Bandit trial to begin soon [... after long intentional delay?]

Buot Chenda, 21, is taken to a hospital after allegedly being shot by former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith during a protest outside a Puma factory in Kratie province earlier this year. Photograph: Derek Stout/Phnom Penh Post

Monday, 17 September 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

The long-awaited trial of former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith – accused of shooting three garment workers at a protest in February – could begin within the next week, a Svay Rieng Provincial Court official said yesterday.

Investigating judge Pich Chhert said the inquiry into the shooting, which rights groups have decried for its slow-moving nature, was complete and would be processed by the prosecution before being sent to the presiding judge, who will set a date for the trial.

“We have finished our investigation, and now the case is under the process of the provincial prosecutor to make a conclusion,” Chhert said.

‘Suspicious suspect’ in Bavet shooting named

Thursday, 30 August 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

Police in Svay Rieng province said yesterday a Bavet town police officer had been under court-ordered supervision since last week on suspicion of being involved in the February shooting at a garment factory protest in the Special Economic Zone there.

Provincial police chief Prach Rim said Sar Chantha, the chief of penal police in Bavet town, had been put under court supervision by Judge Pech Chhoeut in relation to the ongoing case.

Former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith was charged in April with “unintentional injury” for allegedly firing his gun at random into a crowd of 6,000 workers at the Kaoway Sports Factory in February, injuring three female garment workers.

Svay Rieng victims called back to court

Chhouk Bandit

Monday, 16 July 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Svay Rieng Provincial Court has summonsed the three female workers wounded during a protest at Kao Ve Garment Factory in Manhattan Special Economic Zone for one more round of questioning before the case against the former Bavet city governor is sent for trial.

Bich Chhoeut, the provincial investigating judge, said the court had issued an order for the women to appear for final questioning on July 20 before the charges of “unintentional wounding” against Chhouk Bandith go before the judge.

“The previous [questioning] was the prosecutor’s primary investigation, but this is a survey of the investigating judge,” he said, explaining the rationale for the women being summonsed a second time.

The three workers were injured when Bandith allegedly shot his gun into the crowd of 6,000 protesting garment workers in February.

FTUWKC's letter to Suy Sem regarding workers at the Manhattan factory

Witness duo no-show amid safety concerns

Chhouk Bandit

Friday, 15 June 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

Two witnesses to the Bavet town factory shooting in February failed to show up at Svay Rieng Provincial Court yesterday despite being summoned by an investigating judge, with one citing fears for his safety.

Sok Vuthy, a 28 year-old worker, told the Post yesterday that he did not obey the court summons from investigating judge Pech Chhoeut because his family had forbidden him for fear it would put his life in danger.

“My father, mother and all my relatives did not allow me to go to the court. I wanted to help my friends [the victims], but I could not go against my family,” he said.

The fact that suspected shooter Chhouk Bandith is still on the loose was Sok Vuthy’s main cause for concern, he said, adding he that feared any testimony he gave might provoke an act of retribution.

New Bavet witnesses called

Buot Chenda, 21, is taken to a hospital after being shot by former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith during a protest outside a Puma factory in Kratie province earlier this year. Photograph: Derek Stout/Phnom Penh Post

Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

Two new witnesses have been summonsed in the case against former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith, as the victims’ lawyer tries to prove he intentionally shot three female protesters outside a shoe factory in February.

Nouth Bopinnaroath, Svay Rieng provincial co-ordinator for the rights group Licadho, said the “important” witnesses had been called by investigating judge Pech Chhoeut to reassess the controversial charge of causing unintentional injury handed to the former governor.

“The victims were not happy when the prosecutor charged [Chhouk Bandith] with [causing] unintentional injuries, so the investigating judge asked the lawyers to find more evidence,” he said, adding they had been called for questioning this Thursday.

“If it is unintentional, he should not have shot two or three times.”

INjustice-a-la CPP: Chhouk Bandit was never sacked, he was just transfered to another position in the province!

