Saturday, December 04, 2010

Rights Group Begins Independent Bridge Inquiry

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Friday, 03 December 2010
“If the investigation has the intention of attacking the government, it is nothing but to make trouble for the government.”
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights has opened an independent investigation into the Nov. 22 bridge stampede that has now claimed the life of 352 people.

A 22-year-old man from Kandal province died of his injuries in Calmette hospital Thursday, raising the death toll of the Diamond Bridge disaster.

A government committee said it found no fault with authorities or police for the incident, which was sparked by panic on the overcrowded bridge following Water Festival activities. Instead, it blamed the crowd for panicking when people thought the suspension bridge would collapse.

Ou Virak, president of the center, said its investigation “serves as a mechanism for fundamental human rights and justice for all victims.”


The investigation will include interviews with family members of victims, survivors, those injured and still in the hospital and eye witnesses, he said.

Victims have the right “to find out the facts” of the incident, he said.

Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhoc, said he supported the independent investigation as a way to find justice for the victims.

Families of the dead will receive up to $12,000 in compensation for the incident, with money coming from the government, the developers of Diamond Island and private donations.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said this week that no officials would be fired as a result of the stampede, which saw up to 8,000 people stuck on the bridge. He called it an unforeseeable accident and the worst disaster to strike the country since the Khmer Rouge.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the Cambodian Center for Human Rights is free to investigate the incident.

However, he said, “if the investigation has the intention of attacking the government, it is nothing but to make trouble for the government.”

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

To understand Hun Sen regime we have to understand who and why they installed Hun Sen regime in 1979.

Yuon installed Hun Sen regime in 1979 to put put Khmer and Lao under yuon yoke as part of Ho Chi Minh Indochina Federation.

Look at CPP high ranking members :
1. Heng Samrin ( Khmer Viet Minh, Khmer Rouge, CPP ),
2. Chea Sim ( Khmer Viet Minh, Khmer Rouge, CPP ).
3. Meas Sophea ( Yuon born in Vietnam, serving as Royal Army Chief in Hun Sen regime ).
4. Hor Namhong ( former prison chief of B 32 between 1975-1979 ).
5. Chan Si ( Khmer Viet Minh ) same as Ros Samai, Sai Bouthong.
6. Pen Sovan ( former Khmer Issarak, Khmer Viet Minh, former Prime Minister of CPP)
So if we look at CPP high ranking members they all are yuon and Khmer Viet Minh and Khmer Issarak.
Note: There were many different groups of Khmer Issarak . a group led by Son Ngoc Minh or better known as Ah Char Mean the real master of CPP ( formed by late Ho Chi Mih ) that why a picture of Son Ngoc Minh is printed on Hun Sen early money ( riel ) and Heng Sarim , Chea Sim still honor Son Ngoc Minh as a father of communism. Son Ngoc Minh left Cambodia after Geneva Conference in 1954 to Hanoi, North Vietnam and stayed there till 1972 , and was transferred from Hanoi in 1972 to Chinese hospital for high blood pressure treatment and died in that hospital in the same year ( 1972 ) .don not mistaken Son Ngoc Minh and Son Ngoc Tanh ( 2 different people ) the real reasons behind these were after Son Ngoc Tanh was arrested Ho Chi Minh took this rare good opportunity to propaganda that Son Ngoc Minh was a youger brother of Son Ngoc Tanh to gain more support from Khmer Kandal and Khmer Krom people, this is one of millions dirty tricks used by Ho Chi Minh, Yuon Viet Minh, Yuon Viet Cong.
If you really understand why late Ho Chi Minh , formed Khmer Issarak, Khmer Viet Minh, Khmer Rom Dos, Khmer Rouge ( Groupe 2 led by So Phim the former military commander of Heng Samrin, Chea Sim between 1975-179 ) .
Understanding Ho Chi Minh Indochina Federation , we will understand Hun Sen regime to kill innocent Khmer people and put Lao and Cambodia under yuon yoke.
So even Hun Sen want to uphold Khmer interests his master yuon will not allowed this to happen.
So Yuon installed Hun Sen regime in 1979 to kill Khmer and serve yuon interests.

Anonymous said...

Yes,you are correct 10:07AM.
How to pread your ideas all over in Cambodia and abrod?
If you just post in the internet not enough,because many old generation do not know how to use computers or internets.
what you can do is to write on newspapers.
Thank again.

Anonymous said...

To 10:38 AM.

Under Hun Xen dictatorship, there is no freedom of speak and express in Cambodia.

Only in KI, we can speak and express.

Anonymous said...

MR. PHAY SIPHAN!
YOUR GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY IN TROUBLE. YOUR INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY REPEATED WHAT
YOUR MASTER HUN SEN SAID IN THE PAST. WHO NEEDS A RUBBER STAMP COMMITTEE? EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO INVESTIGATE AND REPORT WHAT HE/
SHE FOUND. EVERYBODY ELSE INCLUDING YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO DISMISS.

Anonymous said...

If you can't spread your ideas inside Cambodia,how about two million Khmer abroad? There are a lot of in Europe,in Australia,in America,in North America,in Japan,in South Korea,and much,much more...
They know what they know,the ones they don't know they should learn to know.Nobody know everything unless we learn from each other.Please don't hide your knowledge.
there are many Khmer newspapers abroad in Khmer and in English.
If we couldn't do one thing,but we could do another thing.Move aroun,change around,to make sure we are not in danger.
Thank for speaking up.
Thank again 10:07AM.