Killing of reporter brings fear to Cambodian election campaign

Monday, 14 July 2008
ABC Radio Australia

Click here to listen to the audio program

In Cambodia, a journalist and his son have been shot dead in what appears to be a targetted assassination.

The 47-year old opposition newspaper reporter was killed on Friday evening and his son died in hospital later that night.

Presenter: Liam Cochrane
Speakers: Sara Colm, senior researcher for Human Rights Watch; Kek Galabru, president of LICADHO, Yim Sovann, candidate for Sam Rainsy Party; Khieu Kanarith, Minister of Information

Sound effect: chanting

COCHRANE: About 500 people came to pay their last respects to journalist Khim Sambor on Sunday. He was riding on the back of a scooter with his 21-year-old son in central Phnom Penh when two men on a motorcycle opened fire from several meters away, killing Sambor and fatally wounding his son. The journalist was a contributor to Moneaksekar Khmer, the daily newspaper affiliated to the opposition Sam Rainsy Party. It's the first killing of a journalist in five years and Sara Colm from Human Rights Watch says it will have a chilling effect on Cambodia's pre-election environment.

COLM: Whether it was politically motivated or not, it will still have an effect on people, making them more afraid to speak out, to write, to attend rallies.

COCHRANE: Kek Galabru is the president of the Cambodian human rights group LICADHO. She says that so far there have been reports of 11 political activists killed during the election campaign, although it's not clear whether all cases were politically motivated. Galabru says this murder the first high profile killing during the campaign - will probably cause self-censorship of the media and fear amongst voters.

GALABRU: All the voters are scared now, especially the ones who want to support the opposition. For example, Dam Sith, the editor in chief of the newspaper of the opposition. He locked himself at home, he didn't even come to the funeral, the cremation of this victim.

COCHRANE: Dam Sith is the boss of the slain journalist and also a candidate for the Sam Rainsy Party. Last month he was held in jail on charges of defamation and disinformation after his newspaper reported a claim from the opposition leader that Cambodia's current Foreign Minister, Hor Nam Hong, was in charge of a Khmer Rouge death camp in the 1970s. A complaint was also lodged against opposition leader Sam Rainsy, and the court asked the National Assembly to remove his parliamentary immunity so he too could be prosecuted. The National Assembly said it could not remove the immunity at this time and Sam Rainsy is on a whistle-stop tour of the countryside to promote his party. Yim Sovann is a standing committee member of the Sam Rainsy Party and a candidate in the election. He attended the cremation of the journalist on Sunday and said the killing had political overtones.

SOVANN: The government [is] afraid the opposition will win the election so they try to create this time the killing to intimidate the people, the voters, especially the activists of Sam Rainsy Party.

COCHRANE: Cambodia's Minister of Information, Khieu Kanarith was also at the cremation ceremony. Kanarith said he has asked journalists to continue their duty and not to hide, but admitted the murder reflected badly on Cambodia's election campaign.

KANARITH: I think this killing comes at a very bad time, because this is during the election and this will give a bad image of the electoral process, but also we ask that the authorities conduct an investigation and quickly find the culprit and bring them to justice.

COCHRANE: But historically, there has been little justice for Cambodian reporters killed in the line of duty. Local rights groups say this is the 12th reporter killed since Cambodia's first elections in the early 1990s, but not a single perpetrator has been convicted of their deaths. Rights groups and the opposition called for a swift investigation and arrests. But Sam Rainsy Party leader Yim Sovann warned that innocent people might be framed for the murder, as is alleged to have happened with the 2004 killing of trade unionist Chea Vichea.

SOVANN: And do not arrest the plastic murderer, please arrest the true murderer. Don't do like you have done before. [In] many political killing the murderer [is] never arrested, I do not accuse the government but it's the government responsibility to arrest the true murderer.

COCHRANE: There are just two weeks to go until the country goes to the polls on July 27. But with allegations of intimidation and now this killing, observers like Kek Galabru say the chances of a free and fair election are becoming slim.

