Pov Panhapich scared to return back to Cambodia

01 April 2007
By Sav Yuth Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A Cambodian-American woman visited singer Pov Panhapich at her hospital in Vietnam this weekend. She indicated that Pov Panhapich is scared for her own safety and that she does not want to return back to Cambodia once she is healed.

Mrs. Ung Theary, the comptroller of the Cambodian-American Association for Development, told RFA before departing from Cambodia yesterday, that the hospital is tightening security for those who want to visit the singer.

Mrs. Ung Theary added that for someone to be able to visit Pov Panhapich, that person must first be authorized by the Cambodian embassy in Vietnam, and the authorization letter must be accompanied by a picture of the visitor.

Ung Theary said: “No one can get near her due to her security, only her immediate relatives and parents can enter, besides that no one is allowed to enter. Before visiting her, we must ask the authorization from the Cambodian embassy in Vietnam, only if an authorization is provided that someone can visit her at the hospital.”

Pov Panhapich was gunned down on 23 February. Up to now, the authority could not find the assassins yet, nor did it find any motive to the murder attempt.

Pov Chan Sotheavy, Pov Panhapich’s older sister, said that her family is facing difficulties paying for Pov Panhapich’s care at the Vietnamese hospital. Pov Chan Sotheavy is asking for generous donors to help them.

Pov Chan Sotheavy said: “It depends on the cost of medicines, like today for example, she (Pov Panhapich) requires a lot of medicines, so the cost climbs up to $250, on a day that she does not need that much medicines, the cost comes down to $150, or $170, or $120, and on some days down to $100. This includes both the daily cost of the room, the medicine, and her food. It is very difficult for the family, we are facing difficulties one day at a time. I am calling to all generous donors both inside and outside the country, my family are in desperate need for medical care for my little sister, please help us with whatever you can.”

Cambodian artists call for help for actress Pov Panhapich

18 March 2007
By Sav Yuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The leader of the Cambodian Artists Association (CAA) called on generous donors to provide humanitarian help to singer Pov Panhapich in order to save her life.

Eang Sithul, the president of the CAA, gave a report on the situation of singer Pov Panhapich, who was shot on 23 Feb and who is currently undergoing medical treatment in Vietnam, whose condition has been improved.

Eang Sithul said that Pov Panhapich’s family told him that the singer’s face looks much better and that she can move her arms and legs. She tries hard to open her mouth to talk but the doctors told her not to because she still has a sounding tube in her throat. Furthermore, her family is desperately looking for help to continue her cure.

Eang Sithul said: “Pov Panhapich’s condition has improved, her face looks nicer, and she can raise her arms and legs to signal. She opens her mouth to talk with us but the doctor does not allow her to do that yet, she still has a sounding tube in her throat. Her parents and her relatives are asking me, as the CAA president, to issue a call to generous donors to help provide additional funds for her during her continuing stay at the hospital. Through you (RFA) … please broadcast this information and call to all generous donors both inside and outside the country, please help a Cambodian actress who is suffering from the shooting…”

Artists ask the King for protection

Eang Sithul also said that Cambodian artists fear the use of violence and the murder attempts on its members in the city of Phnom Penh. The CAA is asking the intervention from King Sihamoni to help protect them.

Eang Sithul told RFA on 18 March morning that he led a delegation of artists to meet King Sihamoni recently, and he also reported to the king their fear on the recent shooting of a Cambodian star. He also showed the king the need for the king to provide reassurance to the CAA members.

Eang Sithul said: “We reported to the king about the shooting of Pov Panhapich, as well as other shootings on [singer] Touch Sunnich. Right now they are still being cared for, and the [artists] need the support from our leaders. We ask the king for help protect [the artists]. He said that he will always stand with us. Therefore, we thank him for his attention [on this issue].”

Once every four years, at least one famous artress became the victim of a shooting: Piseth Pilika in 1999, Touch Sunnich in 2003, and Pov Panhapich in 2007.

