Hok Lundy, Cambodia’s top cop, killed in a helicopter accident

Phnom Penh (Cambodia) 26 June 2008. Police chief Hok Lundy is seen leaving his helicopter following a visit to the site of the PMT Air plane crash in Kampot province the day before (Photo: Archive, Stringer)

10 Nov 2008
By Duong Sokha and Stéphanie Gée
Ka-set
Unofficial translation from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Hok Lundy, Cambodia’s top cop – who held this position since 1994 – seems to be immovable. 58-year-old, the 4-star general died in the early evening on Sunday 09 November in a helicopter crash while he was traveling from Phnom Penh to Svay Rieng, his birth province located in Cambodia’s southeast. None of the four passengers in the helicopter – Hok Lundy, General Sok Saem, deputy commander of the Cambodian infantry, and two pilots – survived the crash.

Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, indicated on Monday 10 November that he did not know the reason for this travel which took place following the celebration of the 55th anniversary of Cambodia’s independence, an event in which Hok Lundy was present. On Monday morning, General Sok Phal, deputy police commissioner, visited Hok Lundy’s home to pay his respect. He refused to provide any comment on this affair to the news media while indicating that an investigation has been opened on the case. He added that Neth Savoeun will take over the command of the national police while waiting for the nomination of a replacement for Hok Lundy. His funeral – the date of which has not been set or announced yet – will be held in Svay Rieng where he died.

An official often criticized by human rights activists

After he was nominated as governor of Svay Rieng in 1993, Hok Lundy was nominated as general director at the ministry of Interior in charge of police. He nevertheless remained very active in his province where he opened a private university. Holding a good position among Hun Sen’s closed guards – the two consolidated their links through the wedding of their children – Hok Lundy was not a friend of human rights groups. Untouchable, the numerous allegations about his role in human and drug trafficking, or the murder of officials did not push him out of his positions. He liked to repeat in interviews he gave out to the press that he has nothing to blame himself with, while calling his detractors to provide proof of their accusations.

Heng Pov’s accusations

Union leader Chea Vichea, the star Piseth Pilika, Minister Ho Sok: these were three murders ordered by Hok Lundy, Heng Pov made these sensational revelations to the French magazine L’Express while he was on the run out of the country. In an interview reported under the title “Hun Sen’s dirty jobs” and published in the weekly French magazine in August 2006, Heng Pov did not hesitate to accuse his boss in the March 1997 grenade attack against a demonstration led by Sam Rainsy. The attack left 12 people dead. He also presented Hok Lundy as being the perpetrator of “illegal acts” for Hun Sen, and he added that their conniving started all the way back when the pair met each other in Vietnam in 1979. Shortly thereafter, Heng Pov’s whereabout was found and he was extradited back to Cambodia where he is currently sitting in jail for a number of crimes and infractions that the Cambodian court charged him for.

Hok Lundy rehabilitated by the FBI

In 2007, the FBI’s invitation for Hok Lundy to travel to Washington to discuss about the cooperation on anti-terrorism fight led a protest from human rights groups, in particular from Human Rights Watch (HRW). “The alleged involvement of Hok Lundy in political violence actions and organized crimes in Cambodia should lead the FBI to hold an investigation against him, not welcoming him,” Brad Adams, HRW director for Asia, said in shock.

That was a radical change in the US attitude towards the Cambodian top cop, whereas a year earlier, in 2006, the US State Department refused to provide him a visa for a visit to the US because of his “ alleged involvement in human trafficking.” One month later, the FBI rewarded Hok Lundy with a medal for his support in the fight against international terrorism.

A questionable disappearance

Speculations abound: was it an unfortunate accident due to bad weather or … was it a conspiracy? For Chea Mony, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), it does not matter, the death of the top cop means that, undoubtedly, the number of murders of politicians, stars and Cambodian reporters will be reduced. “Nevertheless, I regret that he was not brought to justice. […] When he was in power, nobody dared to defy him. His death will prevent any attempt to identify his accomplices.”

When asked, other activists tried to remain neutral. Chan Soveth, a representative of Adhoc, presented his condolences to Hok Lundy’s family and Adhoc will send a wreath. Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), asked the government to investigate thoroughly in order to shed lights on the accusations made by Heng Pov against Hok Lundy, as well as on the causes of the crash which put an end to Hok Lundy’s life on 09 November.