GALABRU: So how we can say this election is free? It's not possible. Free, it means that every single Cambodian can come out, can support any political party [with] no intimidation, no stick, and no vote buying, no carrot. So here they use stick and carrot - a lot of carrot but a lot of stick also.

COCHRANE: Liam Cochrane for Radio Australia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Cambodia opposition calls killing 'political threat'

Saturday, July 12, 2008
ABC Radio Australia

Cambodia's opposition Sam Rainsy Party has issued a statement calling the killing of a newspaper journalist and his son on Friday an ''assassination'' and ''a political threat''.

The journalist, Khim Sambor, worked for a newspaper allied with the party.

He was attacked, along with his 21-year-old son, by a pair of motorbike-riding assailants on Friday.

Police sources and witnesses say the 47-year-old was shot in the back as he was riding on a motorbike driven by his son.

A gunman riding pillion on the assailants' motorcycle then shot the son in the chest as he was going to the aid of his father and telephoning for help.

The Sam Rainsy Party expressed doubt that his killers would be apprehended.

The killing comes amid the month-long official campaign season for the July 27 general election.

Mourning ceremony for Khim Sambo and Son

Family members contribute flowers in front of the body of veteran journalist Khim Sambo during a mourning ceremony at Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, July 12, 2008. Sambo and his son were shot dead Friday on the street of Phnom Penh. He used to contribute articles under a pseudonym to the Khmer Conscience News, a Cambodian-language newspaper affiliated with major opposition party. (Xinhua/Xia Lin)
Bodies of veteran journalist Khim Sambo and his son are seen during a mourning ceremony at Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, July 12, 2008. Sambo and his son were shot dead Friday on the street of Phnom Penh. He used to contribute articles under a pseudonym to the Khmer Conscience News, a Cambodian-language newspaper affiliated with major opposition party. (Xinhua/Xia Lin)
A man prepares the portrait of veteran journalist Khim Sambo during a mourning ceremony at Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, July 12, 2008. Sambo and his son were shot dead Friday on the street of Phnom Penh. He used to contribute articles under a pseudonym to the Khmer Conscience News, a Cambodian-language newspaper affiliated with major opposition party. (Xinhua/Xia Lin)
Wife of killed veteran journalist Khim Sambo cries during a mourning ceremony at Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, July 12, 2008. Sambo and his son were shot dead Friday on the street of Phnom Penh. He used to contribute articles under a pseudonym to the Khmer Conscience News, a Cambodian-language newspaper affiliated with major opposition party. (Xinhua/Xia Lin)
Wife of killed veteran journalist Khim Sambo cries during a mourning ceremony at Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, July 12, 2008. Sambo and his son were shot dead Friday on the street of Phnom Penh. He used to contribute articles under a pseudonym to the Khmer Conscience News, a Cambodian-language newspaper affiliated with major opposition party. (Xinhua/Xia Lin)
Mother (1st R) of killed veteran journalist Khim Sambo cries beside his body during a mourning ceremony at Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, July 12, 2008. Sambo and his son were shot dead Friday on the street of Phnom Penh. He used to contribute articles under a pseudonym to the Khmer Conscience News, a Cambodian-language newspaper affiliated with major opposition party. (Xinhua/Xia Lin)

NEC: No drinking and campaigning! ... (and absolutely NO driking of CPP magic swearing water)

NEC Warns Against Drinking, Violence

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
26 June 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

As the election campaign period began Thursday, the National Election Committee called for all political candidates not to drink alcohol and to avoid violence and threats against other candidates and voters.

The separate appeals come as election watchdogs expressed concern for the increase of intimidation and murders of political party activists.

All political parties and candidates must avoid threats or intimidation or violence, Im Sousdey, chairman of the NEC, said in a statement to political parties issued Wednesday.

He warned candidates and parties not to incite supporters and voters to violence or intimidation.

In another letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Im Sousdey requested the leader issue a statement for the public to discourage drinking the day before the election and on Election Day itself.

Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a statement Wednesday warning all security forces and local authorities to prevent threats and irregularities and any attempts to disturb the election period and Election Day.

The appeal and other government security measures were an important move toward free and fair elections, said Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections.

