Hang Chakra brought to the Appeal Court on 11 August 2009 (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)26 August 2009
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
For the very first time, King Norodom Sihamoni intervened by asking Ang Vong Vattana, the minister of Justice, to reconsider the case of Hang Chakra, the editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper who is currently jailed at Prey Sar prison.
A copy of the king’s letters obtained by RFA on Wednesday 26 August indicated: “I received a letter dated 24 August 2009 from the director of the Cambodian Center for the Publication of Independent Information, the vice-president of the Information Forum and Academy, the president of the Neutral and Democratic Journalist Association, the president of the Association of Democratic Cambodian Journalist, the president of the Cambodian Journalist Watchdog and the president of the Association of Cambodian Journalist for Freedom who asked for my intervention to the Supreme Council of Magistracy to resolve this issue in accordance with the law regarding the legality of the of the decision handed down to Mr. Hang Chakra, the editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.” The king’s letter added: “I am sending the letter above for your excellency to review.”
Ang Vong Vattana could not be reached on Wednesday 26 October to obtain clarifications on the king’s request, however, his aid replied that he does not know whether the king’s letter is in the hand of the minister yet or not: “So, I don’t know yet whether this letter arrived at the ministry yet or not.”
The king’s intervention letter came after 7 representatives of journalist associations and organizations sent him a joint letter on 24 August, asking for his intervention.
Chuong Chou-ngy, Hang Chakra’s defense lawyer, said that he is glad to see the king’s consideration for his client. “This is an indication that the king pays attention on social justice and it also provides justice for my client,” Chuong Chou-ngy added.
55-year-old Hang Chakra, aka Chey Uddom, was sentenced by the Phnom Penh municipal court on 26 June to 12-month of jail and he was ordered to pay 9 million riels ($2,250) in fine for defamation and disinformation published in this newspaper. The article claimed that Hun Xen broke up the bad and corrupt officials around Sok An, the article was titled: “Several pro-Sok An officials face dismissal.”
On 11 August, the Appeal Court stayed on the decision handed by the Phnom Penh municipal court, and it ordered that Hang Chakra be kept in jail.
Local and International human rights organizations called the jailing of this journalist an act of intimidation or a threat to those who criticize the Cambodian government.
A copy of the king’s letters obtained by RFA on Wednesday 26 August indicated: “I received a letter dated 24 August 2009 from the director of the Cambodian Center for the Publication of Independent Information, the vice-president of the Information Forum and Academy, the president of the Neutral and Democratic Journalist Association, the president of the Association of Democratic Cambodian Journalist, the president of the Cambodian Journalist Watchdog and the president of the Association of Cambodian Journalist for Freedom who asked for my intervention to the Supreme Council of Magistracy to resolve this issue in accordance with the law regarding the legality of the of the decision handed down to Mr. Hang Chakra, the editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.” The king’s letter added: “I am sending the letter above for your excellency to review.”
Ang Vong Vattana could not be reached on Wednesday 26 October to obtain clarifications on the king’s request, however, his aid replied that he does not know whether the king’s letter is in the hand of the minister yet or not: “So, I don’t know yet whether this letter arrived at the ministry yet or not.”
The king’s intervention letter came after 7 representatives of journalist associations and organizations sent him a joint letter on 24 August, asking for his intervention.
Chuong Chou-ngy, Hang Chakra’s defense lawyer, said that he is glad to see the king’s consideration for his client. “This is an indication that the king pays attention on social justice and it also provides justice for my client,” Chuong Chou-ngy added.
55-year-old Hang Chakra, aka Chey Uddom, was sentenced by the Phnom Penh municipal court on 26 June to 12-month of jail and he was ordered to pay 9 million riels ($2,250) in fine for defamation and disinformation published in this newspaper. The article claimed that Hun Xen broke up the bad and corrupt officials around Sok An, the article was titled: “Several pro-Sok An officials face dismissal.”
On 11 August, the Appeal Court stayed on the decision handed by the Phnom Penh municipal court, and it ordered that Hang Chakra be kept in jail.
Local and International human rights organizations called the jailing of this journalist an act of intimidation or a threat to those who criticize the Cambodian government.
25 comments:
Hun Sen and Sok An should be in jail, NOT Hang Chakra.
Khmer Justice in Cambodia
Great grattitude to the king for his intervention for social justice for cambodia. Not for Mr Hang Chakra alone,but please do uphold the justice system in order to reduce conflicts and sufferings of ORDINARY cambodians. Cambodians are asking for transparent and independent judicial system with proper application of intellectual trust and concience, so that cambodians can have peace after killing field.
