Slain journalist's mother seeks justice

(Photo: DAP-news)

Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

A journalist murdered in Ratanakkiri last week took a call from his accused killer on the night of his disappearance, his family has claimed in a complaint to the rights group Adhoc.

Ken Sovann, 63, the mother of slain journalist Hang Serei Oudom, whose body was found in his car in O’Chum district last Tuesday, will lodge the same complaint with the provincial court today, asking for US$100,000 compensation and demanding that those responsible, including accomplices, be punished.

“Please find justice for my son,” Sovann said yesterday, adding that she feared for her safety.

តើអាចមានផ្សែងគ្មានភ្លើងដែរឬទេ?តើពូជអាចោរប្រម៉ាត់ប្រម៉ង់ តាមធ្វើបាបកូនខ្មែរទៀតហើយឬអី?

ពលរដ្ឋ​ផ្អើល​ភ័យខ្លាច​រឿង​វះ​យក​ក្រលៀន ដោយសារ​មាន​អ្នក​បំផុស​

ថ្ងៃទី 27 កក្កដា 2012 | ដោយ: បាយ័ន​
Cambodia Express News

​ឧត្ដរមានជ័យ: ប៉ុន្មាន​សប្ដាហ៍​កន្លងមក​នេះ នៅតាម​បណ្ដា​ស្រុក​-​ក្រុង ក្នុងខេត្ដ​ឧត្ដរមានជ័យ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ស្ទើរ​ទាំងអស់​មានការ​ភ្ញាក់ផ្អើល និង​និយាយ​តៗ​គ្នា​ថា មាន​ស្ដ្រី​មួយចំនួន​រួចហើយ​ដែល​បាន​ត្រូវបាន​គេ​សម្លាប់ ហើយ​វះ​យក​ក្រលៀន​។ ករណីនេះ​ត្រូវបាន​លោកស្នងការ​នគរបាល​ខេត្ដ​ឧត្ដរមានជ័យ បដិសេធថា មិនមាន​រឿងនេះ​កើតឡើង​ទេ គឺជា​ពាក្យ​ចចាមអារ៉ាម​។
​ ​
​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​នៅ​សង្កាត់​សំរោង ក្រុង​សំរោង​ប៉ែក​ខាងលើ បាន​និយាយថា មាន​ស្ដ្រី​ចំនួន​ពីរ​នាក់​ត្រូវបាន​គេ​វះ​យក​ក្រលៀន​។ ក្រោយពី​ស្ដ្រី​នោះ​ស្លាប់ ក៏មាន​គេ​បោះ​លុយ​ជាច្រើន​ម៉ឺន​រៀល ទុក​នៅក្បែរ​សាកសព​នោះ​ផងដែរ​។ ប៉ុន្តែ​ពួកគាត់​មិន​បានឃើញ​សាកសព​នោះ​ដោយផ្ទាល់​ភ្នែក​ទេ គឺ​គ្រាន់តែ​និយាយ និង​ដឹងឮ​តៗ​គ្នា​តែប៉ុណ្ណោះ ដោយ​ម្ដងថា​នៅត្រង់​នេះ ម្ដងថា​នៅត្រង់​នោះ​។​

​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ដដែល​បាន​និយាយថា នៅពេល​ទទួលដំណឹង​នេះ​ជា​បន្ដបន្ទាប់ ពួកគាត់​មិន​ហ៊ាន​ដេក​នៅក្រោម​ផ្ទះ ឬ​ខាងក្រៅ​ផ្ទះ​នោះទេ គឺ​នាំ​កូនចៅ​ឡើងទៅ​ដេក​លើផ្ទះ ព្រោះ​ខ្លាច​សុវត្ថិភាព​ផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន ក្រែង​មាន​មនុស្ស​ចូលមក​វះ​ក្រលៀន​ដូចដែល​គេ​និយាយ​។​

Slain activist Chut Wutty's death still a mystery

Slain environmental activist Chut Wutty speaks into a radio on a February visit to Prey Lang forest. Photograph: Mathieu Young/Phnom Penh Post

Friday, 27 July 2012
David Boyle and May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

On Saturday, the family of slain environmental activist Chut Wutty will commemorate the 100 days, or thereabouts, that have passed since his death in a case that remains unresolved even though six eyewitnesses have already been questioned.

