Wednesday, May 02, 2012

UN human rights office concerned over murder of Cambodian environmen​t activist

02 May 2012
By Mu Sochua

I totally support this statement and the key points in it: independence of the investigation team and protection of key witnesses and family members.

As of last Sunday, protection was not provided. The witnesses and family members need to live and move on with their lives without fear.

The Cambodia Daily journalists must be safe and security for them to continue their profession must be guaranteed.

There is a clear indication that their request for protection was denied by one of the donor community embassies.

Donor community has yet to take a stance.

We can not accept the composition of the government team set up with the order of the prime minister as it is not impartial. We need to remember what type of investigation came out from the stampede in Koh Pich that killed over 300 innocent civilians and left thousands wounded. As of this date, no officials responsible for safety and security has been found guilty of such a tragedy.

Furthermore, statements from the military police that investigated the two killings have been conflicting and even farcical- from suicide to personal disputes between the two victims.

The government needs to inform the public who owns the companies that have concessions in the area and why military police are protecting these companies?

Chut Wutty gave us the lead on an illegal trade that involves high ranking officials and tycoons closely related to families with close ties to high ranking members of the government.

Chut Wutty's life was threatened more than once by the military police and those protecting this illegal trade. The government made no attempts to provide him with protection.

Chut Wutty, like Chea Vichea must be recognized by Royal Decree as our national heroes.

Mu Sochua, MP
Sam Rainsy Party
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UN human rights office concerned over murder of Cambodian environment activist

1 May 2012

The United Nations human rights office today voiced concern over last week’s murder of an outspoken Cambodian environmental activist and human rights defender, whom it said had worked fearlessly to expose illegal logging and corruption in the country.

Click here to read the UN report

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