Call for independent inquiry into death of activist Chhut Vuthy

1 May 2012
ABC Radio Australia

A prominent Cambodian human rights group has disputed the military's account of an alleged murder-suicide involving a military officer and a high-profile activist.

Officials say Cambodian military police officer, In Rotana shot himself twice in the chest, after gunning down anti-logging campaigner Chhut Vuthy in Koh Kong province last Thursday.

Local human rights group Licadho has been documenting the events and says it's not possible that In Rotana could have shot himself.

The group says a government committee that's being set up to investigate the killings must remain independent of the military, adding that the case is just the latest example of escalating violence towards human rights and labour activists in Cambodia.

Correspondent: Joanna McCarthy

Speaker: Sarah Milne, post-doctoral fellow, Crawford School at the Australian National University; Naly Pilorge, director, Licadho, Cambodian human rights group

Call for independent inquiry into death of activist Chhut Vuthy (Credit: ABC)

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