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| Chhouk Bandit |
By Sochivi
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soy
2 workers among the three injured from the shooting during the protest at the Kaoway factory in Bavet city, Svay Rieng province, have sued Chhouk Bandit, the former city mayor. The lawsuit was filed at the Svay Rieng provincial court.
Families of the 2 injured workers filed their complaint to the provincial tribunal of first instance on 13 March. The workers accused Chhouk Bandit of murder attempt and they demanded for compensation, as well as hospital bills reimbursement.
Bun Sina, the other brother of Bun Chenda who was shot in her chest, indicated that, in their lawsuit, his family demand for $50,000 in compensation and they also demand for hospital bills reimbursement.
The family of Nuth Sokhorn indicated that they demand $45,000 in compensation.
Regarding these lawsuits, the Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) is providing 2 lawyers to defend the workers in their lawsuits.
A CLEC employee claimed that, last week, officials from the city of Bavet offered between $1,000 and $2,500 to the workers in exchange for their dropping of the lawsuits. Because of this offer, one of the three workers shot decided not to sue.
Lawyer Sok Sam Oeun, the executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, indicated that, even if there is no lawsuit from the victims, the culprit must still face the law. He added that in the new criminal law, murder attempt carries the same sentence as murder.
Moeun Tola, a CLEC director, said that delay in the arrest of the shooter is creating an atmosphere of concerns over impunity. Moeun Tola said that the murder case of several union lawyers went unsolved.
Three workers at the Kaoway factory were shot by an unknown man during their protest on 20 February 2012 to demand for salary bonus and food stipend. Bun Chenda was seriously injured by the shooting: a bullet pierced her left chest and exited under her left armpit. Kao Ny was injured on her right arm and Nut Sokhorn was injured on her hand and back.
On 05 March, the Cambodian government issued a sub-decree to remove Chhouk Bandit from his position. The Svay Rieng provincial court also summoned him to clarify the court on 16 March. The court summons came after Sar Kheng, the minister of Interior, announced that Chhouk Bandit was the suspect in the shooting.
10 comments:
Well done!!
We must protect our workers, provide them security and legal protection. This should be an example to stop these corrupted government officials from shooting our workers!! Chouk Bandit must pay for his crimes, after the civil trial, he must be trialed for criminal offense and be sentenced to jail for his crime.
Hun Sen must stop protecting criminals, unless he is also a criminal himself.
Justice
"A CLEC employee claimed that, last week, officials from the city of Bavet offered between $1,000 and $2,500 to the workers in exchange for their dropping of the lawsuits. Because of this offer, one of the three workers shot decided not to sue."
WTF! This guy tried to kill you and for just $1000-$2500, you decided not to sue him!!!!? So you let money to shut you up? I know that amount of money can mean a lot to you but does it mean more than your life? Where is your dignity? You are sending out a message to the rich and powerful people that they can shoot anybody they like and with money they can buy their way out! Why, khmer, why??? Why money can do anything to you? He shot you, wanted to kill you and you were given a chance to get some justice and you even blew that little chance away. I felt sorry for you but no more. Hope that money can buy you happiness.
The person who accepted the money simply shows, in fact, that she does not believe that justice will ever be delivered by the CPP court.
Being too poor and perhaps can't sustain the bills from her treatment, she decided not to pursur the case further.
One may have to be there to understand her precarious situation and it is always easy to jump to a conclusion that money can buy her the happiness.
There is no happiness with a few thousand dollars, but in her case it is something she thinks it is in her best interest to do and decided to rest the case.
If we ask her to fight and she loses with no money at all, which is likely possible in a CPP-controlled court, how many of us would be willing to donate the money to help her pay for all the bills that have incurred?
Cambodians have suffered a lot through the incompetence and corruption of their own government and got used to it so they don't ask for anyone's sympathy!
Dont forget 1 000 000 riel is still alot of money to the poor women who only earn $60 a month.
Thats why these corrupted officials can kill, rape anyone they want.
i think by suing the rich and powerful for abuse, etc will set unprecedented cases for the rule of law and reforms. it was good smart and wise for the victims not to initially accept bribes for their silence. by suing, the rich and power in cambodia will hopefully learn to respect law, human rights, etc... good thinking for the victims and their relatives and their advisors/supporters, etc... god bless them all.
don't give up, keep using the rule of law in your favor. this is the new era for cambodia and khmer people!
the next one, if it happens again, sue for more money and compesation, etc in the hundreds of thousands and even millions of U.S. dollars if they are so rich and powerful. strengthen the cambodia judicial system to favor human rights and reforms in favor of the victims and the rule of law...do the right thing!
No body is safe if this man still out there. The justice system is setting a bad example backing by cpp OFFICIALS.
This is a small amount of money for CPP. You better sue him at lease million of dollars . Because Cpp is a litch who suck the Cambodian blood . So they not worry to pay this amount to you . One think that CPP want is tried to shut your mouth up and hiding what the think they had been done to you. If me sorry ,no talk or negociate with them to accept their offer .
and if you really want to judge to sympathize with the victims, make sure your representatives, advocate, supporters, etc put the right judges in active position in court, e.g. judges who were victims, who experienced injustice themselves, who been there, done that, etc... that way, they will favor the victims. usually, judges who've been the victims of injustice, etc understand and know what it's like to suffer. that's the way to do it, slowly but surely. your parliamentarian like people from opposition, ngo, victim support group, advocate group etc should demand to put experienced judges in the court of law. that's how you win!
Justice will prevail. I hope he will also serve in jail for at least 10-15 years.
Prey Sor Jail..........only for Khmer Peoples, not for Yuon illegals .
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