SRP claims 'political' murder

The son of murdered SRP commune official Ouk Chhanteak places lighted incense sticks next to his father’s body yesterday in Kandal province. (Photo by: Pha Lina)

Friday, 03 June 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

One man was arrested yesterday following the beating death of a Sam Rainsy Party commune official in Kandal province, amid competing claims from police and the opposition party over whether the killing was politically motivated.

The 64-year-old Ouk Chhanteak, second commune councillor in Kien Svay district’s Chhoeu Teal commune, was bludgeoned to death at around 10pm on Wednesday evening as he returned home from patrolling the area, SRP officials said. His body was reportedly dumped roughly one kilometre from the site where he was attacked, with his motorbike, camera and telephone having been stolen.

Kien Svay district police chief Pa Sam Eth said yesterday that one of three suspects in the case had been arrested yesterday afternoon, adding that police believe the incident was a robbery that was unrelated to politics.

Political murder on second commune councilor from SRP

June 2, 2011

Last night, Mr. Ouk Chhantak, 64, second commune councilor in Chhoeu Teal commune, Kien Svay district, Kandal province from the Sam Rainsy Party was murdered at Doun Sar village, Korki Thom commune, Kien Svay district, Kandal province.

The murder was related to political case because Mr. Ouk Chhantak was the most popular SRP second commune councilor in his commune and would become a commune chief in upcoming commune election 2012.

The Sam Rainsy Party would like to appeal to the authorities at all levels to take action to arrest the murderers to the court.

Please see announcement in attached file.

For more information, contact: 012 788 999 / 012 890 984

SRP Cabinet

Village Chief On Run After Activist Killed

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
03 December 2009

A village chief has gone into hiding following the shooting death of an opposition activist in Prey Veng province, a Sam Rainsy Party member said Wednesday.

The opposition activist, Boo Born, was allegedly shot dead by Ros Voeun, the chief of Tanal village, in the province’s Sithor Kandal district, located near the victim's home in Prasad village.

“The village chief shot the activist,” said Chea Poch, an SRP National Assembly lawmaker for Prey Veng. “I have to react for the proper action, because in the village of Prasad, the opposition won in the last election.”

Boo Born was allegedly shot and killed Nov. 28 while fishing with his nephew in a rice field near the village. The motive, and whether it was political, remains unclear.

Police spokesman Keat Chantharith said he had not heard of the shooting, but added that police would investigate any killing, whether it happened to an opposition activist or not.

SRP Activist Killed in Prey Veng by a Village Chief

Phnom Penh , 2 December 2009

SRP ACTIVIST KILLED IN PREY VENG BY A VILLAGE CHIEF

On 28 November 2009 at 19:00 , SRP activist Boo Born, 28 and his 11 year-old nephew went fishing at Veal Srê O Anhchanh in Prasat commune, Sithor Kandal district, Prey Veng province. While they were fishing, Ros Voeun, chief of Ta Nal village, shouted "Who told you to come and fish here?" and a few minutes later, shot three times at Boo Born, killing him by wounding his shoulder blade. Ros Voeun and two colleagues then tied the hands of the nephew in his back and took him to the village chief's house. They kept him there for the night and the three men left.

SRP Secretary General Ke Sovannaroth wrote a letter to Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng urging him to order proper investigations of this murder and to arrest Ros Voeun and his accomplices.

Boo Born was one of the most active members of SRP in Prasat village, Chrey Khmum commune, Sithor Kandal district, Prey Veng province and served as SRP party agent at two elections.

SRP Cabinet

Killer of SRP activist still at large: police

Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Tep Nimol and Kim Yuthana
The Phnom Penh Post

THE lead suspects in the murder of a Sam Rainsy Party activist from Kampong Thom have gone into hiding in the remote northwest of the country in order to avoid arrest, local authorities said Tuesday.

Huoth Bunhua, a police official in Steung district’s Chamnar Leu commune, said authorities had already identified the suspects and were hunting for them, but that the perpetrators found out about the plan in advance and managed to escape.

“We have enough documents and evidence to arrest those perpetrators and send them to face trial,” he said.

Chou Song, 23, the son-in-law of the victim, said his father-in-law, Touch Hot, 45, was shot dead by unidentified men on September 3 while eating dinner with his family.

After the incident, the SRP issued a statement condemning the murder and called for authorities at all levels to launch investigations into the killing.

After initial investigations, officials said the shooting was not politically motivated.

“We think that this killing is not related to a political issue,” Steung district police Deputy Chief Van Sophan said.

He said the suspect accused the victim of being a sorcerer. Witchcraft-related killings have been occasionally reported in Cambodia and have been condemned by the government.

Cold-blood murder of SRP activist in Kampong Thom by masked gunmen

SRP activist in Kampong Thom murdered

September 05, 2009
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

One SRP activist from Chomnar Leu commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom province, was murdered by two unknown assailants at 7PM on Friday 04 September 2009, while he was sharing his meal with his family at home.

51-year-old Chan Thorn, a SRP activist in Trea village, Trea commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom district, provided information about this murder. He told RFA on Saturday 05 September that two masked assailants came by motorcycle and stopped near the victim’s house, they then shot and killed the victim: “[The victim] died at home at 7PM, they shot him.”

Sok Serey: What’s the motive [of the murder]?

Chan Thorn: We couldn’t find the motive, we couldn’t find the motive yet, we are doing our research, but we did not find out yet as to why the [victim] who was just eating his dinner and masked men came in by motorcycle to shoot him at 7PM.”

Sok Serey: Did they stop the motorcycle or did they shoot from their motorcycle?

Chan Thorn: They stopped [their motorcycle], they walked over to shoot and they took off on their motorcycle.

Loy Lem, the No. 1 Chomnar Leu commune councilor, said that the victim who was killed was Touch Hot, he was the SRP party president in Ko village, Chomnar Leu commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom province. He added that this murder seems linked to the accusation leveled against Touch Hot that he knew witchcraft.

A source indicated that Touch Hot’s remain was cremated by his family already. This recent murder coincides with the Kan Benn religious ceremony which is currently being observed in the entire country.

On Saturday 05 September, the local authority could not be reached to ask for clarification in the investigation into this murder.

However, General Khieu Sopheak, spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, said that an investigation must be conducted. “We do not care what party it is, this is the individual right of our people in the entire country, but, if there is a crime committed, an investigation must be conducted to search for the perpetrators,” Khieu Sopheak said.

Kep Thy, SRP party vice-president for the Kampong Thom province, said that he already received information about this murder. “They told me to travel to the location of the incident to check the situation by myself in order to obtain actual information.”

Am Sam Ath, director of investigation for the Licadho human rights organization, said that his group in investigating into this case. “Licadho’s investigating group is following up in this case to find out the cause of this murder,” Am Sam Ath said.

A political observer source in Cambodia noted that the murders on SRP activists have quieted down for a while already, but now, this observer is concerned about this murder, [especially] when it is blamed on witchcraft.