Suspects in the shooting of Pov Panhapich arrested

20 August 2007
By Mom Sophon
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The Phnom Penh police commissioner told RFA on 20 August that the authority arrested 4 suspects involved in the shooting of singer Pov Panhapich in the middle of the capital at the end of February 2007.

Touch Naroth, Phnom Penh police commissioner, indicated that the police continue to look for additional proofs to charge the suspects. “We made the arrest, the witnesses have pointed them out. The suspects did not provide any response, so with that, the court charged them for illegal use of firearms. We will continue to look for more proofs to charge them with,” Touch Naroth said.

Regarding the singer’s health condition, her family told RFA in the evening of 20 August that, currently, her health condition has improved and she can hold her own spoon and plate to feed herself. However, she has no plan to return back to Cambodia yet.

Ban Hak, Pov Panhapich’s brother-in-law, indicated that the singer, who is currently under medical care in Vietnam, has improved, but that she does not plan to return back to Cambodia yet because she is concerned about her own safety.

Ban Hak said: “She continues to stay in Vietnam. In short, the safety in Cambodia, when the culprits have not been found yet, gives us some concerns. Even our children at home are not allowed to go out anywhere they want. Therefore, based on the situation, and more importantly, at this time, if the authority had arrested the killers, and the authority proclaim so, and if she is well, and even if they cannot find the killers, we will keep in touch with the authority to help protect our safety.”

Ban Hak also indicated that Pov Panhapich’s legs cannot move yet, and that the doctors are looking into them, but there is no indication as to when she will recover the use of her legs again.

Ban Hak also said that Pov Panhapich now rents a house outside of the hospital to save some money. She now spends about $50 in medical expense, as compared to $100 a day at the hospital.

Pov Panhapich was shot by unknown killers in the morning of 23 February 2007, along Norodom Boulevard, next to the fence of the ministry of industry, mines and energy.

Ieng Sithul, President of the Friends of Artists in Cambodia, told RFA that his association plans to organize a concert in the near future to collect donation money for Pov Panhapich.

Update on Pov Panhapich

24 Feb 2007
By Mondol Keo
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

A number of sources indicated that the medical situation of Pov Panhapich, who was shot by attackers on 23 Feb, has improved after her surgery to remove the bullets from her body.

Ieng Sithol, President of the Cambodian artists, said that according to information he received from relatives of Pov Panhapich, after her first surgery, her condition is good and there is not much change to worry about: “I only know that her condition remains the same, there is no change or worsening…”

Chan Darun, director of the Reach Seyma newspaper, said that he also received information from relatives of Pov Panhapich, who traveled with her to Vietnam, who told Vietnamese reporters that there is hope that Panhapich could avoid death.

Chan Darun said: “[The information came] from the [Vietnamese] hospital source directly, that’s according to those who accompanied [Panhapich]. According to the latter, Vietnamese news agencies are following up [on this story]. They said that they were able to take the bullet[s] out during the first phase of the surgery, but not in the second phase.”

Nevertheless, RFA could not yet contact directly with Panhapich’s family even though we have their phone number. RFA made several unsuccessful attempts on the evening of 24 Feb.

Pov Panhapich was transported to the Cho Ray(?) Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City around 1:30 PM on 23 Feb. Vietnamese doctors performed an urgent surgery on her. She still remains in the intensive care unit.

Cambodian capital hit by two high profile shootings last week

26 Feb 2007
Cambodian Press Review

Phnom Penh last week saw the high profile shootings of a popular performer and a trade union leader in both of which robbery has been rejected as a motive, according to newspapers.

Popular singer and televsion host Pov Panhaprich has reportedly survived being shot by a gunman on Norodom Boulevard Friday morning, but may be paralyzed for the rest of her life, said surgeons who operated on the singer, Rasmei Kampuchea reported in its Sunday-Monday edition.

“She has already passed the critical state, but appears to be disabled [and] unable to move her body for [the rest of her] life,” said doctors in neighboring Vietnam ’s Ho Chi Minh city, where the victim has been sent for treatment, according to the newspaper.

