So far we haven't found any hints as the family is busy with the funeral. The crime occurred in my zone and we are trying our best to follow the case," he added.
Khat Sarin Chan Krus Sna, Sambo's youngest son, told Xinhua that the family knows nothing about the killing of his father and brother.
"My brother died at the Calmette hospital about 12:00 p.m. Friday. My father died in the early evening near the Preah Buddha Pagoda, not far a way from Olympic stadium, where they used to have body exercise," he added.
Yim Sovann, senior official form the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and Chairman of the Committee for Interior and Social Security at the National Assembly, told reporters at the funeral that the killing is a cowardly act and police have to arrest the murderer to provide justice for the people.
However, he said, police have never arrested criminals who killed journalists in the past.
"The killing is a threat to opposition journalists and has intimidated freedom of expression," he added.
Sambo was part-time reporter of the Khmer Conscience News, a Cambodian-language newspaper closed affiliated with SRP. he used to write articles about corruption of senior officials at the Cambodian government.
He and his 22-year-old son were gunned down from their motorcycle Friday on the Monireth Boulevard and died in tandem.
This has been the worst crime so far during Cambodia's general election month, which started in June and will end on July 27.
The currently ruling Cambodian People's Party is widely expected to score a landslide victory and SRP is also ambitious to secure almost half of the 123 seats of the National Assembly.
3 comments:
Adios, Bon Voyage to hell and don't come back ever.
He will not die in vain, Cambodia will change government.
4:55 AM
For sure this will happen to you and your CPP.
Post a Comment