Monday, July 14, 2008

US condemns killing of Cambodian journalist

Jul 14, 2008
Reuters

The United States condemned on Monday the killings of a Cambodian journalist and his son, warning it could have a "chilling effect" on the media ahead of a general election later this month.

The US embassy in Phnom Penh said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was ready to help Cambodian authorities investigate the drive-by shootings of Khim Sam Bo, 47, and his 19-year-old son on Friday.

Also on the weekend, a senior member of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) was attacked with acid by an unknown assailant, police said.

"Violent, criminal acts such as this can have a chilling effect on the media, and paired with the acid attack against CPP Secretary of State Ngor Srun, risk undermining citizens' confidence in their ability to fully participate in the electoral process in safety and security," the embassy said in a statement.

Cambodia's top opposition Sam Rainsy Party and major journalist guild have also condemned the killings they say are part of a campaign of intimidation in the runup to the July 27 vote Prime Minister Hun Sen is widely expected to win.

"This clearly demonstrates the nature of those in power," the Sam Rainsy Party said on Saturday, adding the killers of opposition politicians in the past were never arrested.

Police said the motive for the killings remain unknown.

On Friday, a gunman on a motorcycle shot five times at the victims as they were leaving a sports stadium.

Khim Sam Bo worked for more than 10 years for the Khmer Conscience (Moneaseka Khmer) newspaper, whose editor Dam Seth was recently accused of defaming Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

The charges were later dropped.

Colleagues said he had written stories exposing corruption by senior government officials in the Hun Sen government.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen's bodyguards carried out the execution ordered by Hun Sen.

Anonymous said...

CPP is going down! This was predicted by US..

Anonymous said...

Go down and out ! ah Hun Sen, a third-year- elementary-school- educated Prime Minister with 28 years of holding power, is the Criminal against humanity in Cambodia and is a former Khmer Rouge soldier in Khmer Rouge Regime, from CPP (Communist Pro youn Party)

Anonymous said...

The G-man should launch an investigation over the recent assassination.

Anonymous said...

The US only does lip service but is powerless.
Only the chinese can put pressure on Hun Sen by cutting off funds. But look who they support in Sudan and Zimbabwe... surprise!?fabpbl

Anonymous said...

US needs to endorse SRP cause SRP will work with US.

CPP is going down!!!


Bravo! SRP

Anonymous said...

US needs to be serious with Criminal HUN SEN and his clans.

US already knew alot of HUN SEN, but they closing their eyes on HUN SEN. Why??

The UN should issue a warrant arrest to HUN SEN and his clans and ban them like the Baath Party in IRAQ not to enter politic again.

US do something!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

All these murder created by Hun Sen and his gangster (CPP).
This is a political threat.

Anonymous said...

With all that I found out about Hun Sen and Hoc Lundy, I was in despair. I was like a lost ship in a vast ocean. I have my principles and ideals but in a corrupted world, I was going nowhere. To survive, I have to keep my eyes closed to many evils that I have witnessed. It was killing me inside. On three separate occasions between 1999, 2000 and 2001, I decided to talk to the Human Rights Watch in Cambodia . I spoke to Ms. Pon Chigate(PHON), Director of the LICADO in Cambodia, Eva of Global Witness in Phnom Penh, Henrick, former UNHCR representative in Phnom Penh, Christopher Peschoux, UNHCR in Geneva, Mr. Paul Grover of the US Anti-Drug Intelligence Service and finally Naly of the LICADO in Cambodia.

Killing of Judge Sok Setha Mony

I read in the foreign press that I have been accused by Hun Sen of being involved in the assassination of Judge Sok Setha Mony. This is a total fabrication on Hun Sen's part to justify his campaign against me.

In 2003, the judge was killed by a terrorist group known as the CFF. The military police in Phnom Penh arrested three people suspected of being involved in the assassination. The arrests were coordinated by Colonel Sim Hong, Military police, who headed the investigations. I had nothing to do with the arrest, because it was military police's job.

The people arrested are Chun Ched Tra, and Moul Made but I cannot remember the other person's name.

I had a great respect for the judge and I had personally known him well. There was no way that I would have arranged for him to be killed.

I believe that this is just one of the many trumped up charges they had against me in order to secure my arrest. I know too much and I have treaded on too many toes.

Seizure of 36 kg Heroine

In 2003, I obtained information from an anonymous tip that Lt Colonel Ngur Sambath who was a man of General Sao Sokkha (three-star) and general Dom Hak (2 star) was involved in heroine trade. Following investigations, we attend his residence at Toul Kork District, in Phnom Penh and seized 36 kg of Heroine. Lt Colonel was arrested on the spot but Dom Hak who was residing there fled the scene. We attempted to chase after him to arrest him, but Hun Sen stopped us, ordering not to arrest Dom Hak nor to investigate, saying that there was no need to arrest Dom Hak. I had to stop chasing and investigating. Instead of punishing him Hun Sen surprisingly promoted him to three star about one month later. Ngur Sambath was found killed in the prison. Hun Sen told me not to be too harsh on drug trade.

Not long after this, there was a function organized by Hoc Lundv for all the general. Sao Sokkha was there and I was also invited. Sau Sokkha praised me a lot at the function and wanted me to be close to him. He said to me that if we united together, we could do anything in Cambodia. He then said that there was only one thing referring to my stance on drug trade. He asked me to stop investigating into the drug trafficking as Narcotic did not cause any trouble to Cambodia. I confronted him saving that I did not agree. He became angry and said to me that if you kept investigating, he would use his own sword to kill me

Other people witnessed it and they came over to us trying to calm us down.

Request for court and justice reform

At the beginning of 2005, I requested to my Prime Minister Hun Sen to reform the court and justice system as it was corrupted. Many judges around the country were not happy with me especially the prosecutor OKsa Voth who was known to be the master of corruption. The Prime Minister supported me and he announced in public to reform the country's justice system. People welcomed the move and to commemorate the occasion, they wrote a song in which my name was mentioned. I told them not to as the Prime Minister would not be happy to see my name being promoted too much. Oksa Voth was unhappy with me as he saw the reform would potentially bring to an end what he could do under the current system.

Anonymous said...

What is there to investigate? Nothing new here, just Ah Savage Infidel Scam Rainxy perpetrate the crime to make other look bad so that he can win the election.

Anonymous said...

The reason khmer rouge came to power was due to the US backed them. Now is the same, HEN SEN is in power , cause the US won't take them down.

what a hipocrip world and hipocrip government.

suddam hussen was taken out and hung within a few years. Hun sen still in power and doing alot of damage to the people and its country for almost 30 years.

Anonymous said...

Don't blame the U.S ah chhkuot 3:35am.From 1970-1975 ,we bombed the khmer rouge.When VIETNAME occupied Cambodia,khmer rouge was regard as the LIBERATOR, so we have no choice but to support all resistanceS including the KHMER ROUGE.Take HUN SEN out is not our business in fact it's yours dumbass. We get rid of SADDAM Hussein because he has the potential to distabilize the Middleeast.

Anonymous said...

If the FBI is serious, they should be able to bring Ah Savage Infidel Scam Rainxy to justice within a few short weeks.