Pov Panhapich was initially taken to Preah Ketoh Mealia Military Hosptal and then Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh before being sent to Ho Chi Minh city at 9:30 am the same day after she was struck by two bullets, noted Samleng Yuvechun Khmer Saturday.

Her health status has been stable, Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Touch Naruth said, adding that medical officials have retrieved one bullet from the back of the 23-year-old singer’s neck, but are still to remove another from her hip bone, reports The Cambodia Daily.

Witnesses said they saw a gunman in his 20s shoot Pov Panhapich from the back of a motorcycle at a close range of about a meter when she was walking to the English Language Training Institute after parking her car, according to the newspaper.

Touch Naruth said that the shooting could have resulted from a grudge into which police are probing, Kampuchea Thmey wrote.

“At the first step, we believe that this is not robbery...this is the case of grudge, but we can not conclude what problems caused the grudge, but are waiting for an investigation before making a conclusion,” Sralanh Khmer on Saturday quoted him as saying.However, in The Cambodia Daily today, he said that police have yet to decide the motive behind the assault, and to identify suspects.

Rumors have spread that the murder has grown out of anger of the wife of a general who had left his house to live with the chanteuse, wrote Rasmei Kampuchea.

Kem Ron , who claimed to be Pov Panhapich ’s cousin, denied that the murder has something to do with “a love triangle,” saying it could stem from a grudge, Samleng Yuvechun Khmer wrote.

Since 1999, four popular female artists including Piseth Pilika , Touch Srey Nich, Tat Marina and Pov Panhapich have been lethally attacked or injured seriously, note news archives. No one has been arrested for the attacks.

The Khmer Actress Association issued a statement Friday urging authorities of all levels to unmask and bring Pov Panhapich ’s assailant to justice, reported Rasmei Kampuchea.

A day following Pov Panhapich’s shooting, Hy Vuthy, a factory-level union leader at Suntex garment manufactuerer in Dangkor district’s Choam Chao commune was shot to death by an unknown gunman at 5:15 am as he was driving home on a motorbike from the factory, newspapers reported Sunday.

According to witnesses, the perpetrator, in plain clothes, was on a motorbike with an accomplice near the 36-year-old unionist and fired three bullets at him with a K 59 pistol, Sralanh Khmer wrote.

Two of the bullets hit Hy Vuthy in the lower part of his left armpit and the left waist, according to Rasmei Kampuchea. Hy Vuthy , a member of the Free Trade Union of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUKC), died after being taken to a private hopstial.

“It was not a robbery because the killers didn’t take his motorbike,” said Dangkao district deputy police chief Chuop Sok Heng, adding that suspects have not been identified, reports The Cambodia Daily.

District police chief Bon Sam At said Hy Vuthy could have been killed due to revenge, according to Sralanh Khmer.

Pov Panhapich’s condition gradually returning to normal

23 March 2007
By Sam Borin
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A report indicated that the condition of famous singer Pov Panhapich who was shot by unknown assailants, and is currently undergoing medical care in Vietnam, is gradually returning to normal.

Eang Sithul, the President of the Cambodian Artists Association (CAA), told RFA on Friday evening, shortly before boarding on a plane from Cambodia to travel to the US, that according to the latest information he received, singer Pov Panhapich’s condition has improved and she can now move her body, she can make also sign language to express what she wants to say. However, the doctors do not allow her to do anything she wants yet.

Eang Sithul said: “As of last, I know that her condition has improved, she can now move her hands and she can talk. But the doctors do not allow her to talk yet in order to prevent her health condition to degrade into some other complications. I am hopeful that there will be good results for Pov Panhapich.”

Eang Sithul said that a group of CAA members, along with representatives from the US, are planning to lead a delegation to go to Vietnam soon to visit Pov Panhapich who is still in the hospital.

Singer Pov Panhapich was shot by unknown assailants on 23 February when she got out of her car to enter the English school located along Norodom Boulevard, in the middle of Phnom Penh city, which she was frequenting.

Pov Panhapich Needs Your Help!