The official story is that he was killed by military police officer In Ratana, who was then shot by Ran Borath, a security guard working for the logging firm Timbergreen, which Wutty was investigating, though it took investigators three attempts to settle on that version of events.

Somehow, none of the witnesses who were there at Veal Bei point in Koh Kong province’s Mondul Seima district on April 26 have said they saw the actual killing of Wutty – a divisive, headstrong activist who had many friends – and perhaps just as many enemies.

A masked soldier photographed next to Wutty’s car shortly after he was shot and who rights groups believe might hold the key to finding out what really happened on that day, has still not been called in by investigators.

Koh Kong Court Summons Journalists in Shooting Case

Phorn Bopha and Olesia Plokhii questioned following the shooting of Chut Wutty (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Tuesday, 08 May 2012
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

Two journalists from the Cambodia Daily newspaper have been called to appear in the shooting case of activist Chut Wutty last month.

Chut Wutty had been escorting the two journalists, Cambodian Phorn Bopha and Canadian Olesia Plokhii, to investigate illegal logging in a remote part of the province when he was shot in an argument with military police.

In an account published in the English-language daily, the reporters said they had not witnessed the shooting directly. Authorities are holding one man, Rann Boroth, who they say accidentally killed military policeman In Ratana when he tried to stop him from killing Chut Wutty.

Cambodia Daily editor-in-chief Kevin Doyle declined to comment Tuesday. Rights activists have said the governmental investigative committee did not look deeply into the killing.

Impunity Without Border in the Kingdom of Wonder

"Impunity without border in the kingdom of wonder." - Mu Sochua

The murder that shocked even Cambodia [-Chinese company ordered the murder of Chut Wutty]

THE FIGHT WILL GO ON: A woman holds a photograph of slain environmental activist Chhut Vuthy at his funeral last Monday. PHOTOS: WILL BAXTER/THE PHNOM PENH POST

Chhut Vuthy is harassed and detained by men wearing Royal Cambodian Armed Forces uniforms in Koh Kong province in December, 2011. On April 26, Chhut Vuthy was travelling in the same area with two journalists from ‘The Cambodia Daily’ when he was shot and killed.

Chhut Vuthy speaks to a journalist in the offices of ‘The Phnom Penh Post’ earlier this year.

ANOTHER VICTIM: Chea Vichea, above, was murdered in 2004, sparking outrage further fuelled by the jailing of two men for the crime who many believe are innocent. Cambodian trade unionists, above right, grieved at his funeral in Phnom Penh.

Mourners toss Cambodian riel notes into Chhut Vuthy’s coffin at his funeral last Monday.

The gunning down of environmental activist Chhut Vuthy, suspected to be in the service of business interests, is seen by many as another example of those in power forever silencing a voice of protest

6/05/2012

Luke Hunt

Bangkok Post

Yet Chutt Vuthy's death followed an order from CHC [China Huadian Corporation] - among China's top five energy producers - to stop him from taking unwanted photographs.

In Cambodia, the murder of a high-profile environmentalist has sent shockwaves around a country which has never shaken-off its reputation for violence, corruption and a culture of impunity among the ruling political and moneyed classes.

Click here to read this article...