"But we are still concerned that threats and intimidation will occur in the campaign and on Election Day," he said, "because threats and intimidation against political activists has increased since April."

Parties Fault NEC for Hard Registration

By Seng Ratana, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
19 May 2008

At least four political parties are unhappy with the National Election Committee, saying the government body had made registration for the upcoming election difficult and that commune councils have been ineffective.

The Norodom Ranariddh Party says it will file a complaint against the NEC for the deletion of an official’s name from an election list, and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party has complained of intimidation of one of its candidate.

The SRP candidate, who was serving as a teacher, was threatened he should change his place of work if he wished to stand for election, the Sam Rainsy Party said.

And officials of the Sangkum Khmer Niyum have filed a complaint to the Constitutional Council for its rejecting from the process.

NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said some commune councils had been inactive implementing their jobs. Of the 12 parties who have registered, the NEC has officially verified six parties, declined one and is reviewing four.

Political threats increase ahead of the election

09 May 2008
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

“Sometime, for the other parties, we see that they have no hope during the election, so they invent some of the (threat and intimidation) stories to make the CPP look bad” - CPP MP Cheam Yeap's excuse for the CPP political threats and intimidations

A coalition of civil society organizations indicated that the number of political threats ahead of the general election for the 4th legislative mandate is increasing in a worrysome number.

Mar Sophal, an official of the Comfrel election organization, indicated on 08 May that the intimidation on non-ruling political parties increases because of the approaching election campaign. Mar Spohal said: “In the last few months, we observe that the number of threats and intimidations increases, in particular against activists who to do not belong to the ruling party, this is a cause of concern.”

On 08 May, the civil society issued a common statement calling for a guarantee to a free and fair election atmosphere in Cambodia, and it also expressed its concerns about the political threats, in particular threats against members of the non-ruling parties.

In response to the civil society demand, CPP MP Cheam Yeap said that the leadership of the (CPP) party educates their members to act properly. Cheam Yeap said: “Sometime, for the other parties, we see that they have no hope during the election, so they invent some of the (threat and intimidation) stories to make the CPP look bad.”

Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC) indicated that the situation prior to the upcoming election is better than those in the previous elections, and the NEC has also prepared its strategy with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the local authorities to review the situation before the upcoming 4th legislative mandate election.

Tep Nytha said: “We maintain permanent reviews, and we exchange information. For example, there are weekly meetings between the Provincial Election Committees (PEC) and the NEC to review the situation and to resolve problems or problems that may arise. In this matter, we are doing the same. The number of political parties which registered (for the election with the NEC) is 6. I am informing you also that these 6 parties can present their candidates in all 24 provinces and municipalities.”

According to the civil society calling statement, the political threats made against activists of parties competing against the ruling CPP party, were done through lawsuits against former party members by the party these members left from. Such action is nothing more than a political threat in order to weaken the supporters of the new party through the use of the justice system. Such a case can be seen in the lawsuit against Prince Ranariddh by his former party, the Funcinpec, (in order to weaken Prince Ranariddh’s NRP).

"Lightning-stike" PM Hun Sen: "...don’t be so rude, if you can’t talk back, will lightning strike you? ... Now, you even criticize my son also."

Hun Sen warns an unnamed senior politician

19 December 2007
By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday, prime minister Hun Sen accused a senior politician who allegedly acted as his spy, and he warned that he will publicly reveal the proofs, if this politician does not stop criticizing his leadership.

At a speech given during the inauguration of a canal built with Japanese aid in Kandal Stung district, Kandal province, Hun Sen did not directly reveal the name of this politician whom he said used to be his internal agent, and received money from him to allow him to succeed in the 1997 bloody coup d’état, but that now this politician dares criticize him openly.

Hun Sen said: “Watch out, I will publish the tape recorded messages and documents. Some were only my little spies during the (coup d’état) fighting period only, don’t act like a pro, you can’t jump. You took my money and went to work for me as a spy, whatever position you are in, you know it, don’t be so rude, if you can’t talk back, will lightning strike you? I did that much already. Now, you even criticize my son also.”

Hun Sen’s rage took place because, recently, he was under several criticisms regarding the problem of very high gasoline price.