Chhouk Bandit

ឈូក បណ្ឌិត ចេញទៅព្យាបាល ជំងឺនៅប្រទេសថៃ

Friday, 04 May 2012
ដោយៈ គុជ វិភាគ
DAP-news

ឈូក បណ្ឌិត កើតជំងឺ បាញ់បោះអាណាធិបតេយ្យ ព្រមទាំងចេះ តែឈឺទ្រូង ចុកខ្លាញ់ ឈឺ ក ដាក់ជើង ដ ហើម ក្រលៀន ប៉ិនកំភ្លៅ រក លោកស្រោចទឹក ក៏មិនជាដែរ! បើចង់ឆាប់ជា ទាល់តែសុំនារីៗ កម្មករ ជួយ ដាក់លោក១ដៃ ១ជើង ម្នាក់ទៅ វាជាឯង

«ខ្ងុំគ្រាន់តែដឹងថា ចាប់តាំង ពីប្លាស់ប្ដូ តំណែង គាត់ពី អភិបាល ក្រុងបាវិត ឲ្យមក បម្រើ ការ នៅសាលា ខេត្ត ស្វាយរៀង គាត់មិន ដែល មកបង្ហាញ ខ្លួននៅ សាលា ខេត្តទេ»

ស្វាយរៀងៈ យោងតាមប្រភពជិតស្និទ្ធនឹងអតីត អភិបាលក្រុងបាវិត ដែលបាញ់ប្រហារកម្មករ លោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត សុំមិនបញ្ចេញឈ្មោះ បានប្រាប់ឲ្យដឹងថា អតីតអភិបាលក្រុងរូបនេះ បានចាកចេញ ពីប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ហើយកាល ពីប៉ុន្មាន ថ្ងៃមុននេះ គឺចេញទៅ ប្រទេសថៃ ដើម្បី ព្យាបាលជំងឺ។

ប្រភពដដែល បានប្រាប់បន្តថា លោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត ចេញទៅប្រទេសថៃ ដើម្បីព្យាបាលជំងឺ ព្រោះលោក ចេះតែឈឺទ្រូង និងឈឺបំពង់ក ដែលជំងឺនេះបណ្ដាលមកពីការប៉ះទង្គិចគ្នាជាមួយកម្មករ ដែលបានធ្វើបាតុ កម្មកន្លងមកនៅតំបន់សេដ្ឋកិច្ចពិសេសម៉ាន់ហាតតាន់ក្រុងបាវិត ដែលនៅក្នុងហេតុការណ៍នោះលោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត ត្រូវបានកម្មករ គប់ដុំថ្មំត្រូវចំទ្រូង និងក ដែលធ្វើឲ្យលោកទ្រាំមិនបាន ក៏ដកកាំភ្លើងបាញ់ បណ្ដាលឲ្យកម្មការីនី ៣នាក់រងរបួសធ្ងន់។

សហជីព​កម្មករ​អន្តរជាតិ​ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា​នាំ​ខ្លួន​ឈូក ​បណ្ឌិត​ទៅ​កាត់​ទោស

លោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត អតីត​អភិបាល​ក្រុង​បាវិត​ ជាប់​សង្ស័យ​ថា​បាន​បាញ់​កម្មករ​របួស

​ថ្ងៃ ព្រហស្បតិ៍ 26 មេសា 2012
ដោយ លី ម៉េងហួរ
Radio France Internationale
​
សហព័ន្ធ​​សហជីព​​អន្តរជាតិ​ ជំរុញ​​ឲ្យ​​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​​កម្ពុជា​នាំ​​ខ្លួន​​ជន​ល្មើស​​លោក​ ឈូក ​បណ្ឌិត​ អតីត​​អភិបាល​ក្រុង​​បាវិត​ដែល​​​បាន​​បាញ់​​កម្មការិនី​​រោងចក្រ​​កាត់​ដេរ​​៣​នាក់​ឲ្យ​​របួស​ធ្ងន់​កាលពី​​ខែ​​កុម្ភៈ​​យក​​មក​​កាត់​ទោស​។​ តាម​​​សហជីព​​កម្មករ​​អន្តរជាតិ​គ្មាន​​អំពើ​​ហិង្សា​​ណា​មួយ​ ត្រូវ​​យក​មក​ប្រើ​នៅ​ក្នុង​​វិស័យ​​ទំនាក់​ទំនង​​ឧស្សាហកម្ម​​កាត់ដេរ​​ឡើយ​។​ មួយ​វិញ​ទៀត​ សកម្ម​ភាព​​​ប្រឆាំង​​នឹង​​កម្មករ​​យ៉ាង​​នេះ​វា​​មិន​​គ្រាន់តែ​​ជា​​ទង្វើ​​ឧក្រិដ្ឋកម្ម​​ដ៏​​គួរ​​ភ័យខ្លាច​​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​​ទេតែ​​វា​​ក៏​​ជា​​សកម្មភាព​​រំលោភ​​យ៉ាង​​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ​​ទៅ​​លើ​​អនុសញ្ញា​នៃ​​អង្គការ​​ពលកម្ម​​អន្តរជាតិ​​ផង​​ដែរ​។​​