គេ​ នៅ​តែ​មិន​ជឿ​ របាយការណ៍​ បាញ់​ឈុត វុទ្ធី​

សព​លោកអ៊ិន រតនា និង​ស្នាម​គ្រាប់​កាំ​ភ្លើង​ធ្លុះ​អាវ​។ រូបថត សហ​ការី

Monday, 07 May 2012
ម៉ៃ ទិត្យថារ៉ា
The Phnom Penh Post

កោះកុងៈ គ្រួសារ​លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី​ និង​អង្គ​ការ​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល នៅ​តែ​មិន​ជឿ​ទៅ​លើ​របាយការណ៍​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​ចុង​ក្រោយ របស់​គណៈកម្មការ​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​ ដែល​បង្កើត​ឡើង​ដោយ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ខណៈ​ដែល​ពួក​គេ មាន​ការ​មន្ទិល​សង្ស័យ តាំង​ពី​ដើម​ទីមក ដោយ​សារ​សមត្ថកិច្ច​មូលដ្ឋាន បាន​ឆ្លើយ​ច្របូក​ច្របល់ លើ​ហេតុការណ៍​បាញ់​សម្លាប់​ដ៏​ចម្រូង​ចម្រាស​នេះ​។

សន្តិសុខ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន Timber Green ម្នាក់​ ឈ្មោះ រ៉ាន់ បូរ័ត្ន ត្រូវ​បាន​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​សុក្រ​ពី​បទ​មនុស្ស​ឃាតដោយ​អចេតនា ទាក់ទិន​នឹង​ការ​បាញ់​សម្លាប់ មន្ត្រី​កង​រាជ​អាវុធហត្ថ ឈ្មោះ អ៊ិន រតនា។ នេះ​ជា​លទ្ធផល​នៃ​ការ​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត របស់​គណៈកម្មាការ ដែល​មាន​សមាសភាព​សុទ្ធតែ​ជា​មន្ត្រី​របស់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ដែល​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​ចាត់​ទុក​ថា មិន​ឯករាជ្យ។

លទ្ធផល​នេះ ត្រូវ​បាន​បញ្ចេញ​ បន្ទាប់​ពី​ការ​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​រយៈ​ពេល ៣ ថ្ងៃ​ ក្រោយ​ពី​គណៈកម្មការ​ចម្រុះ​​នេះ ត្រូវ​បាន​បង្កើត​ឡើង​ ដោយ​លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន។

Chut Wutty investigation wraps following shooting charge [... in another travesty of justice]

Slain environmental activist Chut Wutty speaks to reporters in Phnom Penh earlier this year. Photograph: Phnom Penh Post/Hong Menea

Monday, 07 May 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

An unintentional murder charge handed to security guard Ran Boroth on Friday for allegedly killing military police officer In Rattana has left rights groups asking why officials initially claimed the deceased man had committed suicide.

Only three days after it was established by Prime Minister Hun Sen, a joint investigative committee alleged on Friday that environmental activist Chut Wutty had been shot by In Rattana, who had in turn been accidentally shot when Ran Boroth attempted to disarm him.

But on April 27, a report from the Koh Kong provincial military police found that In Rattana had allegedly turned his own weapon on himself after shooting Chut Wutty – the late director of the Natural Resource Protection Group.

Tith Sothea, deputy director of the Council of Ministers Press and Quick Reaction Unit and a member of the joint committee, said yesterday that their investigations were now closed into the matter.

“We don’t care about some NGOs who criticise us. What our committee has done is get the evidence that is true. Now we can provide the justice to the victim’s family,” (sic! sic! sic!) he said.

វិភាគ៖​ អ្នកកាន់​កាំភ្លើង​អាកា ​៤៧ អាច​រាហ៏​កៃ​ត្រូវ​ខ្លួន​ឯងទេ ​បើ​មាន​ការ​ប្រតាយ​ប្រតប់?​​

In Ratana's body

ថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ទី07 ឧសភា ឆ្នាំ2012
​ដោយ អ៊ឹង ប៊ុនថន
Voice of Democracy

១. តើរក​ឃើញ​ក្បាល​គ្រាប់​ដែលបា​ញ់​នោះ​ទេ?​ ហើយ​បើ​ឃើញ​ទាំង​ ៤គ្រាប់​ តើ​បាន​ធ្វើ​កោសល្យ​​វិច័យ​ ថា​ចេញ​ពីកាំ​ភ្លើង​តែមួយ​ដែរ​ឬ​ទេ? ឬចេញពី​កាណុង​កាំភ្លើង​ផ្សេង​គ្នា?​

