By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
10 July 2008
Ratanakkiri provincial court authorities have detained one ethnic minority Jarai man for damaging a Cambodian People's Party billboard, officials said Thursday.
Sev Tha, who family members claim is 17 years old, was arrested July 2 and sent to the court the following day, where he was charged with destruction of private property, court officials said.
Court and police officials claim Sev Tha is 22 years old. He is being held in Ratanakkiri provincial prison awaiting trial.
Sev Tha was arrested following a complaint by a CPP representative in Soeung commune, Borkeo district, Hor Ang, first deputy police chief of Ratanakkiri, said Thursday.
This is the first time that a political party lodged a complaint about a signboard to the police, Hor Ang said.
"On behalf of the police, when the complaint comes, we must carry out our duty in accordance with procedure," he said. "If we do not carry it out, we will be accused of bias in carrying out our duty."
No other sign damage has been reported, a provincial election committee official said.
Human rights officials said the alleged crime was minor and did not warrant prison time.
Sev Tha committed an "unintentional mistake," said Pen Bunna, Adhoc coordinator for Ratanakkiri.
The signboard costs between $20 and $30, so Sev Tha should be "educated" and pay compensation, rather than be detained, Pen Bunna said.
Sev Na, Sev Tha's older brother, denied his sibling destroyed the sign intentionally.
Sev Tha was drunk and moved the CPP billboard out of his way after tripping over it on the way home from a 16-hours drinking session at a shop, Sev Na said.
Sev Tha, who family members claim is 17 years old, was arrested July 2 and sent to the court the following day, where he was charged with destruction of private property, court officials said.
Court and police officials claim Sev Tha is 22 years old. He is being held in Ratanakkiri provincial prison awaiting trial.
Sev Tha was arrested following a complaint by a CPP representative in Soeung commune, Borkeo district, Hor Ang, first deputy police chief of Ratanakkiri, said Thursday.
This is the first time that a political party lodged a complaint about a signboard to the police, Hor Ang said.
"On behalf of the police, when the complaint comes, we must carry out our duty in accordance with procedure," he said. "If we do not carry it out, we will be accused of bias in carrying out our duty."
No other sign damage has been reported, a provincial election committee official said.
Human rights officials said the alleged crime was minor and did not warrant prison time.
Sev Tha committed an "unintentional mistake," said Pen Bunna, Adhoc coordinator for Ratanakkiri.
The signboard costs between $20 and $30, so Sev Tha should be "educated" and pay compensation, rather than be detained, Pen Bunna said.
Sev Na, Sev Tha's older brother, denied his sibling destroyed the sign intentionally.
Sev Tha was drunk and moved the CPP billboard out of his way after tripping over it on the way home from a 16-hours drinking session at a shop, Sev Na said.
7 comments:
who says CPP destroying other party's signs is OK?
this khmer guy who run this website should double-check his source, this is a main problem for cambodians, always exaggerating on unverified claims.
12:38 AM
what the website is trying to explain is that within the municipality of Phnom Penh and to a greater extent throughout the provinces, a lot of the Sam Rainsy Party signs and banners tend to get vandalized and destroyed. For the most part, it's accomplished through the acts of CPP sympathizers as well as some military police personnels (orders placed by certain high ranking officials with absurd justifications) and a great majority of the time, nothing is done to stop it and local authorities and law enforcement tend to turn their backs on this matter. And this have become a trend.
On the other hand, individuals caught destroying CPP signs and banners tend to be sought out more and arrested.
Destroying party signs and banners is something that shouldn't be done in the first place but it seems for the most part certain trends are very evident.
I think many people find it as a double standard that's all.
Leave the CPP sign alone, Ah Pleu! They have rights just like any other party.
1:32AM you are a pleu, the guy is a Jaray!!!!!!!
When you are dealing with CPP meaning you are dealing with Cambodia gangster.
oh! he just a minor not a big deal out of that
No, 17 year old Khmer is no minor. Most of them is fully mature by 16, and they used to get married and successfully raised their family too.
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