Oum Sara, SRP radio journalist, was also threatened

An opposition journalist and his son assassinated in Phnom Penh

12 July 2008
By Stéphanie Gée and Duong Sokha
Ka-set
Unofficial translation from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the original article in French
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

Following the jailing of Dam Sith – the editor of Moneaksekar Khmer (Khmer Conscience), a newspaper close to the Sam Rainsy Party – for one week during a defamation and disinformation lawsuit brought by Hor Namhong, the minister of Foreign Affairs – a dispute which was finally resolved by the two parties involved – the newspaper lost in the evening of 11 July one of its journalists.

While he was leaving in motorcycle from the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, 47-year-old Khim Sambo was fatally shot by two bullets, his son who was with him was also shot by one bullet and he died during the night at the Calmette Hospital where security was tightened. A veteran journalist, Khim Sambo wrote about political and social news at the Moneaksekar Khmer where he worked since the end of 1997.

Dam Sith, who is “saddened” by the loss of one of his colleagues, considers this crime as a “serious threat” against his newspaper, especially following his arrest in June. “I am concerned for my own safety and that of my team,” Dam Sith said while calling on the government to search for the killers and bring them to justice. He declined to say about the motives of this assassination, leaving the issue to the police to investigate. Dam Sith has no plan to shut down his newspaper, he announced on Saturday 12 July.

“This murder is taking place right in the middle of the election campaign and it is a message sent to the opposition, especially the SRP, it is also a discouraging message for democracy,” deplored Mu Sochua, the top SRP candidate for the province of Kampot and SRP deputy Secretary-general. “We recall that this newspaper (Moneaksekar Khmer) was the target of several attacks, and this is not the first time that it happens. Another journalist working for our radio at the (SRP) party headquarters was also intimidated,” Mu Sochua added.

Oum Sara, the SRP radio journalist involved in the intimidation, explained on Saturday 12 July that on Sunday 06 July, he escaped two armed men who were following him. “They pointed a handgun at me, but, fortunately, I was not driving, and I was able to escape in the crowd at a nearby market,” Oum Sara reported while adding that several men came near his house in the evening and yelled: “Those who criticize Hun Sen will sleep underground after the election!” He also reported that he was the target of strong pressures exerted by a former SRP defector: “He wanted me to join the CPP and he advised me to resign from my position as journalist the SRP radio program!” Since last Sunday’s incident, Oum Sara said that he is limiting his movements to the maximum.

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) which regroups 23 local human rights NGOs, issued its reaction of Saturday 21 July in a communiqué in which it pushes the government to arrest Khim Sambo’s killers and to send to justice. It also asks the government to assure the security in the country, in particular during this election season, in order to allow for free and fair election, and in order for the citizens, spearheaded by journalists and human rights activists, have no fear for their life safety.