I trust that civil societies, international and national,are owing your deep grattitude for making their goals of respect human rights(cambodian rights) achievable.
Together,abididing to fully implementations of our national constitution, cambodians will have peace of mind and get on with their lives.
Long live the king!
For real peace in cambodia!
Neang SA
I am grateful of King Sihamoni's intervention on Mr. Hang Chakra's case. It is a good gesture on the part of the King Himself. Mr. Hang Chakra is innocent and representing the civil society rather than a political identity, he deserves freedom and justice.
I am not a fan of the monarchy, but so far I am all for the King's intervention.
Khmer Angkor.
ពួគអ្នកឯងនិយាយឥញ្ចឹងបានជាប្រទេសមិនដែល
បានសុខគឺមានខ្មែរអគតិដួចពួគអ្នកឯងនឹងហើយ
បានជាប្រទេសខ្មែរចេះច្បាំងគ្នាមិនដែលឈប់សោះ
ពីមួយអាណាត់ទៅមួយអាណាត់ដួច្នេះបើសិនជា
បក្សលោកប្រឆាំងឯងបានជាប់ឆ្នោតគឺបានតែគ្រប់គ្រងគ្នាអ្នកឯងប៉ុណ្ណោះមិនអាចគ្រប់គ្រងកងទ័ព
គ្រប់គ្រងប្រជាជនបានទេពីព្រោះពួគគាត់មិនអាច
ជឿនៅទង្វើររបស់បក្សប្រឆាំងបានទេ។បើកងទ័ព
បើប្រជាជនមិនគាំទ្របក្សប្រឆាំងរបស់អ្នកឯង
តើបក្សប្រឆាំងរបស់អ្នកឯងនឹងធ្វើយ៉ាងណាដាក់
ប្រជាជនខ្មែរ?ឬក៏បក្សប្រឆាំងរបស់អ្នកឯងទៅ
ពឹងបរទេសមកវាយពលរដ្ធខ្មែរទៀតឬ?
Cambodia Town
Long Beach, Ca
I am the first one to intervern for the release of Hang Chakra severals week ago, event his majesty King Sihamoni recognized my message, you guys should thank to me, right Stu Astro (Uva).
New Phally
I think it would be a big challenge for the King to intervene in this case without the approval of the Prime Minister. So far, the King only had a say until he got a letter from PM Hun Sen.
even the king win Mr Hang chakra's release, but at least he has served a few month in jail for being opposition supporter. and if the ministry of justice procrastinates on the matter a little bit, he will be in prison for nearly the whole of 12 months term imposed by the municipal court.
ah Hun Sen, ah Sok An and their cronies have every right to bark and bite those who speak the truth. By the next summer all those who have hurt and harmed the innocent and poor Khmer people will got struck by lightnings in mid-day.
King afraid Hun Sen.
Hun Sen OY CHHUR CHHUR
Hun Sen OY ONGKUY ONGKUY
This is our King
10:08AM
Would you please change your frame of mind, we are not against any party as long as respectable practicle solution exercised.
If I may suggest to you that political party is only colour.
Practice of party with frame of references is essential.
Once any party start to listen to people, and with sensible solution responded to own people then harm is minimised.
Bear in mind that this should not be powerful fight with powerless.
This is still primitive.
Powerful should care for powerless.
Neang SA
New Phally,
Our friend Stu at Uva is busy with projects and won't be back 'til next month. But his friends are reading, don't worry.
By the way if you did that we all thank to you.
Oh my king wake up finally ,but your majesty please come and join us here ,it is very good site to see the pure khmer rise is KI media
Why don't you just fuck off and stop making stupid comments 1;22pm?
KI has mostly retarded people lik eyou and why would want the King to stop his works helping his people?
your marjesty ! King Sihamouni!
it is about time that you wake up your majesty!
Yeahh the King must listen to ah.mi pourk Jumkourt in KI like 2:25pm. Just because no photos of teh King on the news they think HM does not do anything?
2:25PM Don't Forget that Ah Trah Ngoal Oat Sel did this because Samdach PAPA advised him to do....this Ting Mong King never take any initiatives himself!
new phally, you fucking leech.
your boss gnuon gnel is next in line for jail.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Tortures
Executions
Massacres
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Overwork to Death
Slavery
Rapes
Human Abuses
Assault and Battery
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leader of the Free Trade Union
Attempted Assassinations on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Attempted Murders on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Executed members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders members and activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Killings
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and others military official on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Remove Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leader of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
To New Phally
"the F.B.I for anti terrorism purpose, but they were not interfere with Cambodia social conflict or politic."
