Chea Vichea's memorial in 2008 (Photo: AFP)20 Jan 2009
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from Khmer by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
The SRP and HRP signed a joint statement regarding the commemoration of Chea Vichea, the union leader who was slain in Phnom Penh in 2004.
The two opposition parties, which are now allied to each other through the Democratic Movement for Change (DMC), called on King Sihamoni to grant the posthumous honorific title of “Workers’ Hero” to Chea Vichea. Such request have also been made several times in the past by opposition parties and by Chea Mony, Chea Vichea’s brother who took over his leadership position a the Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC).
Regarding the current provisional release of the two men who were accused of killing Chea Vichea, the joint communiqué stated that “the release of these two alleged culprits by the Supreme Court on 31 December 2008 shows that the Cambodian government admitted that these two men were only instruments and victims of the current deficient judicial system.”
The communiqué also added: “we, along with millions of other Cambodians, wish to see justice being rendered and we are asking the government to conduct a serious investigation in the case by taking into consideration the depositions given by eyewitnesses of the cruel murder of Chea Vichea.” The two opposition parties also recalled the value of Chea Vichea’s sacrifice and his total dedication to the workers’ cause when he was still alive.
Flower bouquets will be placed at the murder scene on Pasteur Street in Phnom Penh on Thursday 22 January. On Wednesday, the Phnom Penh city hall finally gave its authorization to hold this commemoration ceremony.
The two opposition parties, which are now allied to each other through the Democratic Movement for Change (DMC), called on King Sihamoni to grant the posthumous honorific title of “Workers’ Hero” to Chea Vichea. Such request have also been made several times in the past by opposition parties and by Chea Mony, Chea Vichea’s brother who took over his leadership position a the Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC).
Regarding the current provisional release of the two men who were accused of killing Chea Vichea, the joint communiqué stated that “the release of these two alleged culprits by the Supreme Court on 31 December 2008 shows that the Cambodian government admitted that these two men were only instruments and victims of the current deficient judicial system.”
The communiqué also added: “we, along with millions of other Cambodians, wish to see justice being rendered and we are asking the government to conduct a serious investigation in the case by taking into consideration the depositions given by eyewitnesses of the cruel murder of Chea Vichea.” The two opposition parties also recalled the value of Chea Vichea’s sacrifice and his total dedication to the workers’ cause when he was still alive.
Flower bouquets will be placed at the murder scene on Pasteur Street in Phnom Penh on Thursday 22 January. On Wednesday, the Phnom Penh city hall finally gave its authorization to hold this commemoration ceremony.