​សហព័ន្ធ​សហជីព​អន្តរជាតិ ( International Trade Union Confederation ) ដែល​មាន​ទីស្នាក់កា​រ​កណ្តាល នៅ​ប្រទេស​សឹង្ហ​បុរី បាន​ជំរុញ​អោយ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា នាំ​ខ្លួន​ជនល្មើស ជា​អតីត​អភិបាលក្រុង​បាវិត លោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត ដែល​បាន​បាញ់​ស្ត្រី​កម្មករ​រោងចក្រ​កាត់ដេរ ឲ្យ​របួស ស្ទែរ​តែ​ស្លាប់ មក​កាត់ទោស​។


​ការជំរុញ​ដូច្នេះ បាន​ធ្វើឡើង​តាមរយៈ​លិខិត​មួយច្បាប់ ដាក់​ទៅ​កាន់​លោក វង សូ​ត រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​​ការងារនិង​បណ្តុះបណ្តាល​វិជ្ជាជីវៈ កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​២៣​មេសា​។

ITUC's letter to Vong Soth regarding Chhouk Bandit's shooting in Bavet

Summons still pending in PUMA shooting

Nuth Sakhoan pictured in hospital after being injured by a bullet. Photo Supplied

Tuesday, 24 April 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

A Svay Rieng provincial prosecutor said yesterday that a summons for triple-shooting suspect and former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith had been issued, though the case’s investigating judge said he has made no such move.

Hing Bunchea, chief Svay Rieng prosecutor, said a summons had been issued for Chhouk Bandith, who was charged last week with causing unintentional injury after allegedly shooting three women, one through the chest, at a protest on February 20.

“I don’t know for sure when he will be ordered to come to clarify at the court. I think you might ask to the investigating judge.”

Declaratio​n of SRP-France regarding the charge against Chhouk Bandit

Union threatens rally over shooting charge

Ath Thorn, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU). Photo by Pha Lina

Monday, 23 April 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Outrage over the “unintentional injury” charge handed to a former town governor in Svay Rieng province accused of stepping out of his car and shooting three women at a February protest has sparked threats of union action.

The Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C.CAWDU) has threatened to protest outside Svay Rieng provincial court this week if the charge against former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith is not upgraded to attempted murder.

On February 20, three women were hospitalised after Chhouk Bandith allegedly drove to a protest of about 6,000 garment workers outside Bavet’s Kaoway Sports factory and shot them.

More than two months later, Chhouk Bandith was charged with causing involuntary bodily harm on Thursday, which the C.CAWDU and rights groups have said is a completely inappropriate response.

Failing justice, protests, violence: Comment

Chhouk Bandit

Monday, 23 April 2012
Rupert Abbott and John Coughlan
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post

This failure to hold the perpetrators of violence accountable is further weakening ordinary Cambodians’ trust in the law-enforcement and justice system – and so the vicious cycle continues, with more protests and more violence.

It was reported in last Friday’s edition of The Phnom Penh Post that Chhouk Bandith – the former governor of Bavet town suspected of shooting workers protesting at the Kaoway Sports Ltd factory on February 20 this year – had been charged with “causing unintentional injuries” (“Shooting ‘unintentional’ ”, April 20).

Three women were injured in this incident; one of them was shot through the chest, and the bullet narrowly missed her heart.

It has taken more than two months since the shootings for the only suspect in the case to be charged, and no arrest has been made.

Considering the circumstances, the charge seems lenient and the potential prison sentence of six months to two years inadequate.

