SRP calls on the ruling party to stop playing its “dirty trick” against the opposition

Click on the above SRP communiqué to zoom in

18 June 2008
By Ros Dina
Ka-set
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the original article in French
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

In a communiqué released on Wednesday 18 June, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) calls on the CPP and its vice-president, Prime minister Hun Sen, to end the “dirty trick” they have initiated to destabilize the main opposition party in Cambodia. The SRP denounced that these treacheries threaten and would prevent the holding of a free, fair and equitable election on 27 July.

The SRP also referred to the public speech given by Hun Sen on 15 June, in which he asked the ministry of Defense to investigate on alleged involvement of the SRP in an attack on Hun Sen in Siem Reap in 1998, as well as the alleged SRP ties to the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, a movement which tried to topple the government in 2000 by attacking several government buildings. These alleged accusations were brought up by two former SRP party members, Hun Sen claimed.

The SRP provided information on the past of the two men who brought the charges against the SRP. The SRP stressed that the pair were kicked out of the party several years ago because of their behaviors which led to their altercation with the law. The SRP also indicated that both men were jailed for several months in the past, and that they are currently being manipulated by the CPP to threaten the SRP.

“The culture of violence does not exist in the SRP,” the communiqué insists before indicating that the latest events were repeated acts from the ruling party to try “to destroy the SRP’s popularity,” after its attempts to “buy out” some of the SRP activists.

Defector Sok Pheng’s wife political buyout attempt led to false charges and arrest against SRP activisits

SRP officials accused of abduction

18 March 2008
By Sav Yuth Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

One SRP official who is the Pong-ro commune chief, Baray district, Kampong Thom province, was arrested by the police in the morning of Tuesday 18 March, and charged with abduction and illegal detention.

44-year-old Tim Norn, who lives in Chak Traloak village, Baray commune and who was the former chairwoman of the National Khmer Women Movement and commune councilor, accused 3 men: Tuot Sarorn, Pong-ro commune chief, Huor Sarat, Chraneang commune councilor, and Men Vannak, 2nd councilor of Sralao commune, of abducting her on 16 February, and detaining her at the house of Thorn Rithy in Phnom Penh. The alleged abduction took place after Tim Norn defected the SRP to join the CPP with Sok Pheng, another SRP defector.

Tim Norn said: “They came to arrest me from the pagoda, and transported me through Kampong Cham province, detained me at Thorn Rithy’s house for one night, then in a guesthouse for another two nights. He took me to meet with Sam Rainsy’s wife also.”

Chea San, the Kampong Thom province police commissioner, reacted to the use of the word “arrest” made against the SRP commune chief. Chea San said that there is no warrant issued for the arrest of the SRP activist at all, but that he only invited Tuot Sarorn to come over and clarify on the accusations made by Tim Norn who said that the SRP activists abducted her and detained her at a house in Phnom Penh. Chea San said: “I don’t understand, the police cannot make any arrest without a warrant.”

On Tuesday, RFA cannot contact the accuser to clarify on this accusation made against the 3 SRP activists because all the phones were turned off.

However, Eng Chhai Eang, SRP Secretary-general, rejected the accusation made by Tim Norn, saying that her accusation was not true. “This is a make-believe story to intimidate SRP supporters. We ask the Phnom Penh regime to end such tactics, if it wants to win the election, let’s compete fairly.”

In Kong Chit, an investigator of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) said that, based on witnesses in the case, this is what he found out: “Tim Norn went to (SRP defector) Sok Pheng’s house, there, Sok Pheng’s wife gave her $200 to help influence other SRP activists to make them defect to the CPP. When Tim Norn received the money, she did not execute Sok Pheng’s wife order, instead she spent all the money, and she became concerned and wanted to re-join the SRP back. She escaped from her own home, and called a number of SRP officials whom she knew to help bring her to Phnom Penh.”

During the installation of the foundation of Wat Mesang Pagoda, in Prey Veng province, on 17 March, Hun Sen pushed for an investigation into an alleged case of threat and detention of a person in Phnom Penh Thmey commune, Phnom Penh city. Hun Sen also asked for an investigation on Licadho also.
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KI-Media Note: On 17 March 2008, The Cambodia Daily reported that Am Sam Ath, Licadho investigator, confirmed that Licadho received Tim Norn from SRP officals including SRP MP Tioulong Saumura. Tim Norn told Licadho investigators that she feared for her life because she wanted to re-join the SRP back, and SRP officials speculated that the CPP might kill her for this action. Am Sam Ath also said that Tim Norn was in great mental distress and had to be taken to the Calmette Hospital where she was hospitalized for a few days before returning back home. Licadho’s Naly Pilorge was quoted by The Cambodia Daily as stating: “This woman (Tim Norn) did not complain to Licadho about any detention of her by anyone.”