Khieu Kanharith refused to comment on Hun Sen’s warning on this unnamed politician, and human rights officials do not understand who this warning is aimed at. However, several politicians suspect that this warning was directed at opposition MP Son Chhay.

Opposition MP Son Chhay recognized that he criticized non-stop Hun Sen’s leadership, in particular, regarding the price of gasoline issue. Son Chhay said that, recently, he also directed his criticisms on Hun Manet, Hun Sen’s son, who was named as the director of the committee for distribution of scholarships to poor students.

Son Chhay indicated that, in spite of the fact that he is not sure if the warning is aimed at him or not, his criticisms may not be well received by Hun Sen.

Son Chhay said: “We know that our PM has so many tricks (in his sleeve) to preserve his power, but I am saying that being alike politicians who are working together for so many years, there should be mutual respect. And we should have thick skins because it is normal for public figures to be criticized.”

If indeed Hun Sen’s warning is aimed at Son Chhay, then this would be the second time that MP Son Chhay is warned by Hun Sen. Last year, Son Chhay attacked Hor Nam Hong, the minister of Foreign affairs, in Heng Pov’s case, Son Chhay told Hor Nam Hong that his language is childish and he is irresponsible.

Son Chhay said that he is not concerned about his personal safety (because of Hun Sen’s warning).

Human Rights Activist Threatened [-The culprit is invariably a CPP party member ... as usual]

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
05 November 2007

A human rights activist in Kampong Cham province was threatened recently by a Cambodian People's Party commune chief, party officials said Monday.

The Human Rights Party said its activist had received threats in Kampong Cham that were related to work he was conducting in the hometown of Prime Minister Hun Sen ahead of elections.

A Human Rights Party headquarters was established in Stung Treng town Oct. 30, which may have led to the threats, Chan Cheng, the party's council head for Kampong Cham, said.

Activist Chea Kea was called in by local authorities and questioned for three hours, in an area that has "a history of threats on democratic parties," Chea Kea said.

Violence and threats in the countryside are often reported in election run-ups, and critics say this prevents them being truly free and fair.

Tuol Preah Khleang Commune Chief Srey Meng denied the accusations Monday.

Chea Kea had been called in for questioning over fishing violations in the area.

"He usually fishes illegally," Srey Meng said.

Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said that his activists have been threatened in other provinces, as well.

SRP Commune chief in Ratanakiri is scared

26 April 2007
By Ratha Visal
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

An official from the Sam Rainsy Party claimed on 26 April, that one of the party activists in Pate commune, O’Yadaw district, Ratanakiri province, who was recently elected as the commune chief, is facing political scare-tactics perpetrated against him

SRP MP Sok Pheng said that Song Yin, the SRP activist who was recently elected as commune chief of Pate commune, is in hiding because he is afraid that the police will arrest him. He is also appealing to the government authority to stop all its threatening and intimidation activities against political party activists.

Sok Pheng said: “This is a purely political case, threats and pressures were exerted on SRP activist.”

From his hiding, Song Yin gave an interview in which he stated that the provincial court has issued 2 summons for him. The court accuses him of being involved in the traffic of Montagnard refugees [who fled from Vietnam into Ratanakiri province].

Song Yin said: “I am very concerned because several summons have been issued against me.”

Song Yin’s scare started when the police arrested three ethnic minority villagers from Andoung Meas district last Saturday, the three are accused of being involved in providing help and showing road directions to Montagnard refugees fleeing Vietnam. The Montagnard refugees were rescued by the UNHCR which visited the area. The three Cambodian ethnic minority villagers were ordered detained in the provincial jail.

Chea Bunthoeun, the provincial deputy police chief, denied that the police has received any summon regarding the arrest of a SRP activist yet.

Pen Bonnar, an investigator for the Adhoc NGO in the Ratanakiri province, confirmed that SRP activist Song Yin, also known as Rochang Yin, and two other villagers have been accused by the tribunal of cheating and inciting. The court issued a second summon on 03 April, but Song Yin refused to show himself up at the court. The case has dragged on until now because of the changes of investigation judges in this case.

