Official: Police Can't Arrest 'Beer Girl' Shooters
By Kuch Naren and Whitney Kvasager
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Phnom Penh's top police official said on Sunday that he was unable to arrest the RCAF soldiers involved in the recent shooting of a beer promotion worker as the officers were beyond the scope of his authority.
Municipal Police Commissioner Touch Naruth also said that complaints were not lodged against the drunk Brigade 70 soldiers who shot a beer hostess in the foot because she had not fetched ice quickly fast enough.
"Both of them are RCAF soldiers. No victims' complaints have been made against the two men yet," Touch Naruth said.
Arresting the soldiers was the responsibility of the military police, he said, adding that police are also unable to make arrests if victims do not complain.
Municipal Military Police Chief Ya Kim Y could not be reached Sunday.
Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the legal aid NGO Cambodian Defenders Project, said Touch Naruth's response wasn't good enough.
"Police have an obligation to investigate these cases. It is a crime and it is the responsibility of the state," he said. "There is no need for a complaint from a victim. If a person is murdered, do police require the dead person to register a complaint before they investigate?"
He said all labor laws apply to beer promotion girls and that failing to ensure workers' rights could mean punishment for beer companies, which pay the promoters, as well as beer garden owners.
Beer promotion girls and karaoke singers also called on police and other officials to investigate the crimes against their colleagues.
A 23-year-old karaoke singer, who declined to be named, said allowing the soldiers and police to walk free after paying compensation to their victims would only encourage similar crimes.
"Compensation is not the way to solve this matter," she said.
Also this weekend, Pursat province police on Saturday arrested five of seven men involved in beating a beer promotion girl and the owner of a beer garden, said Doung Sokhonn, deputy police commissioner of Pursat.
The woman had refused to continue drinking with the men on Thursday, the owner had stepped in to defend her. (Additional reporting by Pin Sisovann)
Municipal Police Commissioner Touch Naruth also said that complaints were not lodged against the drunk Brigade 70 soldiers who shot a beer hostess in the foot because she had not fetched ice quickly fast enough.
"Both of them are RCAF soldiers. No victims' complaints have been made against the two men yet," Touch Naruth said.
Arresting the soldiers was the responsibility of the military police, he said, adding that police are also unable to make arrests if victims do not complain.
Municipal Military Police Chief Ya Kim Y could not be reached Sunday.
Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the legal aid NGO Cambodian Defenders Project, said Touch Naruth's response wasn't good enough.
"Police have an obligation to investigate these cases. It is a crime and it is the responsibility of the state," he said. "There is no need for a complaint from a victim. If a person is murdered, do police require the dead person to register a complaint before they investigate?"
He said all labor laws apply to beer promotion girls and that failing to ensure workers' rights could mean punishment for beer companies, which pay the promoters, as well as beer garden owners.
Beer promotion girls and karaoke singers also called on police and other officials to investigate the crimes against their colleagues.
A 23-year-old karaoke singer, who declined to be named, said allowing the soldiers and police to walk free after paying compensation to their victims would only encourage similar crimes.
"Compensation is not the way to solve this matter," she said.
Also this weekend, Pursat province police on Saturday arrested five of seven men involved in beating a beer promotion girl and the owner of a beer garden, said Doung Sokhonn, deputy police commissioner of Pursat.
The woman had refused to continue drinking with the men on Thursday, the owner had stepped in to defend her. (Additional reporting by Pin Sisovann)
6 comments:
Why the police cannot arrest these two mad soldiers and bring them to justice? Or because of they have big boos behind them? Or the law cannot do anything to protect victim? Even the victim have not complaints against them, but the law should not allow these men go free, because they have been committed very serious crime.
Hey that Hun Cent Country. Law have to be said by Hun Cent. Hun Cent police act only if there are complain, if they heard the gun shot the will go to protect Hun Cent not people. Good luck Huncentian!
This event was posted in almost new in Cambodia so the priminister should aware about this and if he is the man he should say something about this matter since the people who commited the crime are directly working for him.This means there is something to do with him (Hun Sen)
When was the last time, you and I heard/knew that they captured any purportrator that killing people in a broad daylight? Lets say those who has more title that stand out in public eyes then end up got killed for speaking out in seeking freedom or justice for us? I still haven't seen anyone brought to justice for committing murder. Yeap..It's all Hun Sen, He is the one doing the work behind the sceen.
In Srok Khmer, you have to right to die like a dog. Thos who has gun, were given their right by Hun Sen to carry arms and get ready to commit crime then get away freely.
I have already told you that Hun sen is a weak and unstable leader that why he can't even help to arrest these criminalthat shot the beer girl.
Most impotantly, Please don't blame him. I used to hear he said to me once that, " I Hun Sen, will do whatever if i can see, but unfortunately i can't see anything because i am blind, and you all know that".
Nop.. he is only one eye blind!!.. the blinds are the people of Cambodia... so...who is the king then?...well it must be the one eye blind for sure!!hehehe hahaha..lolz!!.. /umbor_khmer
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