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| Phorn Bopha and Olesia Plokhii questioned following the shooting of Chut Wutty (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post) |
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post
Two journalists who were present when environmental activist Chut Wutty and military police officer In Rattana were killed last month have reportedly been summonsed to Koh Kong provincial court.
Neang Boratino, Koh Kong provincial co-ordinator for the rights group Adhoc, said court sources had told him Canadian Olesia Plokhii and Cambodian Phorn Bopha would be questioned on May 17, even though an investigation into the incident was officially wrapped up at the weekend.
“What the joint investigation did is very fast, because the court had not questioned all the witnesses who were involved, yet it announced a close to the investigation,” Neang Boratino said, adding he had seen the summons.
But Koh Kong provincial court clerk Chhin Long and other court officials would not confirm yesterday that the summons had been issued.
Neither of the reporters from the Cambodia Daily could be reached for comment yesterday, but both reportedly did not witness the shooting directly. Plokhii has left the country.
The five-member joint investigative committee examining the case announced on Friday it had concluded that Chut Wutty, 48, was shot by military official In Rattana, 31, who was then accidentally shot when security guard Ran Boroth tried to disarm him.
On the same day, the Koh Kong provincial court charged Ran Boroth, 27, with unintentional murder, an offence that carries a one- to three-year jail term.
The shootings took place at Veal Bei Point, in Mondul Seima district’s Bak Khlang commune after a dispute erupted when Ran Boroth reportedly tried to confiscate the memory card from the camera of Chut Wutty, who was taking photos of timber stockpiles.
Ran Boroth works for the company Timbergreen, which is licensed to clear the reservoirs of the Lower Stung Russey Chrum dam project, in the same district where the shooting took place.
4 comments:
The result of this investigation is not true and lie. If In Ratana was drunk why the authaurity didn't proof his blod? As a for former soldier I will never believe this case?
He was not Thai, so the name is spelled "Chhut Vuthy"
It's just a game of Hun Sen regime to frighten others in Cambodia.
The real perpetrators will never been arrested or punished in case of Chea Vichea, Ven. Som Bunthoeun and many others including Chhut Vutty. In order to bring back trust to Cambodian people and this nation, Hun Sen and his Khmer Rouge regime must be gone.
In regards to the two journalists, I shall say it again that it is "a miracle they are still alive." The Cambodian Daily reported that their lives were threatened by the people with guns at the shooting scene where they were held. The Canadian is "reportedly" went home already. Chance for her to return to Cambodia to testify in any investigation is slim. Who can blame (them both) for running scared? One thing is clear, Chhut Vuthy (the victim? And "reportedly" with a loaded pistol?) and In Ratana (the perpetrator? Loaded AK-47?) are both shot and killed. An "accident?" Please, not a good choice word. Needless to say, without an "independent" and "credible" investigation, this one, too, is already an open and shut case in this world's renounced "Culture of Impunity" land. Besides, "accident" or NOT, it is foolish to have the "fox guarding the chicken coup" as we have seen thus far. So who is next on the cross-hair for more "accidents, eh???" My two cents.
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