CPP impunity in Bavet is "INTENTIONAL"

Chhouk Bandit

Shooting in Bavet at PUMA supplier ‘unintentional’

May Titthara and David Boyle
Friday, 20 April 2012
The Phnom Penh Post

Chhouk Bandith, the deposed Bavet town governor accused of shooting a woman through the chest and injuring two others during a garment factory protest, was yesterday charged with causing “unintentional injuries”, a court official said.

Pech Chhoeut, director of Svay Rieng provincial court, said the investigating judge had charged Chhouk Bandith over the February shooting at Kaoway Sports factory, a supplier to PUMA, after receiving his case from provincial prosecutor Hing Bun Chea.

“Chhouk Bandith was charged with causing unintentional injuries,” Pech Chhoeut said before declining to say whether an arrest warrant would be issued.

More than 6,000 workers from four factories in the Manhattan special economic zone protested outside the factory on February 20, demanding higher wages and better working conditions.

The protest descended into chaos when a man, alleged to be Chhouk Bandith, opened fire on the crowd, shooting Buot Chenda, 21, in the chest and injuring Keo Near, 18, and Nuth Sakhorn, 23.

Bavet governor did it, shooting victim says

Chhouk Bandit

Tuesday, 10 April 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

One of three women shot during a protest outside the Kaoway Sports factory in Svay Rieng province’s Bavet town on February 20 accused deposed town governor Chhouk Bandith of the crime yesterday, but told a judge she hadn’t been sure until seeing a media report about the case.

Appearing in the provincial court yesterday, Nuth Sakhorn, 23, said she had lost consciousness after being shot during the 6,000-worker protest at the factory, which supplies global sports brand PUMA.

“I told the judge that I knew it was Chhouk Bandith who shot the three of us following a media report,” she said. “At the time, we were all unconscious.”

កម្មការិនី​ទី៣ ដែល​ប្តឹង​អតីត​អភិបាលក្រុង​បាវិត​ចូលបំភ្លឺ​តុលាការ

កម្មការិនី ប៊ុត ចិន្តា ដែល​រងរបួស​ពី​ការបាញ់​នៅ​បាវិត​។ រូបថត វីរៈ ម៉ៃ

Monday, 09 April 2012 12:01
ម៉ៃ ទិត្យថារ៉ា
The Phnom Penh Post

លោក អំ សំអាត បញ្ជាក់​ថា ៖​«​ករណី​នេះ បាន​បង្ហាញ​ថា តុលាការ​នៅក្រោម​ឥទ្ធិពល​នយោបាយ​»​។

ស្វាយរៀងៈ កម្មករ​ទីបី​ដែល​សន្លប់​ក្នុង​អំឡុង​ពេល​កំពុងរង់ចាំ​ធ្វើការ​បំភ្លឺ​តុលាការ​ពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹង​ករណី​អតីត​អភិបាល​ក្រុងបាវិត លោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត ដែលបាន​បាញ់​កម្មករ​ឲ្យរបួស​ក្នុង​អំឡុង​ការតវ៉ា​ទាមទារ​អត្ថប្រយោជន៍ និង​លក្ខខណ្ឌ​ការងារ​ឲ្យ​ប្រសើរ​ឡើង​នឹង​មកធ្វើការ​បំភ្លឺ​នៅថ្ងៃចន្ទ​នេះ​។

អ្នកស្រី សេរី បុត្រ​ចរិយា មេធាវី​ការពារ​ជនរងគ្រោះ​មក​ពី​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​អប់រំច្បាប់​សម្រាប់​សហគមន៍ បានថ្លែង​ឲ្យដឹង​ថា តុលាការ​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង​បាន​កោះហៅ​កូនក្តី​របស់​អ្នកស្រី មកធ្វើការ​បំភ្លឺ​នៅខែ​មេសា ពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹង​ករណី​បណ្តឹង​លើអភិបាល​ក្រុងបាវិត លោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត ដែលបាន​បាញ់ទៅលើ​នាង​។ លោកស្រី​បានបន្ថែមថា៖ «​កាលពី​ពេលមុន កូនក្តី​របស់​ខ្ញុំ​មាន​បញ្ហា​សុខភាព ដូច្នេះ តុលាការ​កោះហៅ​នាងឲ្យមក​បំភ្លឺ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ស្អែក​(ចន្ទ)នេះ វិញ​»។

