Murdered union leader Chea Vichea
Funeral for opposition journalist Khim Sambo
The slaying of Chuor Chetharith in Phnom Penh
Relatives of opposition journalist Duong Daravuth grieve before his portrait during his funeral in Phnom Penh, following a deadly 1997 grenade attack that has never been solved.By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
12 November 2008
As he begins his work as national police chief, Gen. Neth Savoeun will face a pile of open cases that his predecessor was accused of ignoring, impeding or perpetrating. Rights workers Wednesday wondered whether the new chief would make progress on any of them.
The former police chief, Hok Lundy, who died in a helicopter crash Sunday, failed to solve a number of high-profile cases that pained the nation: extrajudicial killings in the July 1997 coup, a grenade attack on opposition demonstrators that killed 16 in March 1997, and the murders of actress Piseth Pilika, Funcinpec lawmaker Om Rasady and opposition journalist Khim Sambor.
Hok Lundy, a powerful Cambodian People’s Party official close to Prime Minster Hun Sen, was routinely accused of collaboration in most of the cases. His death also left two men in prison widely considered innocent in the 2004 murder of labor leader Chea Vichea.
Rights workers were split on whether a police force under Neth Savoeun, who was a deputy of Hok Lundy and is married to a niece of Hun Sen, would be able to solve any of the cases.
“I don’t believe the appointment of Neth Savoeun as new national police chief will solve the crimes that happened in recent years,” Ou Vireak, chairman of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said.
Even if Neth Savoeun had a will to investigate them, Ou Vireak said, he could face incarceration like Heng Pov. The former Phnom Penh police chief fingered Hok Lundy for a litany of crimes after Heng Pov fled the country in 2006, only to be extradited and imprisoned.
“When Heng Pov knew of these crimes, the government arrested him and put him in jail,” Ou Vireak said.
Heng Pov is now serving more than 50 years in a Cambodian prison and faces yet more charges for his alleged involvement in crimes while he was city chief under Hok Lundy.
Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, doubted Neth Savoeun would make major changes to the police.
“He would almost certainly continue to politicize the work of the police and tighten Hun Sen’s personalized control over the national police,”Adams said.
Am Sam Art, an investigator for the rights group Licadho, said he believed the appointment could lead to breakthroughs in all the serious cases.
“I believe Neth Savoeun will reform the national police force to have a good reputation, not like Hok Lundy,” he said. “That’s why he should do everything in the interest of the people.”
Chea Mony, brother of slain union worker Chea Vichea and president of the Free Trade Union, said he hoped Neth Savoeun would find “justice” in that case. Two men believed innocent, Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, are serving 20-year prison sentences for the murder.
“I think Neth Savoeun could find the real killers involved in the murder of my brother,” Chea Mony said. “We are ready to cooperate with him and give him the evidence if the police force needs the local NGOs to help.”
Vorn Phonn, 63, father of Sok Samoeun, appealed to Neth Savoeun to reexamine the case.
“I request to the replacement of Hok Lundy to urge the Supreme Court to judge the cases of my son and nephew Born Samnang,” he said. “I filed a complaint in May 2007, and until now it has been more than a year, so I hope Neth Savoeun can be able to push the judicial process.”
Gen. Neth Savoeun could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said, “Those cases have not been closed by the Ministry of Interior.”
“We will be investigating those crimes to find justice for the people, for the victims,” he said.
The former police chief, Hok Lundy, who died in a helicopter crash Sunday, failed to solve a number of high-profile cases that pained the nation: extrajudicial killings in the July 1997 coup, a grenade attack on opposition demonstrators that killed 16 in March 1997, and the murders of actress Piseth Pilika, Funcinpec lawmaker Om Rasady and opposition journalist Khim Sambor.
Hok Lundy, a powerful Cambodian People’s Party official close to Prime Minster Hun Sen, was routinely accused of collaboration in most of the cases. His death also left two men in prison widely considered innocent in the 2004 murder of labor leader Chea Vichea.
Rights workers were split on whether a police force under Neth Savoeun, who was a deputy of Hok Lundy and is married to a niece of Hun Sen, would be able to solve any of the cases.
“I don’t believe the appointment of Neth Savoeun as new national police chief will solve the crimes that happened in recent years,” Ou Vireak, chairman of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said.
