AP
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Cambodia's highest court on Wednesday provisionally released two imprisoned men many believe were framed in the murder of a prominent labor leader and government critic.
Supreme Court judge Dith Munty ordered the temporary release of Born Samnang, 24 and Sok Sam Oeun, 36, but also ordered further investigation and preparations for the retrial of the two convicted men.
The two are serving 20-year prison terms for the 2004 killing of Chea Vichea, the former head of Cambodia's Free Trade Union of Workers and an outspoken critic of government corruption and human rights abuses.
Dith Munty said the court temporary released the duo since they had already served more than four years of their terms and clarification was needed over some points during the investigation and trial by a lower court.
The release comes after strong protests from leading local and international human rights groups.
"The Cambodian Supreme Court should rely on the evidence and not give in to government pressure when it reviews the case," said Sara Colm, of the New York-based Human Rights Watch, in a statement earlier this week.
"Born Samang and Sok Sam Oeun have already spent five years behind bars for a crime they did not commit, and it is time for justice to be done in this case," the statement added.
Chea Vichea, 36, was the founder and president of the Free Trade Union of Workers. He was shot and killed in broad daylight in front of a newsstand in Phnom Penh on January 22, 2004.
Vichea was well known for his outspoken efforts to organize garment workers and to fight for improved working conditions in Cambodia, work he continued in spite of death threats.
Supreme Court judge Dith Munty ordered the temporary release of Born Samnang, 24 and Sok Sam Oeun, 36, but also ordered further investigation and preparations for the retrial of the two convicted men.
The two are serving 20-year prison terms for the 2004 killing of Chea Vichea, the former head of Cambodia's Free Trade Union of Workers and an outspoken critic of government corruption and human rights abuses.
Dith Munty said the court temporary released the duo since they had already served more than four years of their terms and clarification was needed over some points during the investigation and trial by a lower court.
The release comes after strong protests from leading local and international human rights groups.
"The Cambodian Supreme Court should rely on the evidence and not give in to government pressure when it reviews the case," said Sara Colm, of the New York-based Human Rights Watch, in a statement earlier this week.
"Born Samang and Sok Sam Oeun have already spent five years behind bars for a crime they did not commit, and it is time for justice to be done in this case," the statement added.
Chea Vichea, 36, was the founder and president of the Free Trade Union of Workers. He was shot and killed in broad daylight in front of a newsstand in Phnom Penh on January 22, 2004.
Vichea was well known for his outspoken efforts to organize garment workers and to fight for improved working conditions in Cambodia, work he continued in spite of death threats.
17 comments:
This is not about justice. This is an organized showcase for foolish international observers to take it as improvement in justice system in Cambodia. All sides know it is not justice.
Khmer Republican
It's the first step on the way to justice. Everyone knows who the real killers are. It's up to the Khmer people to stand up for what is right. The foreigners are only trying to support the Khmers so they can demand justice
Republican Barang Observer
That what will happened to you when you follow Ah Pleu-oversea. Many of them end up in jail oversea and so will you in Cambodia. It is a matter of time
The death of ah Hoc Lundy, the real killer, had made the appeal a bit easier. Ah Hun Sen might order a re-arrest.
This is nothing but an alaborated scheme by the ruling party.
No one seemed to satisfy with whatever the current court or government did. If you always ignore the fact, Khmer will never live in Peace. Learn to accept the fact.
The decision of the court today is brave enough. He would risk his position and life.
Very good to see atleast a retrial.
Demand and international assistance help. Let hope it will continue.
Khmer! ( < no ph.D, not a khmer republician, not oversea, etc lol )
let just be khmer, put away the oversea, the PH.D bullshit label )
let put away the label and focus on the assistance to srokhmer )
មេតុលាការស្សុកខ្មែរ គឺជាមេយោមរាជ
មេប្រែត ដែលចូលចិត្តសីុខ្ទុះឈាមរបស់
ប្រជាជន។ គ្មានចេះរកយុត្តិធម៌ឲ្យប្រជាជនទេ។
បន្ថែមពីលើនេះទៀត ពួកវាជាអាយ៉ងរបស់
ហ៊ុនសែន។
Khmer Supreme Court takes this fake killer very seriously from same Khmer blood, but the real fact of reality of Many-Many foriegners violate Khmer Law, fishing, lands, sex trafficking issues, drugs, Khmer Supreme Court have never ever pressed on all of these matters.
There are Khmer students gratuated every years, hire them for these jobs for better safe of Cambodia.
Khmer oversee at US advice Khmer-smart in Cambodia for 2009 action.
Cambodia can only be a respectable country if there are justices in the court system. Every institutional system should be independent from HUN SEN and his ruling government. Cambodia will never be a first class country as long as HUN SEN got a hand in everything.
Both of them should be offered PhD because they spent 4 years there.
9:12 pm, what the fuck are you talking about? Khmer oversear has a lot contributing to this day. So go fuck your self!!
1:05 AM you are scum! This is not even funny. This is no a joke. And you too, go fuck you self!
Bolony, the Khmer in Cambodia has contribute more to oversea than you idiots contribute to Cambodia. Just remember, without us (real Khmer), there is no such thing as Cambodia Town in Long Beach.
It was Khmer overseas that liberated your fucking heads from yuons slaves so can see the light of dollars today, or you would have been still in that sinkhole.
Ah underdeas
3:01 pm, don't change subject, coward. I dare you to challange commenters in any perpective in this subject, if you will.
Who change the subject? I was just replying to 8:47.
Good job 6:09! Ah pleu undersea is fucking got no brain at all, they don't realize that Khmer oversea that send out $$$ to help Ah pleu undersea stupid punkass..live under YOUN control!
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