Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy (Photo: RFA)Thursday, August 17, 2006
By Lor Chandara and Douglas Gillison
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Sam Rainsy on Wednesday called on the government to reinvestigate the 1997 grenade attack in light of detailed claims by fugitive former police chief Heng Pov concerning the alleged role of top government officials in the blasts.
A statement in Heng Pov’s name received Tuesday alleges that named top-ranking government officials ordered or were involved in the grenade attack on a peaceful protest outside the National Assembly, which killed at least 17 and wounded over 100.
"I don't know what Heng Pov was really doing but what Mr. Heng Pov spoke of should enable the Royal Government to do investigations," Sam Rainsy told reporters outside the National Assembly. "If Mr. Heng Pov knows who is behind the attack, please let him reveal it. Let the Royal Government and the Interior Ministry and police in particular please make a thorough investigation," he said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the investigation into the attack was ongoing and that Heng Pov’s allegations could be reviewed if he returned to Cambodia to stand trial.
"The case has not been closed yet," he said of the attack nine years ago for which no one has ever stood trial.
"We welcome Heng Povs information and we welcome Heng Pov to return," he added.
Sam Rainsy said by telephone that he had been informed of the statement's contents by reporters and had not read it until Wednesday afternoon.
"Heng Pov was chief of police, after all. If a police chief says he has information, you’ve got to see if it’s true," he said.
The statement also claims that starting in 1999, Heng Pov was a source for human rights groups and officials of both the US and the UN.
Margo Picken, director of the UN human rights office in Phnom Penh, said in an e-mail Tuesday that staff from her office did occasionally meet with Heng Pov while he was chief and deputy chief of police in Phnom Penh.
US Embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said Tuesday that the embassy could not verify whether Heng Pov had met with US Drug Enforcement Administration officials but said the "Anti-Drug Intelligence Service," which Heng Pov claimed in the statement to have met with, did not exist.
Two senior police sources said that National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy traveled to Singapore on Wednesday. "It is not related to the Heng Pov problem. This is private," said one source. "He comes back Friday."
Heng Pov is said to also be in Singapore.
A statement in Heng Pov’s name received Tuesday alleges that named top-ranking government officials ordered or were involved in the grenade attack on a peaceful protest outside the National Assembly, which killed at least 17 and wounded over 100.
"I don't know what Heng Pov was really doing but what Mr. Heng Pov spoke of should enable the Royal Government to do investigations," Sam Rainsy told reporters outside the National Assembly. "If Mr. Heng Pov knows who is behind the attack, please let him reveal it. Let the Royal Government and the Interior Ministry and police in particular please make a thorough investigation," he said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the investigation into the attack was ongoing and that Heng Pov’s allegations could be reviewed if he returned to Cambodia to stand trial.
"The case has not been closed yet," he said of the attack nine years ago for which no one has ever stood trial.
"We welcome Heng Povs information and we welcome Heng Pov to return," he added.
Sam Rainsy said by telephone that he had been informed of the statement's contents by reporters and had not read it until Wednesday afternoon.
"Heng Pov was chief of police, after all. If a police chief says he has information, you’ve got to see if it’s true," he said.
The statement also claims that starting in 1999, Heng Pov was a source for human rights groups and officials of both the US and the UN.
Margo Picken, director of the UN human rights office in Phnom Penh, said in an e-mail Tuesday that staff from her office did occasionally meet with Heng Pov while he was chief and deputy chief of police in Phnom Penh.
US Embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said Tuesday that the embassy could not verify whether Heng Pov had met with US Drug Enforcement Administration officials but said the "Anti-Drug Intelligence Service," which Heng Pov claimed in the statement to have met with, did not exist.
Two senior police sources said that National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy traveled to Singapore on Wednesday. "It is not related to the Heng Pov problem. This is private," said one source. "He comes back Friday."
Heng Pov is said to also be in Singapore.
1 comment:
Once again, nothing is going to change for as long as Hun Sen and Hok Longdy in controll.
Heng Pov's statement has no evidence. It is only his words against those dogs. Unless, the persons who committed the act have come forward to testify. Will any of those come forward!??
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