Pov Panhapich Needs Your Help!

Because of a severe fund shortage for the healthcare and medical treatment for Singer Pov Panhapich in Thailand, and the inability of her family to come to her help, we are calling on the generosity of all Cambodian people in the world to help provide for Pov Panhapich.

In the name of Ms. Pov Panhapich and her family, we are thanking you in advance and wish you with the 5 Buddhist blessings.

Check or Money Order donations can be sent to:

Cambodian Culture & Art Association
2517 East Anaheim Street
Long Beach, CA 90804

Names of the donors will be published by “Angkor Borei” newspaper.

Click here to learn more about Singer Pov Panhapich’s shooting in the street of Phnom Penh.

Pov Panhapich to persevere to help herself survive

04 May 2007
By Sam Borin Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Singer Pov Panhapich who was shot by unknown assassins in February, but survived the ordeal, said for the first time, after her more than 2-1/2 months of medical care, that she will persevere to help herself to survive for the future.

The singer made this declaration during a quiet birthday party thrown for her at her hospital bed in Vietnam. On 4 May, she reached the age of 24-year-old.

Pov Chansotheavy, an older sister of Pov Panhapich, told RFA this afternoon that today is her birthday, and that the celebration is attended by her immediate family only.

Pov Chansotheavy also said that lately, her sister is suffering body pain and her body temperature is high due to an attempt made the doctors to connect her nerves which were severed during the shooting.

Nevertheless, Pov Panhapich told RFA’s Sam Borin that she will endure to overcome the pain and she hopes that her life will return to normal again. “In short, since I came here (hospital), from the time I arrived and for the past 2-1/2 months, my body always aches because of severed nerves. The doctors told me that my nerves are trying to heal, therefore, wherever this happens, pain will be felt there also … In my mind, I try to think that I am determined to let the disease evolves on its own, I do not allow the pain to overcome me.”

Pov Panhapich was shot in the middle of Phnom Penh one early morning in February when she got off her car to attend school. Up to now, the Cambodian authority has not found her assassins yet.

Pov Panhapich asks for donation to pursue her healthcare

Pov Panhapich prior to her shooting
Pov Panhapich now (Photo: RFI)

22 June 2010
By Im Narin
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer By Sujata

Click here to listen to the audio program (MP3)

It has been almost four years since singer Pov Panhapich went into hiding in order to get medical care from the bullets shot at her by assassins in 2007. While she is now out of life danger, half of her body is now handicapped. Pov Panhapich needs a lot of funds and a lot of time still to take care of her health, however, now, her family has exhausted all their means. With both hands raised in a “sampeah” gesture, she is asking for generous donors to help provide funds to her so that she can pursue her healthcare.

Pov Panhapich’s condition improved significantly

30 April 2007
By Sam Borin
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

A report indicated that the condition of the young singer, Pov Panhapich, has improved gradually.

Mrs. Ung Theary of the Cambodian-American Association for Development, based in California, USA, and who visited the singer at the Vietnamese hospital, said that currently, Pov Panhapich’s voice can be heard when she talks.

In addition to her visit to Pov Panhapich, Ung Theary also spoke on the phone with the singer this weekend. Ung Teary said that the singer’s condition has improved.

A source close to the singer’s family said that she expressed her concerns about returning back to Cambodia due to insecurity and threats on her life. The authority has not yet find justice for the singer.

Ung Theary said that the Cambodian embassy in Vietnam requires that all visitors for Pov Panhapich must obtain an authorization from the embassy first.

Ung Theary added that the singer still faces the lack of funds to continue her medical treatment.

Impostor tries to impersonate Pov Panhapich’s “dead” father

27 Feb 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A man impersonated Pov Panhapich’s father in order to visit her in the Cho Ray hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, while famous doctors were operating to remove a bullet which shattered the second collar bone from the singer’s neck. This bullet made her paralyzed from the neck down.

Rasmey Kampuchea newspaper reported that an imposter posing as her father visited Panhapich on 25 Feb, but was prevented entry, according to the hospital. In reality, Panhapich’s father died since 2006.