២. ស្នាម​រំសេវរោល​ ដែល​បង្ហាញ​ក្នុ​ងរូប​ថតសព​​ រតនា​ ដូច​ជា​ចុង​កាណុង​នៅ​ជិត​ណាស់​ ព្រោះ​​រោល​​តែ​មួយ​ដុំមុខ​របួស។​

៣. ការ​ដណ្តើម​ដូច​ជា​មិនសម ​ព្រោះ​មនុស្ស​យើង​អាច​កាន់​ស្នាប់​ដៃកាំ​ភ្លើង​ជាប់ជាង​​កាន់​​ចុង​កាណុង ​ម៉េច​បែរ​ជា​ដណ្តើម​ខាង​គល់​វិញ?​

បន្ទាប់​​ពីមាន​ការ​​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​រួច​ ​គណៈ​​កម្ម​​ការ​​​ស៊ើប​​​អង្កេត​របស់​​រដ្ឋាភិ​បាល​​ អះអាង​ថា ​ការ​​​បាញ់​​សម្លាប់​​សកម្ម​ជន​ការពារព្រៃ​ឈើ ​លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី និង​ការ​ស្លាប់​​របស់​​មន្រ្តី​កង​​រាជ​អាវុធ​​​ម្នាក់​ឈ្មោះ​ អ៊ិន រតនា ​គឺ​ជា​រឿង​​ចៃដន្យ​ និង​​ជា​រឿង​​ជម្លោះ​​បុគ្គល​។​

សមា​ជិក​គណៈ​កម្មការ​​ស៊ើប​​អង្កេត ​និង​​​​ជា​​​អនុ​​ប្រធាន​​​អង្គ​​ភាព​​​ព័ត៌​​មាន ​និ​ង​​ប្រតិ​​កម្ម​​​​រហ័ស​ នៃ​​ទីស្តី​​ការ​​គណៈ​​រដ្ឋ​មន្រ្តី​ ​លោក ទិត សុធា អះ​អាងថា៖ ​ “ហេតុ​ផល​ពិ​ត​​បាន​​បញ្ជាក់​​ហើយ​​ថា ​ឈ្មោះ​ ឈុត វុទ្ធី ​ហ្នឹង​​ត្រូ​វ​បាន​​ស្លាប់​ ដោយ​​ឈ្មោះ​ អ៊ិន រតនា បាញ់​​រថយន្ត ​ហើយ​​ក៏​ផ្លាត​ត្រូវ​។ ​ដោយ​​ឡែក​ក​រណី​​ស្លាប់ ​របស់ អ៊ិន រតនា ត្រូវ​​បាន​​កើត​​ដោយ​​ស្ទុះ​​ទៅ​​ទាញ​ កញ្ឆក់​​កាំភ្លើង​​កុំ​​ឲ្យ​​ផ្ទុះ​​ត​ទៅ​​ទៀត​​ហ្នឹង ​ដោយ​​ឈ្មោះ​ រ៉ាន់ បូរ័ត្ន ​ហ្នឹង”។

បន្ទាប់​ពី​រដ្ឋា​ភិបាលបញ្ចេញ​លទ្ធផល​នេះ ​មានប្រតិ​កម្ម​​ជា​ច្រើន​​បាន​រិះគន់​ និង​​ធ្វើ​ការ​​វិភាគ​​ ទៅ​តាម​​ការ​​យល់​​ឃើញ​របស់​​ពួក​គេ​ទាំង​នៅ​ក្នុង​សារ​ព័ត៌មាន​ និង​​បណ្តាញ​​ទាក់​​ទង​សង្គម​​។​ ​