បណ្ឌិត ជាខ្មែរ ប្រែថា Bandit (ចោរ) ជាអង្គ្ឡេស

សំណុំ​រឿង​ឈូក បណ្ឌិត​នៅ​តែ​មិន​ទាន់​មាន​ចំណាត់​ការ​ច្បាស់​លាស់

Monday, 09 April 2012
តុង សុប្រាជ្ញ
The Phnom Penh Post

ការ​ដាក់​ឈ្មោះ​កូន​ម្នាក់ៗ​ គឺ​អាស្រ័យ​ទៅ​នឹង​ជំនឿ សាសនា ភាសា​ ជន​ជាតិ ខ្លះ​ទៅ​តាម​ហុងស៊ុយ ហើយ​ខ្លះ​ ក៏​ដាក់​ទៅ​តាម​ចំណង់​ចំណូល​ចិត្ត ​របស់​ឪពុក​ម្តាយ​ ឬ​ក៏​ក្រុម​គ្រួសារ​ស្រឡាញ់​ដាក់​ឈ្មោះ​ឲ្យ​។ មាន​ជំនឿ​ថា ​ឈ្មោះ​គឺជា​ការ​កំណត់​វាសនា​ឲ្យ​កូន​ ដែល​ជា​ទូទៅ​ ឪពុក​ម្តាយ ខិតខំ​ស្វែងរក​បើក​គម្ពីរ វច្ចនានុក្រម​ ឬ​រក​នឹក​ដាក់​ឈ្មោះ​កូន​ឲ្យ​សម​ប្រកប ​ដោយ​មិន​គិត​ពី​ពណ៌​សម្បុរ​ ឬ​ក៏​ស្អាត​ មិន​ស្អាត​ទេ ​ដូច​ជា ៖ ឈ្មោះ​ បុប្ផា​ គន្ធា ហ្គេច​ បណ្ឌិត​ ពុទ្ធិ​ ឧត្តម​ គិរី​...​ជាដើម​។ តែ​ជាក់​ស្តែង​ ឈ្មោះ​ មិន​សុទ្ធ​តែ​សម​ប្រកប​ ទៅ​តាម​គន្លង​ធម៌​ ដូច​ការ​រំពឹង​ទុក ​របស់​ឪពុក​ម្តាយ​នោះ​ទេ​ មាន​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​ឈ្មោះ​សុទ្ធ​តែ​បណ្ឌិត​ ដែល​ជា​ពាក្យ​មួយ ​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​ឲ្យ​តម្លៃ​ និង​ជា​ទីពេញ​និយម​សព្វ​ថ្ងៃ​នេះ​ផង​ តែ​បែរ​ក្លាយ​ទៅ​ជា​ជាប់​កុន ក្នុង​រឿង​មនុស្ស​ឃាត​ ដោយ​ចេតនា​ទៅ​វិញ​។ តើ​ហេតុ​អ្វី បាន​បណ្ឌិត​នេះ​ ក្លាយ​ទៅ​ជា​ដូច្នេះ​?​ ហើយ​សម្អាង​លើ​ច្បាប់​អ្វី ដែល​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ជន​ជាប់​សង្ស័យ​ បណ្ឌិត​នេះ ត្រូវ​គេ​ឲ្យ​នៅ​ក្រៅ​ឃុំ​?​ ឬ​ក៏​មាន​យ័ន្ត​អ្នក​ធំ​នៅ​ពី​ក្រោយ​ខ្នង​?​ បើ​ដូច្នេះ តើ​ឯណា​ទៅ​ នីតិរដ្ឋ​នៅ​ស្រុក​ខ្មែរ​?