Pen Bonnar said: “A number of local villagers were traveling when they crossed path with [Montagnard] refugees. The refugees pleaded the villagers to help them, that is why the villagers are being accused.”

In the Ratanakiri, the SRP won only one commune chief among a total number of 49 communes in the province. Following the ending of the commune election, SRP reported that a number of its party activists suffered threats in Kompong Thom: a party activist in the Pong’ro commune was threatened with death, and another party activist in Mean Rith commune was murdered.

CPP official confirms meeting between Sam Rainsy and Sok An

17 April 2007
By Phan Sophat
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

One CPP official said today that the meeting between opposition leader Sam Rainsy and Vice-Prime Minister Sok An, a high-ranking CPP official, was not held in the names of their respective parties.

This confirmation was made following the meeting between Sam Rainsy and Sok An at the office of the council of ministers last week.

Khieu Kanharith, CPP spokesman, said that the meeting was not between party representatives as requested by the Sam Rainsy Party.

Khieu Kanharith said: “In summary, if there were threats, first of all the court is there, and second, if there are other issues, then there is Sar Kheng (the Minister of Interior). But there could not be a meeting held between the two political parties, because the problems involve governance, for other problems, a meeting can be held with Sok An, but this does not mean that there is a meeting between SRP and CPP.”

Recently, SRP requested a meeting between high-ranking CPP and SRP officials to resolve the accusations leveled by the opposition SRP party that threats were made against SRP activists at the local level, starting from before the commune election and still persisting now.

Sam Rainsy told RFA about the essence of his meeting with Sok An that: “I am concerned because they (CPP members) are creating problems with SRP members following the commune election, and even those (SRP members) who have been elected as commune chiefs and commune councilors still face threats from CPP members and from the local authority currently. They threaten [SRP members], they bring to court fictitious charges to pressure SRP members. I believe that a discussion must be held, I am afraid that the high-ranking [CPP officials] are not aware about the local situation, they did not know about the pressure applied [against SRP members]. Therefore, the country leaders must take responsibility to intervene to end the pressure and the threats made against SRP members.”

However, Sam Rainsy also said that Sok An did not make any clear commitment in these issues.

SRP: Threats and intimidations still persist

13 April 2007
By Keo Pech Metta
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

SRP officials in Kompong Cham province said that threats and intimidations perpetrated against SRP still persist, even though the 2nd mandate commune election already ended.

Saravoan, a SRP official from Kompong Cham province, said that on 12 April, a SRP activist in Pro-ngel village, Cholea commune, Batheay district, Kompong Cham province, was summoned by the police for questioning on a past dispute which has been resolved by both parties already.

Chim Ouk, the SRP activist who was summoned by the Batheay district police, said that the summon is a threat against him because the dispute in which he was involved with on 02 April 2007, both parties – the accuser who is a CPP party member, and himself, the accused – have accepted the arrangement made by the village chief. Chim Ouk said that he already apologized to the CPP member and he also paid him a compensation amount of 50,000 riels ($12.50) as well.

Chim Ouk added that the dispute stems from the fact that the CPP accuser initiated the incident by cursing and threatening his life and that of his family, during the election campaign: “Chin Chhay [the CPP member] sneered at me, and he said that I am taking the wrong path, he also added that ‘you be careful, otherwise your entire family will die’.”

Regarding this affair, Chin Chhay, the CPP accuser in Pro-ngel village, said that he did not threaten Chin Ouk, and he is not bringing up this case again: “The affair already ended, the original issue is a political one. It should not be discussed, this is only a private business, we fought each other, that’s tough.”

Neang Savath, Adhoc official in Kompong Cham province, said that he is also following this affair. He said that the dispute is indeed of political nature, however, both sides agree to the arrangement made and they will no longer pursue their complaints.

Mu Sochua, SRP Secretary-General, said that the fact that [the authority] bring forth a case in which a CPP member is the accuser, constitutes a threat and intimidation against the SRP activist.

Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, said that according to his observation, this is a not a political threat or intimidation, but that it was a dispute between individuals who were drinking and then they fought each other.