SAM RAINSY PARTY
Kampong Thom Authority Must Release Mr. Tuot Saron
Kampong Thom Authority Must Release Mr. Tuot Saron
At about 9:30 AM on 18 March 2008, Mr. Tuot Saron, SRP Pong Ro commune chief, Baray district, Kampong Thom province, was arrested by the Baray district police and he was taken to the district police station without any warrant issued by the tribunal. Mr. Tuot Saron was arrested while he was traveling to participate in a meeting at the Baray district office.
The arrest and the taking of Commune Chief Tuot Saron were orchestrated by the police authority after Mr. Hun Sen issued a declaration on Sunday 16 March 2008, regarding the accusation alleging that SRP activists threatened and detained Mrs. Tim Norn.
Mrs. Tim Norn was a former SRP party member in Baray district, she joined the CPP on 14 February 2008. On 16 February 2008, at about 10:00 AM, Mrs. Tim Norn contacted Mr. Thorn Rithy, the deputy chairman of the SRP council committee from Kampong Thom province, and Mr. Men Vannak, the SRP deputy chairman in Baray district, to help her because she decided to leave the CPP. After hearing Mrs. Tim Norn’s insisting pleas, Mr. Thorn Rithy asked Mrs. Tuot Saron, the Pong Ro commune chief and SRP party chairman in Baray district, and Mr. Men Vannak to fetch Mrs. Tim Norn from her hiding place in Kampong Thmor village, Balaing commune, Baray district, and bring her to Phnom Penh where she stayed for a night at the home of Mr. Thorn Rithy on 16 February 2008.
Because Mrs. Tim Norn was scared and concerned about her safety, at 08:00 AM on 17 February 2008, Mr. Thorn Rithy took Mrs. Tim Norn to meet with Mrs. Tioulong Saumura, Phnom Penh SRP MP, at the SRP party headquarters. Afterward, Mrs. Tioulong Saumura told Mr. Thorn Rithy to accompany Mrs. Tim Norn to the Licadho office in Phnom Penh so that this organization can provide her with safety protection. At the Licadho office, Mrs. Tim Norn spoke about her concern over the personal safety of her husband and children in front of the human rights organization officials, and she even asked for help to bring her husband and children to meet her at the Licadho office. During that occasion, Mr. Men Vannak volunteered to bring Mrs. Tim Norn’s husband and children to come and meet her at the Licadho office on 18 February 2008. From that date on, Messrs. Tuot Saron, Thorn Rithy and Men Vannak, as well as other SRP officials, never contacted or met with Mrs. Tim Norn and her family anymore.
Therefore, the arrest made against Mr. Tuot Saron and the attempt to arrest other SRP activists by the police under the accusation that these activists threatened and detained Mrs. Tim Norn, is done with ulterior political motives orchestrated by the ruling party to frighten and discourage SRP activists who refuse to join the CPP.
The SRP asks the Kampong Thom police and tribunal to end the accusation made against Mr. Tuot Saron, and unconditionally release him immediately, and that a proper investigation be conducted in this case to reveal the culprits who invented these charges against innocent people for their personal political benefit.
Phnom Penh, 18 March 2008
SRP Secretary-general
For additional information, please contact: 012 731 111
The arrest and the taking of Commune Chief Tuot Saron were orchestrated by the police authority after Mr. Hun Sen issued a declaration on Sunday 16 March 2008, regarding the accusation alleging that SRP activists threatened and detained Mrs. Tim Norn.
Mrs. Tim Norn was a former SRP party member in Baray district, she joined the CPP on 14 February 2008. On 16 February 2008, at about 10:00 AM, Mrs. Tim Norn contacted Mr. Thorn Rithy, the deputy chairman of the SRP council committee from Kampong Thom province, and Mr. Men Vannak, the SRP deputy chairman in Baray district, to help her because she decided to leave the CPP. After hearing Mrs. Tim Norn’s insisting pleas, Mr. Thorn Rithy asked Mrs. Tuot Saron, the Pong Ro commune chief and SRP party chairman in Baray district, and Mr. Men Vannak to fetch Mrs. Tim Norn from her hiding place in Kampong Thmor village, Balaing commune, Baray district, and bring her to Phnom Penh where she stayed for a night at the home of Mr. Thorn Rithy on 16 February 2008.
Because Mrs. Tim Norn was scared and concerned about her safety, at 08:00 AM on 17 February 2008, Mr. Thorn Rithy took Mrs. Tim Norn to meet with Mrs. Tioulong Saumura, Phnom Penh SRP MP, at the SRP party headquarters. Afterward, Mrs. Tioulong Saumura told Mr. Thorn Rithy to accompany Mrs. Tim Norn to the Licadho office in Phnom Penh so that this organization can provide her with safety protection. At the Licadho office, Mrs. Tim Norn spoke about her concern over the personal safety of her husband and children in front of the human rights organization officials, and she even asked for help to bring her husband and children to meet her at the Licadho office. During that occasion, Mr. Men Vannak volunteered to bring Mrs. Tim Norn’s husband and children to come and meet her at the Licadho office on 18 February 2008. From that date on, Messrs. Tuot Saron, Thorn Rithy and Men Vannak, as well as other SRP officials, never contacted or met with Mrs. Tim Norn and her family anymore.
Therefore, the arrest made against Mr. Tuot Saron and the attempt to arrest other SRP activists by the police under the accusation that these activists threatened and detained Mrs. Tim Norn, is done with ulterior political motives orchestrated by the ruling party to frighten and discourage SRP activists who refuse to join the CPP.
The SRP asks the Kampong Thom police and tribunal to end the accusation made against Mr. Tuot Saron, and unconditionally release him immediately, and that a proper investigation be conducted in this case to reveal the culprits who invented these charges against innocent people for their personal political benefit.
Phnom Penh, 18 March 2008
SRP Secretary-general
For additional information, please contact: 012 731 111