បើ​ទោះ​បី​ជា​រាជ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ រវល់​រឿង​រៀបចំ​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​កំពូល​អាស៊ាន​ លើក​ទី ​២០ កាល​ពី​សប្តាហ៍​មុន​នេះ​ក៏​ដោយ​ តែ​ក៏​ករណី​ឈូក បណ្ឌិត ​ដែល​បាន​បាញ់​កម្មករ​ឲ្យ​រង​របួស​ជា​ទម្ងន់​ ២ នាក់​ និង​ស្រាល​ម្នាក់​ជាង​ ១​ ខែ​កន្លង​ទៅ​នេះ នៅ​ក្រុង​បាវិត ដែល​ជា​រឿង​របស់​តុលាការ​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង ដែល​ត្រូវ​តែ​មាន​ចំណាត់​ការ​សំណុំ​រឿង​បទ​ល្មើស​ជាក់ស្តែង​នេះ ហើយ​រឿង​តុលាការ​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​ មិន​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ ទៅ​នឹង​ប្រជុំ​អាស៊ាន​ទេ ហេតុ​អ្វី​បាន​ជា​ស្ងាត់​ជ្រាប ដូច​ចោរ​លួច​សេះ​អ៊ីចឹង?

ចំពោះ​រឿង​ដំរី​ស្លាប់​មួយ​ទាំង​មូល​នេះ អាច​យក​ចង្អេរ​មក​បាំង​ជិត​ដែរ​ឬ​ទេ? បើ​ទោះ​បីជា​មាន​ការ​ជួយ​អន្តរាគមន៍​ពី​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល ​និង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ធំៗ ល្បី​ៗ​មួយ​ចំនួន​ដូចជា​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ភូម៉ា (PUMA) រឿង​មិន​ចំណាត់ការ​លើ​ករណី បណ្ឌិត​តែ​ឈ្មោះ​នេះ​ក្តី ក៏​ករណី​នេះ ​នៅ​តែ​ជាប់​គាំង​ដដែល​។ ជា​លទ្ធផល បាន​ត្រឹម​តែ​ដក​តំណែង​ជន​ជាប់​ចោទ​ ឈូក​ បណ្ឌិត​ពី​ចៅ​ហ្វាយ​ក្រុង​បាវិត​នេះ​ទេ​ ដោយ​លោក​ នាយក​រដ្ឋ​មន្រ្តី​ ធ្វើ​អ្វី​បណ្ឌិត​នេះ​មិន​កើត​ទេ។

The shooter is still not arrested ... We are still watching!

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We are still watching!

Court Urged to Arrest Ex-Governor

Shooting victim Bun Chenda is treated at a hospital near Bavet city, Mar. 1, 2012. (RFA)

Chhouk Bandit

The victims of a shooting incident want the lone suspect arrested and tried.

2012-03-29

Radio Free Asia

A rights group and an opposition lawmaker on Thursday called on a court in southeastern Cambodia to swiftly prosecute a former city governor who is the lone suspect in a shooting incident, as victims of the attack took the stand in court in connection with the case.

Moeun Tola, head of the labor program at the Community Legal Education Center, said the court should immediately arrest and try Chhouk Bandit, the former chief of Bavet city in Svay Rieng province, for his suspected role in the incident, which left three women injured as they took part in a factory strike last month.

Until the accused is charged and tried, “we can’t say justice has prevailed for the victims yet,” Moeun Tola said after the court heard testimony from two of the three victims. One of the victims was unable to attend the hearing, as part of a court investigation process, due to lingering injuries sustained during the shooting.

Svay Rieng shooting victims get their say [-IMPUNITY! IMPUNITY! IMPUNITY!]

Chhouk Bandit

Thursday, 29 March 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

The three young women wounded in last month’s factory shooting in Svay Rieng province will meet with provincial prosecutor Hing Bunchea today to give their account of the February 20 incident that has yet to produce an arrest warrant.

Bun Chinda, 21, Nuth Sokhorn, 23, and Keo Nea, 18, were due in court yesterday, but their meeting was delayed after being told the provincial prosecutor was busy.

“I was busy at a drug congress so … they agreed to come on Thursday,” Hing Bunchea said yesterday. “It is about their complaint against Chhouk Bandith.”

Chhouk Bandith, the former Bavet town governor and sole suspect in the case, was himself questioned about the shooting on Thursday, March 12. Following that meeting, Hing Bunchea told the Post that Chhouk Bandith had “confessed”, though his recounting of events varied in different publications Asked yesterday how or when he planned to take action against Chhouk Bandith, he declined comment.