នាយក​​ប្រតិបត្តិ​​នៃ​អង្គការ​ក្រុម​អ្នក​​ច្បាប់​​ការពារ​​សិទ្ធិ​កម្ពុជា ​លោក​មេធាវី ​សុក សំអឿន បាន​​សរសេរ​នៅ​លើ​​បណ្តាញ​​ទាក់​ទង​សង្គម ​ឬ​ហៅថា​ facebook ​របស់​លោ​កថា ​ដណ្តើម​កាំភ្លើង​ រាហ៍​កៃ​​ដល់​ទៅ ២គ្រាប់ ត្រូ​វដើម​ទ្រូង ​ដូច​ជា​មិន​ស​មទេ​ដឹង។​ លោក​បន្ត​ថា​ បើ​​បញ្ឆិត​​ពីក្រោម​​ឡើង​លើ​ អាច​​សមខ្លះ!​ ហើយ​បើជិត​​ក៏គួរ​តែ​​ពិនិត្យ​ថា​មានស្នា​ម​រំសេវ​រោល​ដែ​រ​ ឬ​អត់​ផង​។​ លោក​​​មេធាវី​ដដែល​ និង​ជា​​អតីត​ប៉ូលីស​​សម័យ​អ៊ុន​តាក់ ​រូប​នេះ​សរសេរទៀ​ត​ថា​ អ្នក​ដែល​គេ​​ចេះ​​វិភា​គ ​និង​ធ្លាប់​មាន​បទ​ពិសោធន៍​ គេ​នឹង​មិ​នជឿទេ​។​

Guard charged in case of slain Cambodian activist

THE FIGHT WILL GO ON: A woman holds a photograph of slain environmental activist Chhut Vuthy at his funeral last Monday. PHOTOS: WILL BAXTER/THE PHNOM PENH POST

May 07, 2012

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A private security guard is accused of murdering a military policeman who had just fatally shot a prominent environmentalist in Cambodia, a human rights worker said Friday.

Military policeman In Ratana shot and killed Chut Wutty on April 26 during a confrontation near a logging camp that the activist was investigating. The policeman was then shot himself.

Logging company security guard Ran Boroth faces charges of “unintentional murder” in the death of the policeman, said In Kong Chet of the rights group Licadho.

Ran Boroth, 26, appeared before the Koh Kong provincial court Friday. The charge said he tried to grab In Ratana’s gun away from him when it went off, killing him.

A Killing Reverberates from a Cambodian Forest

Chut Wutty was killed last month in a Cambodian forest that he was trying to protect from illegal logging. (CCHR)

May 6, 2012
By MARK MCDONALD
International Herald Tribunal (Paris, France)

The well-known Cambodian rights group Licadho says private logging and agricultural firms, mainly from Cambodia, Vietnam and Australia, now control nearly 10 million acres of land in Cambodia — about 22 percent of the country’s total land area.

HONG KONG — In another time, in a less connected era, if a lone protester had been murdered in a remote forest somewhere in Asia, it would have gone largely unnoticed and unremarked. A small voice is quieted, and the larger world moves on.

But for the past week in Southeast Asia, just such a killing has caused deep anger and outrage, along with a call for justice by forest-dwelling Cambodians, regional conservation groups and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Chut Wutty, 48, a wiry fellow with skin the color of polished mahogany, was shot and killed on April 26 during a confrontation with uniformed Cambodian soldiers and military police officers.

Mr. Chut Wutty had been escorting two Cambodia Daily journalists through a forest in the Cardamom Mountains in north-central Cambodia. The forest, called Prey Lang, one of the last remaining primordial lowland forests in the world, was the focus of Mr. Chut Watty’s conservation efforts through his meagerly funded Natural Resource Protection Group.

រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ព្រម​បង្កើត​ក្រុម​ស៊ើប​អង្កេតការ​សម្លាប់​វីរជន​ការពារ​ព្រៃឈើ

 ភរិយា និង​កូន​ៗ​របស់​លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី​ នៅ​មុន​ពេល​ដង្ហែសព​​យក​ទៅ​បញ្ចុះ​ កាល​ពី​ម្សិល​មិញ​​​។ រូបថត ហេង ជីវ័ន

ក្បួនដង្ហែសព ទៅ​កាន់​ទី​បញ្ចុះ​សព ក្នុង​ឃុំ វិហារ​សួគ៌។ រូបថត ហេង ជីវ័ន

ក្បួនដង្ហែសព លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី​ ​ពី​ម្សិល​មិញ។ រូបថត ហេង ជីវ័ន

កូន​ប្រុស​លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី​ កាន់​ជើង​ធូប​ នៅ​ក្បែរ​រណ្តៅ​សព​។ រូបថត ជីវ័ន

 សកម្ម​ជន​ព្រះ​សង្ឃ លួន សុវ៉ាត ក្នុង​ពិធី​ដង្ហែសព​ម្សិល​មិញ​។ រូបថត ជីវ័ន

 លោក​កឹម សុខា ប្រធាន​បក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​​ចូល​រួម​​ដង្ហែសព។​​​

 អ្នក​ចូល​រួម រោយ​ដី​លើ​មឈូស​សព​លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី​ ដែល​ដាក់​ក្នុង​រណ្តៅ​​​។ រូបថត ហេង ជីវ័ន

អ្នក​ចូល​រួម​កាន់​រូប​​ថត​លោក​ ឈុត វុទ្ធី​​ ទ្រហោ​យំ​​​។ រូបថត ជីវ័ន

Tuesday, 01 May 2012
ម៉ៃ ទិត្យថារ៉ា និង David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

អ្នក​ចូល​រួម​ បាន​សម្តែង​នូវ​ការ​សោក​សៅ និង​ស្តាយ​ស្រណោះ​យ៉ាង​ខ្លាំង ចំពោះ​ការ​ឃ្លាត​ចាក​ឆ្ងាយ​ជា​រៀង​រហូត របស់​លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី ដែល​អ្នក​ទាំងនោះបាន​អធិប្បាយ​ថា ជា​វីរជន​ការ​ពារ​បរិស្ថាន​ដ៏​ល្បីល្បាញ​ នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ដែល​កំពុង​តែ​ទទួល​រង​នូវ​ការ​បំផ្លិច​បំផ្លាញ​យ៉ាង​ខ្លាំង ពី​សំណាក់​ក្រុមហ៊ុន ឃុប​ឃិត​ជា​មួយ​មន្ត្រី​ខិល​ខូច​មួយ​ចំនួន​

ភ្នំពេញៈ គណៈ​កម្មការ​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​រួម​គ្នា​មួយ​នឹង​ត្រូវ​បង្កើត​ឡើង​ដើម្បី​ពិនិត្យ ​មើល​ឡើង​វិញ​ ចំពោះ​ការ​បាញ់​សម្លាប់​ លោក​ឈុត វុទ្ធី ដែល​ជា​សកម្មជន​ការពារ​ព្រៃ​ឈើ​ដ៏​ល្បីល្បាញ និង​មន្ត្រី​កង​រាជ​អាវុធ​ហត្ថ​ម្នាក់​ឈ្មោះ អ៊ិន រតនា នៅ​ខេត្ត​កោះកុង​។ នេះ​បើ​យោង​តាម​ការ​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ ពី​សំណាក់​ថ្នាក់​ដឹក​នាំ​កង​កម្លាំង​ប្រដាប់​អាវុធ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ចន្ទ​ម្សិលមិញ។

សម្ពាធ​ពី​គ្រួសារ​ជន​រងគ្រោះ និង​ក្រុម​អង្គការ​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​ ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​ឯករាជ្យ​ទៅ​លើ​ការ​បាញ់​សម្លាប់​បុរស​ទាំង​ ពីរ​រូប​នេះ បាន​កើន​ឡើង ក្រោយ​ពី​មាន​ការ​ពន្យល់​មិន​គួរ​ឲ្យ​ជឿ និង​គួរ​ឲ្យ​ងឿង​ឆ្ងល់​ជា​ច្រើន​ពី​សំណាក់​មន្ត្រី​កង​រាជ​អាវុធ​ហត្ថ​មក។

