Mu Sochua and Chea Mony, discussing strategies for the march (All photos: SRP)
Ron Chhun, leader for the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA), calling for an end to police brutality against workers who exercise their rights to protest.
Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, leaders of the Democratic Movement for Change, marching with their members of Parliament
Sam Rainsy and the father of Sok Sam Oeun, who has suffered severe emotional stress caused by his five years in jail
Born Samnang, wrongly accused of the murder of Chea Vichea, and his mother
Hundreds of police were dispatched along the march routeBy Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
22 January 2009
Hundreds of people gathered in Phnom Penh Thursday to mark the fifth anniversary of the murder of popular labor leader Chea Vichea.
The crowd amassed at the headquarters of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which was once led by Chea Vichea and is now led by his younger brother, Chea Mony.
“I attended the anniversary today to show that I want the government to find justice for Chea Vichea,” said Chanty, a 23-year-old worker from Cambohanse Factory.
Chea Vichea was gunned down in broad daylight in front of a newspaper stand near Wat Lanka, in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district, on the morning of Jan. 22, 2004.
He had been a popular leader of garment factory workers, capable of calling huge demonstrations in Cambodia’s only real export industry.
Two men, Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, were subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison for the killing. But both are widely considered innocent, and in December the Supreme Court ordered a review of their case by the Appeals Court and ordered their temporary release.
Human rights officials say the true killers of Chea Vichea remain at large, and on Thursday opposition leader Sam Rainsy urged further investigation into the killing and called on the US administration of newly elected president Barack Obama to help.
“Please, new president Barack Obama, help the Khmer people to seek the real killers and to punish them by law,” Sam Rainsy told the crowd. “I believe there is still someone behind the killers. So the real killers should be unmasked.”
Ministry of Interior spokesman Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak said police had not closed the investigation and were waiting for Phnom Penh Municipal Court for a request to resume the search.
Municipal court officials said the case of Chea Vichea was in the hands of the Appeals Court, but Appeals Court officials said they were waiting for the case to come from the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Vice President Khim Pon declined to comment.
Hong Kim Suon, lawyer for Sok Samoeun, said the case remained at the Supreme Court and he was not sure when it would move to the Appeals Court.
The crowd amassed at the headquarters of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which was once led by Chea Vichea and is now led by his younger brother, Chea Mony.
“I attended the anniversary today to show that I want the government to find justice for Chea Vichea,” said Chanty, a 23-year-old worker from Cambohanse Factory.
Chea Vichea was gunned down in broad daylight in front of a newspaper stand near Wat Lanka, in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district, on the morning of Jan. 22, 2004.
He had been a popular leader of garment factory workers, capable of calling huge demonstrations in Cambodia’s only real export industry.
Two men, Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, were subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison for the killing. But both are widely considered innocent, and in December the Supreme Court ordered a review of their case by the Appeals Court and ordered their temporary release.
Human rights officials say the true killers of Chea Vichea remain at large, and on Thursday opposition leader Sam Rainsy urged further investigation into the killing and called on the US administration of newly elected president Barack Obama to help.
“Please, new president Barack Obama, help the Khmer people to seek the real killers and to punish them by law,” Sam Rainsy told the crowd. “I believe there is still someone behind the killers. So the real killers should be unmasked.”
Ministry of Interior spokesman Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak said police had not closed the investigation and were waiting for Phnom Penh Municipal Court for a request to resume the search.
Municipal court officials said the case of Chea Vichea was in the hands of the Appeals Court, but Appeals Court officials said they were waiting for the case to come from the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Vice President Khim Pon declined to comment.
Hong Kim Suon, lawyer for Sok Samoeun, said the case remained at the Supreme Court and he was not sure when it would move to the Appeals Court.
10 comments:
22 January is Fifth anniversary that Mr.Chea Vichea, Former President of FTUWKC,
Gunnded down on 22nd January 2004, by ah Hun Sen(ah criminal against humanity in Cambodia) :
សំដាចម៍ ហ៊ុន សែនជា អាមេឧក្រឹដ្ឋជន ប្រឆាំងមនុស្សជាតិ នៅប្រទេសខ្មែរ មានបាតដៃប្រលាក់ឈាមខ្មែរ រាប់មិនអស់។ អាហ៊ុន សែន ត្រូវតែទទួលទោស រន្ទះបាញ់ ដោយសារបទឧក្រឹដ្ឋកម្ម ប្រឆាំងមនុស្សជាតិ និង បទក្បត់ជាតិ កាត់ដីប្រទេសខ្មែរ អោយទៅប្រទេសយួន !
មើលផងដែរ ៖
http://cheavichea.wordpress.com/
http://hengpov.wordpress.com/2007/09/07/protest-against-hun-sen-in-melbourne-australia/
http://coupof56july.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/coupof56july_its_a_family_affair1.jpg
http://corruptionfamily.wordpress.com/
http://khmervipheak.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/criminal-chronology-in-cambodia10.gif?w=460&h=563
The fool (Chea Vichay) was on the wrong side of history and failed to get protection the CPP, and was gunned down for Ah Scam Rainxy's political gain.
What does Som Archsy and Kem Soakpee-kroy have in common? Use the poor guy Chea Vichea for their political stunt.
If Som Archsy and Kem Soakpee-kroy really want to find the murderer that killed Chea Vichea, they would do everything possible like hire private detector or try their best to look for this invidual merderer. These two scums just use this to publicise for their political gain. Go figure!
11:31 PM
Your party will done in the future.
know he good khmer man,but don't fuck with my government and don't blam to my government too.If he want to kill not him.I quest if he want to kill he kill your party not Mr CheaVichea.Mr Cheavichea didn't make him got headach ok.Only you and your party.
8:16 AM
The real Khmer Hero Uncle Sam come to the recure , SAMDECH (EWWWWW) AH unedcucate murderer HUN SEN WIll get his head hang in front of it master city WHORE GI MINH ..
8:26 AM, It's your first comment or what?
Want to be a pro-Ah-government!!
Learn more, boy.
Looking for the khmmers police!!!They are so fat and the most of them are angry the same ah Hund Xen and very agressor.
R Hun Sen was behind the killing of our hero.
This bloody guy will joint with R Hok Lundy very soon.
The killer is in the picture.
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