Even if Neth Savoeun had a will to investigate them, Ou Vireak said, he could face incarceration like Heng Pov. The former Phnom Penh police chief fingered Hok Lundy for a litany of crimes after Heng Pov fled the country in 2006, only to be extradited and imprisoned.
“When Heng Pov knew of these crimes, the government arrested him and put him in jail,” Ou Vireak said.
Heng Pov is now serving more than 50 years in a Cambodian prison and faces yet more charges for his alleged involvement in crimes while he was city chief under Hok Lundy.
Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, doubted Neth Savoeun would make major changes to the police.
“He would almost certainly continue to politicize the work of the police and tighten Hun Sen’s personalized control over the national police,”Adams said.
Am Sam Art, an investigator for the rights group Licadho, said he believed the appointment could lead to breakthroughs in all the serious cases.
“I believe Neth Savoeun will reform the national police force to have a good reputation, not like Hok Lundy,” he said. “That’s why he should do everything in the interest of the people.”
Chea Mony, brother of slain union worker Chea Vichea and president of the Free Trade Union, said he hoped Neth Savoeun would find “justice” in that case. Two men believed innocent, Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, are serving 20-year prison sentences for the murder.
“I think Neth Savoeun could find the real killers involved in the murder of my brother,” Chea Mony said. “We are ready to cooperate with him and give him the evidence if the police force needs the local NGOs to help.”
Vorn Phonn, 63, father of Sok Samoeun, appealed to Neth Savoeun to reexamine the case.
“I request to the replacement of Hok Lundy to urge the Supreme Court to judge the cases of my son and nephew Born Samnang,” he said. “I filed a complaint in May 2007, and until now it has been more than a year, so I hope Neth Savoeun can be able to push the judicial process.”
Gen. Neth Savoeun could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said, “Those cases have not been closed by the Ministry of Interior.”
“We will be investigating those crimes to find justice for the people, for the victims,” he said.
May all living beings who are in fear be free from fear.
ReplyDeleteMay all living beings who are in sorrow be free from sorrow.
May the God Buddha be with you all last forever.
Your Devil is gone.
God has punished your Devil.
May your soul Rest in peace!!!
This is the Cambodian “curse” in Pali (use it people) it will comes true.
ReplyDeletePALI DAK BANDASSA PUOK AH KBOT CHEAT.
OMA PRASITHI SOURS !
Toeup Preah Iksvarak chea kru proeur anh dak bandasa ah Hun Sen, mi bun rany, ah sihannouk, ah me kheatakkor reas khmer, ah me kh'bot cheat khmer, oy ah trov slap yang torn honn, slap noeung Ronteas banh, slap tai horng, ah pourk ah kh'bot srok taing os som moy roleay rolout tov,
OMA SITHI S'VAHAK, S"VAHAYEAK VINEAS ASESATOR ONTARAY TOV HONG!!!
Preah Iksvarak nov Battambang
---------------
Me ti 2
HAV CHHMUOS PUOK AH KHBOT CHEAT HEUY SOT THA:
OM SAROME PUTH VANH CHAK LOK-KE TE PROMA VATA HAK-KE KAK-KE MANG PRASITHI ME OM Slab maha Slab Krolab Phaen Dei, Lick touk , Plouk Lan, Thlak Yunhos, Rot Kros Chhes, Phes Peas Veal Peas Kal, Slab Pdey Kaun Khjey Mday Deum, Teup Kru Breu Anh Khab Tov Krom Neay, Phay Tov Krom Tirk, Phat Tov Krom Neay Phay Tov Krom Preah Thorney PUTH THIENG KAMCHAT, THORMANG KAMCHAY, SANGKHANG ROLEAY, SAB-PE ONTARAY, VINEAS SONTHE ASESATOR, OM SITHI KECHANG, SITHI KAMMANG, SITHI KAMCHAT, KAKTHA KAKTO, SITHI DECHO, SITHI CHEYO, NIYO NIYANG, SITHI KAMMANG SAB-TOKANG VINEAS SONTHE ASESATOR.
Sachang PhnomTbaeng
All these people murdered by ah Hun Sen and
ReplyDeleteah Hok Landy, next year ah Hun Sen will go to hell too.
Hok Lundy real name is Nguyen Van Son. His was born in Tay Ninh AKA(RONG DOMREY). 100% Youn. Hok Lundy is a Murder all the Khmer Star and Politician in Cambodia.
ReplyDeletehelp spread the word to all khmer whom still think he is real khmer Hero for them....