Illegal logging and the murder of activist Chut Wutty - VOA Khmer Report

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJejSD7cg9E

Family, Activists Vow To Continue Work of Slain Conservationist

Chut Wutty, a prominent Cambodian anti-logging activist who helped expose a secretive state sell-off of national parks was fatally shot on April 25, 2012 in a remote southwestern province, FILE February 21, 2012. (Photo: Reuters)

Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Reporters, VOA Khmer | Kandal province and Washington

“Cambodia’s reputation in the West is already rather poor, and this just adds to it.”

Family members and supporters of Chut Wutty, the conservationist who was shot dead in a remote region of Koh Kong province last week, say they will continue his work and seek to protect what remains of Cambodia’s dwindling forests.

The shooting, which also saw the death of a military police officer, has underscored the dangerous work of activists in the arena of illegal logging and deforestation. And even though the government has put together a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding it, critics say little else is likely to be done.

Chut Wutty was buried on Monday in Kandal province. His wife, Sam Chanthy, said she was happy that “his death was for the sake of the nation.”

“I want my children to be trained to work like their father,” she said, weeping before his coffin. “He did not sell national territory. He just protected the forest for the people in the country and around the world.”

បុណ្យ​បញ្ចុះ​សព​លោក​ឈុត​វុទ្ធី - Chut Wutty's Funeral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7imLD6mp1g

“Just kill them both”: Eyewitness account of the murder of Chut Wutty

28 April 2012
By Sok Pheakdey
Cambodia Express News
Translated from Khmer by OssPrey OssDey

The Cambodia Daily (CD) published an article titled “In Cardamom Mountains, Two Deaths Recounted” in its Saturday-Sunday 28-29 April 2012’s edition. In it, the CD provided a lengthy account of the event that led to the murder of Chut Wutty, President of the Natural Resource Protection Group, and In Ratana, a military police officer, in the afternoon of 26 April 2012 in Phnom Kravanh (Cardamom Mountains), Koh Kong province.

Based on this article, two CD women reporters – 27-year-old Phorn Bopha and 27-year-old Canadian [Olesia] Plokhii – were traveling with Chut Wutty in his old burgundy Toyota Land Cruiser from Pursat to Koh Kong province along the Phnom Kravanh mountain range.

When they arrived at the location of the incident, next to huts close to a road paved with gravel, Chut Wutty and the two reporters got out of the car to take photos of yellow vine [used in traditional medicine to treat stomach ailments] piled next to a hut. At that time, a man wearing a black T-shirt and blue short came to tell him to stop taking pictures and to leave the area.

As the situation became tense, the two CD reporters who were interviewing the villagers about yellow wine decided to return to Chut Wutty’s vehicle parked along the road. When they arrived at the car, Chut Wutty was talking with a soldier dressed in beige desert military uniform of the type used by US soldiers. During that time, a man dressed in civilian was also seen standing with Chut Wutty.

The uniformed soldier, who did not tell about his identification, told Chut Wutty and the two CD reporters not to leave area until they receive the authorization from his superiors. However, the soldier did not say who his superiors are, nor when they will arrive there.

The soldier prevented Chut Vutty from entering the car even after the two CD reporters pleaded with him to allow them and Chut Wutty to leave the area.

[The Cambodia Daily also reported physical stand-off between Chut Wutty and the soldier.]

Statement from Chea Vichea's wife regarding the murder of Chut Wutty

Rights Groups Demand Investigation into Cambodian Activist's Death

28 April 2012
By Mu Sochua

The cold blooded assassination of Chut Wutty is a tragedy and totally deja vu - a repeat of the cold blooded murder of Chea Vichea on 22 January, 2004

Like Chea Vichea, Chut Wutty had a mission. The two men knew the forces they were facing. They were fearless, they looked straight into the eyes of those who wanted them dead.

