ABC Radio Australia
Two FBI agents who where helping Cambodian police investigate the murder of a Cambodian journalist have been sent home.
Human Rights organisations say their departure is a negative development in efforts to find his killers.
Presenter: Claudette Werden
Speakers: Vincent Brossel, Reporters without Borders; John Johnson, US Embassy Public Affairs Officer
WERDEN: Khim Sambo was riding on the back of a motorcycle driven by his son when he was shot dead at close range. His son was also shot while cradling his dying father and later died in hospital. The killings occured just before Cambodia's general elections in July, then the theory was the journalist has been killed to create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the elections. At the time, the US government offered the services of the FBI. Then a second theory emerged saying the murders were linked to a personal dispute. But now a different story is emerging, just prior to his death Khim Sambo had written a critical article about Cambodia's police chief. Vincent Brossel from Reporters without Borders explains.
BROSSEL: Khim Sambo was working for an Opposition newspaper and he wrote a sensitive article about this police chief going to a casino and spending thousands and thousands of dollars and arresting the casino manager because the casino manager refused to give him more money so of course we have to be careful but that's something the investigation should clear . Vincent Brossel from Reporters without Borders .
WERDEN .Two weeks ago a story appeared in the South China Morning Post commenting on that article and providing a different theory for the journalist's murder. In that article Human Rights group speculate the killers, who were also riding a motorcycle had no fear of being arrested as they weren't wearing helmets and made no attempt to disguise their identity.
BROSSEL: The fact the FBI was involved in the investigation and now they're withdrawn after such a news article, so it means there is a big suspicion that there is a cover up of this case and once again we fear in Cambodia it will be impossible to know who are the killers and the masterminds of the killing.
WERDEN: Were they told to withdraw or they chose to withdraw?
BROSSEL: That's what we don't know, the US government is not very clear on this but I guess they feel that the investigation is not going on the right track.
WERDEN: The US government says its an ongoing investigation and it won't comment on the return of the FBI agents. But John Johnson the Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh has been quoted as saying he's aware of human rights groups concern of a police cover-up.
JOHNSON: The FBI has provided a range of support to this investigation and we have somebody in country who continues to provide support when needed. Those two FBI agents were providing a different aspect of support, once their particular jobs were completed then they left the country, but that doesn't mean the FBI has completely withdrawn
WERDEN: Can you tell me what kind of support they were providing?
JOHNSON: No, actually this is again an open investigation and we don't comment on specifics.
Human Rights organisations say their departure is a negative development in efforts to find his killers.
Presenter: Claudette Werden
Speakers: Vincent Brossel, Reporters without Borders; John Johnson, US Embassy Public Affairs Officer
WERDEN: Khim Sambo was riding on the back of a motorcycle driven by his son when he was shot dead at close range. His son was also shot while cradling his dying father and later died in hospital. The killings occured just before Cambodia's general elections in July, then the theory was the journalist has been killed to create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the elections. At the time, the US government offered the services of the FBI. Then a second theory emerged saying the murders were linked to a personal dispute. But now a different story is emerging, just prior to his death Khim Sambo had written a critical article about Cambodia's police chief. Vincent Brossel from Reporters without Borders explains.
BROSSEL: Khim Sambo was working for an Opposition newspaper and he wrote a sensitive article about this police chief going to a casino and spending thousands and thousands of dollars and arresting the casino manager because the casino manager refused to give him more money so of course we have to be careful but that's something the investigation should clear . Vincent Brossel from Reporters without Borders .
WERDEN .Two weeks ago a story appeared in the South China Morning Post commenting on that article and providing a different theory for the journalist's murder. In that article Human Rights group speculate the killers, who were also riding a motorcycle had no fear of being arrested as they weren't wearing helmets and made no attempt to disguise their identity.
BROSSEL: The fact the FBI was involved in the investigation and now they're withdrawn after such a news article, so it means there is a big suspicion that there is a cover up of this case and once again we fear in Cambodia it will be impossible to know who are the killers and the masterminds of the killing.
WERDEN: Were they told to withdraw or they chose to withdraw?
BROSSEL: That's what we don't know, the US government is not very clear on this but I guess they feel that the investigation is not going on the right track.
WERDEN: The US government says its an ongoing investigation and it won't comment on the return of the FBI agents. But John Johnson the Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh has been quoted as saying he's aware of human rights groups concern of a police cover-up.
JOHNSON: The FBI has provided a range of support to this investigation and we have somebody in country who continues to provide support when needed. Those two FBI agents were providing a different aspect of support, once their particular jobs were completed then they left the country, but that doesn't mean the FBI has completely withdrawn
WERDEN: Can you tell me what kind of support they were providing?
JOHNSON: No, actually this is again an open investigation and we don't comment on specifics.
1 comment:
It seems that the FBI found the motive, the suspect and the murder but they're afraid to arrest. It's the same suspect and murderer who has been know to the whole cambodia and the world.
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