Because of her injuries and her fame as a singer, the hospital placed great attention in caring for her and in providing her security. Reporters are prevented from entering the hospital entrance gate. According to a directive by Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, the deputy director of the Cho Ray hospital, no reporters are allowed to go near the victim, nor be provided with medical documents related to the victim. Furthermore, doctors involved in her care are ordered not to discuss about the victim’s condition without prior authorization form the hospital director. In order to improve security, the 5 persons accompanying Panhapich to Vietnam are also not allowed to visit Panhapich, they have been placed in Building 25, a location reserved for the family of the victim.

The Cho Ray hospital also reported several irregular activities. A Cambodian man claiming to be the father’s of victim, insisted on visiting her. When confronted by the hospital staff to provide proof that he is indeed the father’s of the victim, the man replied that he is in fact her uncle’s instead. In reality, Panhapich’s father died since 2006.

In the afternoon of 25 Feb, a young Cambodian man who claimed to be a relative of Panhapich, but who refused to provide any details, met with the Cho Ray hospital doctors asking to become the sole caregiver of Panhapich, and he also asked the doctor to prevent all others to approach her. The man claimed that he was concerned that someone would remove the oxygen pipe from Panhapich. The hospital staff politely asked the man to leave the premises, and security officers have been placed all around Panhapich’s hospital bed.

Pov Panhapich sent a song to her fans

Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Pov Panhapich who was a famous singer in Cambodia, and who is currently undergoing medical care in a Vietnamese hospital following her shooting, sent her voice recorded on tape to her fans and her older sister. The Cambodia Daily reported that Pov Panhapich recorded her voice and sent it to Pov Chan Sotheavy, her older sister, and to Cambodian people. In the tape, she said in a soft and polite voice: “I am sick (now). I am sending my regards to all the people who are living in Cambodia.” She also said that she misses her singing career very much, and she also sang a sentimental song about the beauty of the sunset. Pov Chan Sotheavy said that, through this tape, her younger sister wants to show that her health is getting better now. However, Pov Chan Sotheavy said that her family is still very concerned because Pov Panhapich still cannot move her body from the chest down. She can only move her two hands.

Pov Panhapich’s condition significantly improved [-She can talk now, but cannot move her body yet]

04 March 2007
By Mondol Keo
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Click here to listen to the program in Khmer

Pov Panhapich’s health condition has improved significantly and she can also speak now.

Two doctors who are caring for Panhapich said that her injuries are getting better, and that she can now speak. Her condition is no longer life threatening, and she now can whispers to the doctors. She even asked the doctor not to trim her hair off.

Doctor Kim, an expert in body limbs told RFA over the phone: “When I got in, I asked to have her hair (Panhapich’s) washed. Her hair was dirty because it has not been shampooed for a week already, I told them (nurses) to wash her hair. I told her that I am working at the Cho Ray hospital, looking at her body limbs. From Phnom Penh, they asked me to look after you… she is aware of everything, I told her to be strong, to heal quickly, I told her not to be afraid, I am here, I am working here, she shouldn’t be afraid. When I told [the nurses] to shampoo her hair, they wanted to trim her hair, Panhapich refused. So I told them not to since she is a singer.”

Another doctor by the name of Thoeun, gave a short phone interview to RFA. He said: “Her condition has improved a lot, however she cannot talk good yet. But in general, her condition has improved a lot. We pierce a hole to install a breathing tube through her neck, therefore, she cannot talk clearly yet, but everything else look good. There is no life threatening issue any more, but we cannot say anything yet if she would be paralyzed or not, we cannot evaluate this yet. We have to wait for another stage. As for her face, her alertness, her body, everything has improved, but for her legs and hands motion, we cannot say anything yet. Her speech is not clear yet because of the breathing tube through her neck, she cannot talk normally yet because of her injury in the upper neck. Let’s wait a while, if there is any change, I will let you know later.”

Pov Panhapich’s safety and security are also important issues right now, especially since her health condition has been improved.