They both received open threats and knew they would be killed.

They walked tall. Their interests go beyond saving one life.

The government went after them. The government never did much to prosecute those who wanted them dead.

Who killed Chea Vichea?

The people know the answer but the government is still "investigating". Chea Vichea's brother and the people of Cambodia want Chea Vichea to be recognized as a national hero. That would require a royal decree. The people of Cambodia are still waiting.

 

Who killed Chut Wutty?

The least the government can do is to hand over the investigation to an independent team. It starts with the protection of the key witnesses who were in the car with Chut Wutty when he was killed. It also starts with the doctor who conducted the autopsy. What kind of bullet-it hit the knee and traveled up to the stomach. An expert is needed.

The military police who killed Chut Wutty was also killed. How? Why?

Chut Wutty slain: Another chapter in bloody history

Chut Wutty (left), the late director of the Natural Resource Protection Group, is harassed by RCAF soldiers while travelling with two journalists from the Post in Koh Kong province, in December last year. Photo by Will Baxter

Friday, 27 April 2012
David Boyle and Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

“Chut Wutty’s heart is gone, but thousands of Chut Wutty hearts still survive. We are not afraid of the person who killed Chut Wutty for trying to stop illegal loggers; we have never been afraid.”

“Always bear in mind that we are all living in the global technology, so once a single bullet is fired in an unlawful manner, it is reported worldwide through electronic media.” - Ek Tha, PQRU mouthpiece

With his slaying yesterday in the jungles of Koh Kong province, Chut Wutty becomes one of the highest-profile members yet on a dark list of Cambodian activists who have been killed for making a stand against greed and corruption.

Although the details of his death remain unclear, rights groups are already raising the alarm that yesterday’s shooting is a disturbing example of the violent intimidation routinely used against activists in Cambodia.

Sok Sam Oeun, chairman of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, said yesterday that while such violence had been predictable at conservation demonstrations, the shooting was unprecedented.

“Powerful people try to use the courts all the time, but now they use force. The situation has become more serious than ever before,” he said. “Look at this story – and look at who will benefit from this killing.”

Top Cambodian activist dead after police shoot-out

By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH, April 26 (Reuters) - A prominent Cambodian anti-logging activist who helped expose a secretive state sell-off of national parks was fatally shot on Wednesday in a remote southwestern province, said police.

Chut Wutty, director of the Phnom Penh-based environmental watchdog Natural Resource Protection Group, died after military police opened fire near a Chinese-built hydroelectric dam in Koh Kong, said Colonel Kheng Tito, a spokesman for the National Military Police.

A military police officer was also killed, he said, adding that Chut Wutty was armed.(sic!)

"We are investigating the incident so we don't have much detailed information," he said. "All we know is that our military policeman was doing his duty and encountered this person and there was a gunfire."

"Both sides were injured and later died in hospital," he said.

Military police detained two journalists from the Cambodian Daily who had been travelling with Chut Wutty, according to Kevin Doyle, the newspaper's editor in chief, who called for the safe return of Cambodian reporter Phorn Bopha and Ukrainian Olesia Plokhii.

Director of the Natural Resource Protection Group slain in Koh Kong

26 April 2012
By Kher Sonorng
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Chut Wutty, the director of the Natural Resource Protection Group, and a military police officer were murdered on 26 April 2012 near an area slated for the construction of Chinese dam in Thmor Bang district, Koh Kong province.

Government officials have not provide the motive of the murder yet. However, unofficial source indicated that the murder was due illegal logging in Thmor Bang district.

Thong Narong, the commander of the Koh Kong province military police unit, said that his working group is investigating this case and he added that two people were slain. One of them is forest protection activist and the other a military police officer. He said that his working group is looking for identification of the two victims.

Unofficial source from Koh Kong confirmed that Chut Wutty and the military police office were shot and killed and two reporters from the Cambodia Daily disappeared from the incident location.