Original report from Phnom Penh
24 December 2008
The office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday insisted on a "fair trial" in the Supreme Court case of two men convicted of the murder of labor leader Chea Vichea, which will be reviewed later this month.
The defendants, Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, both serving 20-year prison sentences for the alleged killing of Chea Vichea in 2004, are widely believed innocent.
Chea Vichea was gunned down in broad daylight at a busy market, and Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun were quickly arrested, charged and convicted, despite the lack of key evidence and unreliable testimony of witnesses. Former Phnom Penh police chief, Heng Pov, who initially ordered their arrest, and former king Norodom Sihanouk have both maintained the men are innocent, echoing the sentiments of family members and investigating rights groups.
"There are reasons to doubt the validity of the convictions of Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun for the killing," the UN rights office said in a statement Wednesday. "The Supreme Court, like all Cambodian Courts,is therefore bound to ensure that the fair trial provisions in the treaties are followed and breaches committed by lower courts are remedied.
"Supreme Court officials could not be reached for comment, but Om Yentieng, head of the government's National Human Rights Committee,called the UN statement interference in the role of the courts, which are scheduled to hear the case Dec. 31.
"I think a statement like this is a kind of pressure regarding the court," he said. "If the court decides contrarily to what they want,they will accuse it of injustice.
"The UN rights office remarks follow a similar statement from Amnesty International on Tuesday calling for the release of the two men and claiming "the true perpetrators remain at large."
The defendants, Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, both serving 20-year prison sentences for the alleged killing of Chea Vichea in 2004, are widely believed innocent.
Chea Vichea was gunned down in broad daylight at a busy market, and Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun were quickly arrested, charged and convicted, despite the lack of key evidence and unreliable testimony of witnesses. Former Phnom Penh police chief, Heng Pov, who initially ordered their arrest, and former king Norodom Sihanouk have both maintained the men are innocent, echoing the sentiments of family members and investigating rights groups.
"There are reasons to doubt the validity of the convictions of Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun for the killing," the UN rights office said in a statement Wednesday. "The Supreme Court, like all Cambodian Courts,is therefore bound to ensure that the fair trial provisions in the treaties are followed and breaches committed by lower courts are remedied.
"Supreme Court officials could not be reached for comment, but Om Yentieng, head of the government's National Human Rights Committee,called the UN statement interference in the role of the courts, which are scheduled to hear the case Dec. 31.
"I think a statement like this is a kind of pressure regarding the court," he said. "If the court decides contrarily to what they want,they will accuse it of injustice.
"The UN rights office remarks follow a similar statement from Amnesty International on Tuesday calling for the release of the two men and claiming "the true perpetrators remain at large."
5 comments:
The Cambodian Supreme Court is not but a dummy await the watermelon farm.
These so called Supreme Court shall be line up and executed. There is no impartial judgement for the innocent cambodian. Only those who paid the high price will justice tip on their side.
The UN or other law abide countried will always have a doubt on Khmer court system because they are basically corrupted at every level of government.
The reason why the CPP is allowed to survive is because because somewhat play cat and mouse with the western power. Plus khmer killing khmer is nothing to loose on the western world.
There is one thing I can be sure of: Hun Sen is going to die. But what is he to make of that fact? With this knowledge in mind, will he accepts his mortal life?
I know he stated that he'll live 90more years? But, how can a man SO SURE that he will live pass 150 years old! Will his chain smoking prolonged his life as some CPPs believe so.
Is suicidal permissible for Hun Sen if HE KNEW THAT NO HUMAN HAS EVER LIVED pass 120 years yet!
Hun sen is living nowaday at the mercy of his puppet master of hanoi. He talks just to please his master.
In fact is scared just like any other man. He is all talk tough, but freighten. He is only barking at his people and no one else.
Sorry to say, but his day is numbering. If he is smart, he better make friend with the UN.
Sooner or later the cpp will falls from within.
A sword is a double edged tools. Play with one, will get cut by one.
The cpp is getting stronger and stronger due to curruptions. It will falls due to curruptions.
Hey khmer!
We do not need to worry about all these things.
It will come out when Pen Savann & Hun Xen fight each other, we will see who is youn's dog.
As far as I know, cpp is Ah youn's dog (ah chhkai youn) because they always go to get advises from youn.
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