Pov Panhapich out of harm’s way [- She can now move one hand]

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

By Kang Kallyann
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Singer Pov Panhapich who was shot twice last Friday on Norodom Boulevard in Phnom Penh, is out of danger today. Pov Panhapich’s older sister said yesterday that the star, who is currently hospitalized in Ho Chi Minh City, could move one hand. Several of her fans tried to visit her at her hospital bed, by claiming to the Charey hospital staff that they are members of her family. Because of this situation, her real family members must now carry a special pass.

Pov Panhapich’s family calls for donations to help pay for medical care for the singer. “Her condition is still serious, and we don’t have the mean to pay all the cost. We are paying $500 per day,” Pov Chansopheavy, the singer’s sister, said. The [Cambodian] authorities gave $1,200 to the family.

Faced with NGOs’ criticisms on the authority’s inability to arrest the murderers, Yim Sovann, President of the National Assembly committee for State Affairs, invited yesterday, Sar Kheng, the Minister of Interior, to come to the National Assembly to clarify to the MPs about the attempt on the singer and the murder of Hy Vuthy, President of the Suntex Free Trade Union, the following day.

Singer Pov Panhapich shot twice at close range

Miss POV PANHAPICH is one of the most popular female singers in Cambodia. (Photo: Everyday.com.kh)

Feb 23, 2007
Top Cambodian female singer shot

DPA

Phnom Penh - One of Cambodia's top female singers was in a critical condition Friday after being shot twice at close range while on her way to college, police said.

Pov Panhapich, aged in her mid-20s, was shot at close range on a central city street before 7 a.m. (0000 GMT) in front of the Ministry of Mines and Energy building as she prepared to enter the English school she was enrolled at, deputy chief of Daun Penh penal police, Ros Sinna.

'We don't know what happened yet. We have no motive and we are still investigating,' Sinna said by telephone. He said she appeared to have been shot in the throat and hip.

The beautiful singer and sometime-actress is famous for contemporary hits such as 'Joeung Klang' (Strong Feet) and is one of the country's top 10 recording artists.

A number of Cambodian singers and actresses have been shot or attacked with acid in recent years. Most of these attacks have been blamed on either jealousy or politics. Police Friday said it was too early to speculate in Panhapich's case but the pop star was not believed to be active in politics.

Panhapich was rushed to Calmette Hospital but was expected to be moved to a hospital in Vietnam later Friday for further treatment.

Still no leads on Cambodian singer's shooting [-Panhapich in stable condition in VN, expected to survive]

Pov Panhapich opened her eyes as she regains consciousness (Photo: Bunry, Koh Santepheap newspaper)

Feb 26, 2007
DPA

Phnom Penh - Police said Monday they still had no leads on the daylight shooting of a popular young Cambodian singer on a busy city street last week.

Senior Daun Penh penal police officer Yim Socheat said police were still baffled as to who shot Pov Panhapich Friday morning as she made her way to English college despite interviewing a number of eyewitnesses. He said they had also found no motive.

'We are continuing the investigation but we have no answers yet,' he said.

Local newspaper Koh Santepheap said the 24-year-old singer's shooting was eerily similar in its modus operandi to the shooting of another singer, Touch Srey Nich, in 2003. Srey Nich was paralysed but survived.

National icon and classical dancer Piseth Pilika died after being shot in 1999. No one was ever arrested in connection with either of those shootings.

However, Pilika was thought to have been shot because of links to a high ranking official, and Srey Nich sang political songs, but Panhapich was a pure pop singer with no romantic ties, according to her management, so a motive for the crime remains a mystery, police said.

Panhapich was in hospital in Vietnam in a stable condition according to media reports and was expected to survive.

Many Cambodians believe that keeping the images of anyone outside their immediate family circle, especially women, who have been murdered or even disfigured brings bad luck, so even if the artists survive the attacks, their popular careers are usually effectively ended.

Attacks on young women are not uncommon and usually blamed on jealousy stemming from love triangles.

