Hok Lundi, National Police director-general (Photo RFA)18 May 2006
Hok Lundi Agrees To Patch Up With Heng Peou
By Li Suo
Moneaksekar Khmer
Translated from Khmer
A high-ranking Interior Ministry official who requested anonymity said that after temporarily displaying an arrogant attitude in the same manner as Sok Phal [National Police deputy director-general], Net Savoeun [National Police deputy director-general], and a couple of his sycophants, Hok Lundi [National Police director-general] now has agreed to reconcile with Heng Peou [former Phnom Penh Police Department commissioner]. Reconciliation here is just a nice diplomatic term. In the tough guys' parlance, Hok Lundi now finds himself floored helplessly in front of Heng Peou.
The same source said that Hok Lundi and Heng Peou have patched up after both met recently in Singapore. This is because the time for prosecuting the "death squad" or Li Rasi and company is getting near. If Hok Lundi refused to make settlement, he might be dragged into this case.
According to the Interior Ministry official, at first Hok Lundi wanted to use the trial of the death squad members to attack Heng Peou by torturing them into fingering him. However, the confession was not clear. After consulting with court officials and other law experts, he was convinced that the proof contained in the answers given by Li Rasi, Hang Vutthi, and others was not enough to charge Heng Peou. Hok Lundi, therefore, changed his mind and agreed to reconcile with Heng Peou, for attacking other people but getting oneself hurt is not a smart man's idea.
The source said that all the crimes committed were carried out under orders, such as the robbery and shooting death of Om Ratsadi [senior FUNCINPEC Party official], the shooting death of Chea Vichea, and the many secret murders of several other people. The case that scares Hok Lundi the most is the killing of Chea Vichea, president of the Free Workers Union of the Kingdom of Cambodia. In this case, Heng Peou was ordered to arrest Sok Sam-oeun and Born Samnang as scapegoats and Hun Song, former police inspector of Tuol Kouk ward, played an important role.
If this case were brought to court for hearing, the secrets would be exposed to the public. For this reason, Hok Lundi agreed to make up with Heng Peou because he has been completely helpless before his enemy.
The high-ranking Interior Ministry official said that Hok Lundi wanted to break Heng Peou but could not. It is unknown whether a dozens of Heng Peou's men who are in jail awaiting trial would be sacrificed or not. As a matter of facts, the trial of these dozen underlings of Heng Peou who were arrested and jailed by Hok Lundi at Prey Sar prison is drawing near.
The official said that Heng Peou's men were the real culprits and Hok Lundi already ordered their identity to be revealed to the public. Observers are monitoring this case with great interest.
However, if through some funny tricks these men were acquitted, it would be clear that all past murders in the country were orchestrated by an organization; in other words, it is possible that these murders were perpetrated at the orders of the ruling party.
However, according to the same Interior Ministry official, probably Heng Peou would have to make sacrifices, meaning that he would let his men stay in jail in response to the conditions set by Hok Lundi to end his problem with him. As for the other people involved, they must be dealt with accordingly because Hok Lundi feels that he has already reached the ceiling and cannot push any further fearing that it might backfire against himself.
The same source said that Hok Lundi and Heng Peou have patched up after both met recently in Singapore. This is because the time for prosecuting the "death squad" or Li Rasi and company is getting near. If Hok Lundi refused to make settlement, he might be dragged into this case.
According to the Interior Ministry official, at first Hok Lundi wanted to use the trial of the death squad members to attack Heng Peou by torturing them into fingering him. However, the confession was not clear. After consulting with court officials and other law experts, he was convinced that the proof contained in the answers given by Li Rasi, Hang Vutthi, and others was not enough to charge Heng Peou. Hok Lundi, therefore, changed his mind and agreed to reconcile with Heng Peou, for attacking other people but getting oneself hurt is not a smart man's idea.
The source said that all the crimes committed were carried out under orders, such as the robbery and shooting death of Om Ratsadi [senior FUNCINPEC Party official], the shooting death of Chea Vichea, and the many secret murders of several other people. The case that scares Hok Lundi the most is the killing of Chea Vichea, president of the Free Workers Union of the Kingdom of Cambodia. In this case, Heng Peou was ordered to arrest Sok Sam-oeun and Born Samnang as scapegoats and Hun Song, former police inspector of Tuol Kouk ward, played an important role.
If this case were brought to court for hearing, the secrets would be exposed to the public. For this reason, Hok Lundi agreed to make up with Heng Peou because he has been completely helpless before his enemy.
The high-ranking Interior Ministry official said that Hok Lundi wanted to break Heng Peou but could not. It is unknown whether a dozens of Heng Peou's men who are in jail awaiting trial would be sacrificed or not. As a matter of facts, the trial of these dozen underlings of Heng Peou who were arrested and jailed by Hok Lundi at Prey Sar prison is drawing near.
The official said that Heng Peou's men were the real culprits and Hok Lundi already ordered their identity to be revealed to the public. Observers are monitoring this case with great interest.
However, if through some funny tricks these men were acquitted, it would be clear that all past murders in the country were orchestrated by an organization; in other words, it is possible that these murders were perpetrated at the orders of the ruling party.
However, according to the same Interior Ministry official, probably Heng Peou would have to make sacrifices, meaning that he would let his men stay in jail in response to the conditions set by Hok Lundi to end his problem with him. As for the other people involved, they must be dealt with accordingly because Hok Lundi feels that he has already reached the ceiling and cannot push any further fearing that it might backfire against himself.
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