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) when to Cambodia to investigate a terrorist attack against an American citizen name Ron Abney, they are not there for exotic vacation or for Cambodian politic.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
On March 30, 1997, a crowd of approximately 200 supporters of the opposition Khmer Nation Party (KNP), led by former Finance Minister Sam Rainsy, gathered in a park across the street from the National Assembly to denounce the judiciary’s corruption and lack of independence. In a well-planned attack, four grenades were thrown into the crowd, killing protesters and bystanders, including children, and tearing limbs off street vendors. The grenade attack made headlines and provoked outrage around the world. On June 29, 1997, the Washington Post wrote:
"In a classified report that could pose some awkward problems for U.S. policymakers, the FBI tentatively has pinned responsibility for the blasts, and the subsequent interference, on personal bodyguard forces employed by Hun Sen, one of Cambodia’s two prime ministers, according to four U.S. government sources familiar with its contents. The preliminary report was based on a two-month investigation by FBI agents sent here under a federal law giving the bureau jurisdiction whenever a U.S. citizen is injured by terrorism. ... The bureau says its investigation is continuing, but the agents involved reportedly have complained that additional informants here are too frightened to come forward."
"The FBI was close to solving the case when its lead investigator was suddenly ordered out of the country by the US ambassador, Kenneth Quinn," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The FBI has damning evidence in its files that suggests that Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the attack, but it has refused to fully cooperate with congressional inquiries or follow through on its initial investigation. Instead of trying to protect US relations with Cambodia, it should now finish what it started."
The FBI investigated the attack because Ron Abney, a US citizen, was seriously injured in the blast, which the United States at the time deemed to be an "act of terrorism." Abney had to be evacuated to Singapore to treat shrapnel wounds in his hip.
On the day of the attack, Hun Sen’s personal bodyguard unit, Brigade-70 (B-70), was, for the first time, deployed at a demonstration. Photographs show them in full riot gear. The police, which had in the past maintained a high-profile presence at opposition demonstrations to discourage public participation, had an unusually low profile on that day. Officers were grouped around the corner from the park, having been ordered to stay away from the park itself. Also for the first time, the KNP had received official permission from both the Ministry of the Interior and the Phnom Penh municipality to hold a demonstration, fuelling speculation that the demonstration was authorized so it could be attacked.
Numerous eyewitnesses reported that the persons who had thrown the grenades were seen running toward Hun Sen’s bodyguards, who were deployed in a line at the west end of the park near the guarded residential compound containing the homes of many senior Cambodia People’s Party leaders. Witnesses told United Nations and FBI investigators that the bodyguard line opened to allow the grenade-throwers to escape into the compound. Meanwhile, people in the crowd pursuing the grenade-throwers were stopped by the bodyguards at gunpoint and told they would be shot if they did not retreat.
Source: http://www.cambodia.org/blogs/editorials/labels/Ron%20Abney.html
This show that you are new to Cambodian politic or too busy support criminals committed crimes.
New Phally, do you have more denial and excuses to tell me?
You still think that the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime did not murdered innocent men, women and children?
Saying an opposite is an indication that you are a criminals that don't take any responsible for the crimes that you have committed.
by 3:45 AM
Oh ah choy m'ray youn spy 6:01 PM,
So now you are still pissed off to see KHmers help Khmers?
STOP your YOUN PROPAGANDA ah choy m'ray youn.
Mr. New Phally, we start to see you are better than these negative attackers. Send our grattitude to Mrs. Bun Rany for doing a marvelous job get rid of gangs from rich parents.
Send her our love and respect and we hope she can defeat these haters in KI by doing more and more good deeds for her poor Khmer people.
Mrs. BunRany is on a right track and she will defeat those land grabbing and lawless people to stop their crimes for a better Khmer society.
God Bless HM the King, King Sihamoni; and God bless Mrs. Hun Sen.
Cambodia Town
Long Beach ,Ca
I wished Chumteav Thom, Bun Rany can accomplish your goals 1:16 AM.
New Phally
To New Phally
You take no responsibility for your comments.
CPP (Collected People Property)
CPP (Controlling People Party)
CPP (Choking Poker Player)
CPP (Corporation of Peeping Party)
CPP (Commission of Pay Pal)
CPP (Controlled Phnom Penh)
CPP (Corpes of Pol Pot)
CPP (Canceled People Pageant)
CPP (Crime of Pimping People)
CPP (Collected People Perk)
CPP (Controlling Polices Party)
CPP (Created People Problem)
CPP (Claimed People Plot)
CPP (Cuffed People Party)
CPP (Cell Phone Profit)
CPP (Convicted Poor People)
CPP (Canceled Paper Press)
CPP (Connected Plotting People)
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