If Neth Savoun is a good chef, he should review the two priners cases as soon as possible before they are all rotten in jail since 2004. If the two prisoners are innocent, I would deeply feel sorry for them.
ReplyDeleteAbba
Neth Savoun is Yuon, their only goal is to kill Khmers as many as possible and enslave the rest. So don't even dream. If we want change we need to put Khmer at the head of the country.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to be hard to determine who is real Khmer or not unless you run a DNA test on all of them. Otherwise, how else can you achieve that?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is matter whatever your origin is as long as you are at less second generation borned in Cambodia with a clean background. Also well educated in Khmer language and culture.
Abba
All ya listen to this:
ReplyDelete-khmers must do all necessary and possible one can do to fight for the survival of the country. Youns immigrants throughout Cambodia must be expelled from the country. Immigration Law must be implemented! Or this is a lawless country-or with the so government serving as puppet for Youn government. And Corruption Law must be enacted and properly practiced!
And absolutely the idea "the rule of law and everyone under the roof of law" must be applied to all individual. Otherwise your country will knee down and be swallowed by Youn government too soon as "the number of illegal youns have flooded rampantly and with the protection of the khmer government serving Youns'interest".
Spread the word and it's the simplest thing that you can do for your country, at least.
"With the heart of khmer and wisdoms for khmer."
9:21 AM A real Khmer comes from the Soul and the heart. Real Khmers will help each other while fake ones like this filthy Yuon Hoc Lundy will want to murder as many of our good Khmers as they can and at the same time make Khmer people look bad.
ReplyDeleteYuons are #1 killer of Khmer people remember that.
The people fake khmer strategically want to divide us khmers to make us look small so that they can catch and abolish us in hardly-understandable methods.
ReplyDeletekhmer
That's it. Ah Savage Killer (Scam Rainxy) must be brought to justice now, otherwise we'll never see the end of dead and suffering in Cambodia.
ReplyDeleteHok Lundy is waiting his mates to join him in the HELL:Kun Kim, Hun To, Hun CHOCH, AH SOEUN the Planet earth, Mak Chito, Khieu Sopheak...
ReplyDeleteWe wait and see them disppear one by one or by group..
11:05 AM
ReplyDeleteI thought you were in the chopper with ah Hok Lundy.
Hey ah yuon can you tell me the symbolism of a plastic doll with the face of ah Hok Lundy? I'm not familiar with ah yuon culture.
R 11:05am,
ReplyDeleteGo to get your blood test for HIV/Aids.
You are lucky Hok Lundy died early; otherwise, it will rape your sister, your wife and your mother too, mate!.
Perth, Australia
That's it. Ah Savage Killer (Hun Sen) must be brought to justice now, otherwise we'll never see the end of dead and suffering in Cambodia.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, Cambodia is ruled by Youn. When the bastard asked Youn to help fight Pol Pot, he made the deal, the deal to install some Youn army and majority of Youn high ranking officials to control Cambodia. If the bastard doesn't do as told, I'm sure he will be killed. My point is that the strong man in Cambodia is not the bastard, it's Youn, the Youn Hanoi. To get rid of the regime is to kill all those Youn bastards, not just the bastard recently dead. I predict one day Cambodia will be full of Youn. By then, Cambodia will be renamed to Youn.
ReplyDeleteខួបឯករាជ្យទី ៥៥ (៩ វិច្ឆិកា ១៩៥៣-៩ វិច្ឆិកា ២០០៨) ជាទិវាឯករាជ្យ របស់ប្រទេសខ្មែរ ពីអាណានិគមបារាំង។ ខួបឯករាជ្យទី ៥៥ នេះ ជាមហាជោគជ័យ សំរាប់កូនខ្មែរ ដែល អាពេជ្ឈឃាដឃោរឃៅ ឈ្មោះហុក ឡងឌីបានត្រូវ ងាប់តៃហោង ដោយ រន្ទះបាញ់យន្តហោះកន្ទុំរុយ។
ReplyDeleteឮដំណឹងអាហុក ឡងឌីងាប់តៃហោង, ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ នៅគ្រប់ទិសទី លើពិភពលោក បានទូរសព្ទ ប្រាប់ដំណឹងគ្នីគ្នា ជប់លៀង ផឹកស្រាទំពាំងបាយជូ យ៉ាងរីករាយ អបអរ ការងាប់តៃហោង អាហុក ឡងឌី។