KI-Media
Following the SRP release of a taped interview of Tim Norn, the former SRP commune councilor from Kampong Thom province who defected to the CPP but had several changes of mind later on, the CPP appears to come up with another novel charade in this affair. On Thursday 27 March, CTN, a pro-CPP TV station, broadcasted an interview with Tim Norn in which the latter implicated SRP MP Tioulong Saumura in her detention. The Cambodia Daily reported on 31 March that Tim Norn claimed that SRP officials detained her in Phnom Penh in order to prevent her from defecting to the CPP. However, the taped interview of Tim Norn released by the SRP contradicts her latest claim. Furthermore, the information provided by Tim Norn on the SRP interview corroborated with information she provided to other human rights NGOs also. When asked about this issue by The Cambodia Daily, Tim Norn indicated that the SRP recording was false and that she spoke under duress.
On 28 March, Sok Pheng, the SRP defector whose wife is accused by Tim Norn of offering her money to try to woo other SRP party members to join the CPP, was quoted by The Cambodia Daily as saying: “What Tim Norn said at the SRP office was not reliable because she was under pressure.” Sok Pheng also admitted that he has promised to give Tim Norn $200 for “humanitarian” reason. In the CTN interview, Tim Norn also challenged MP Saumura Tioulong, who was then traveling overseas, to return to Cambodia to testify this case in court. Following The Cambodia Daily reports, MP Saumura Tioulong issued the reply posted below.
On 28 March, Sok Pheng, the SRP defector whose wife is accused by Tim Norn of offering her money to try to woo other SRP party members to join the CPP, was quoted by The Cambodia Daily as saying: “What Tim Norn said at the SRP office was not reliable because she was under pressure.” Sok Pheng also admitted that he has promised to give Tim Norn $200 for “humanitarian” reason. In the CTN interview, Tim Norn also challenged MP Saumura Tioulong, who was then traveling overseas, to return to Cambodia to testify this case in court. Following The Cambodia Daily reports, MP Saumura Tioulong issued the reply posted below.