Pov Panhapech: If I return back, I will surely die

11 October 2007
By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Pov Panhapich, a young and popular actress in Cambodia, told RFA recently that she is still afraid and scared from the incident in which unknown assassins shot her in Phnom Penh at the end of February 2007.

Pov Panhapich said that she does not dare return back to Cambodia right now.

The actress gave her interview from her hiding in a neighboring country of Cambodia. She claimed that she cannot return to the place where people tried to kill her.

She stressed that the reason for this is because she would be killed, should she return back to Cambodia. “I love very much my country, my home. Unfortunately for me, I want to go back, but I do not dare to. I want to ask everyone: if some people want to kill you once, and you don’t die, will these assassins come and try to kill you a second time or not? This is the place where I had my accident, the place where I lost my future, the place where I was injured and became crippled like this, can I return back to that place? I think that if they shot me once, and I didn’t die, but if I go back, I will surely die. I am very scared and very apprehensive. This time, I was lucky, the angels gave me back my life and prevented me from dying, and (they gave me the strength) to struggle. If I go back, I will surely die,” Pov Panhapich said.

Intrigue in ruling CPP detailed

Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Post Staff
The Phnom Penh Post

DIPLOMATIC cables made public by WikiLeaks yesterday reveal simmering tensions within the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and revive long-standing suspicions over alleged government involvement in some of the Kingdom’s most notorious political killings.

The cables repeatedly allude to alleged factionalism in the CPP, long denied by government officials, between camps allied with Prime Minister Hun Sen and with Interior Minister Sar Kheng and Senate president Chea Sim.

In a 1994 cable, Hun Sen reportedly says the faction rumours, which began circulating in the mid-1980s, “were not true then, nor are they true now”.

Later communiqués, however, reveal potential fissures in the party.

Pov Panhapich needs your help

Click on the image to zoom in

Translated from text in Khmer above

Call for donation to help Pov Panhapich

“Angkor Borei” news and the Cambodian Development Foundation, along with Ms. Ung Thary

We are calling for your generosity to provide donations to help Ms. Pov Panhapich who is currently undergoing medical care at a hospital in Vietnam, following an assassination attempt on her on 23 February 2007.

Currently, her health condition has improved but she needs to remain at the hospital for a long time to come still. Because her daily hospital expenses far exceed her ability to pay, as well as that of her family, she can only count on your generosity to help provide for her.

Please address your check or money order donation to:

Cambodian Development Foundation

and mail it to:

Angkor Borei News
2034 E. Lincoln Ave., Suite 214
Anaheim, CA 92806
USA

Angkor Borei news will list the names of the generous donors in its publication.

Update on singer Pov Panhapich

Pov Panhapich (Photo: Everyday.com.kh)

Cambodian singer seriously injured in shooting attack (4:25 p.m.)

AP

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- A popular Cambodian singer was seriously injured when a gunman repeatedly fired on her in the capital on Friday, police said.

Pov Panha Pich, 23, was shot twice - once each in the neck and abdomen - as she got out of her car to attend a morning class at an English-language school in the capital, Phnom Penh, said Touch Naroth, the city's police chief.

Police were searching for the attackers, identified as two men who drove up on motorcycle. The gunman fired from the back seat with a handgun and the driver sped off after the shots were fired, he said.

Pov Panha Pich appears regularly in concerts, local television programs and advertisements.

There was no known motive for the shooting, but police said they believed the attack was not carried out by robbers, since none of her belongings were stolen.

"It looks more like a revenge attack resulting from a dispute," Touch Naroth told reporters at the Phnom Penh hospital, where she was initially treated. She was then driven to neighboring Vietnam, which has more sophisticated medical facilities than Cambodia.

Ieng Sithul, director of the Khmer Artists Association, described Pov Panha Pich as a gentle person who grew up in a well-educated family.

She was not the first singer targeted by a shooting.

In late 2003, popular singer Touch Sunich was critically wounded in a shooting in Phnom Penh. She was treated in the United States, where she now lives. No motive was ever determined for that attack.