SRP activist in Kampong Thom murdered
September 05, 2009
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
One SRP activist from Chomnar Leu commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom province, was murdered by two unknown assailants at 7PM on Friday 04 September 2009, while he was sharing his meal with his family at home.
51-year-old Chan Thorn, a SRP activist in Trea village, Trea commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom district, provided information about this murder. He told RFA on Saturday 05 September that two masked assailants came by motorcycle and stopped near the victim’s house, they then shot and killed the victim: “[The victim] died at home at 7PM, they shot him.”
Sok Serey: What’s the motive [of the murder]?
Chan Thorn: We couldn’t find the motive, we couldn’t find the motive yet, we are doing our research, but we did not find out yet as to why the [victim] who was just eating his dinner and masked men came in by motorcycle to shoot him at 7PM.”
Sok Serey: Did they stop the motorcycle or did they shoot from their motorcycle?
Chan Thorn: They stopped [their motorcycle], they walked over to shoot and they took off on their motorcycle.
Loy Lem, the No. 1 Chomnar Leu commune councilor, said that the victim who was killed was Touch Hot, he was the SRP party president in Ko village, Chomnar Leu commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom province. He added that this murder seems linked to the accusation leveled against Touch Hot that he knew witchcraft.
A source indicated that Touch Hot’s remain was cremated by his family already. This recent murder coincides with the Kan Benn religious ceremony which is currently being observed in the entire country.
On Saturday 05 September, the local authority could not be reached to ask for clarification in the investigation into this murder.
However, General Khieu Sopheak, spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, said that an investigation must be conducted. “We do not care what party it is, this is the individual right of our people in the entire country, but, if there is a crime committed, an investigation must be conducted to search for the perpetrators,” Khieu Sopheak said.
Kep Thy, SRP party vice-president for the Kampong Thom province, said that he already received information about this murder. “They told me to travel to the location of the incident to check the situation by myself in order to obtain actual information.”
Am Sam Ath, director of investigation for the Licadho human rights organization, said that his group in investigating into this case. “Licadho’s investigating group is following up in this case to find out the cause of this murder,” Am Sam Ath said.
A political observer source in Cambodia noted that the murders on SRP activists have quieted down for a while already, but now, this observer is concerned about this murder, [especially] when it is blamed on witchcraft.
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51-year-old Chan Thorn, a SRP activist in Trea village, Trea commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom district, provided information about this murder. He told RFA on Saturday 05 September that two masked assailants came by motorcycle and stopped near the victim’s house, they then shot and killed the victim: “[The victim] died at home at 7PM, they shot him.”
Sok Serey: What’s the motive [of the murder]?
Chan Thorn: We couldn’t find the motive, we couldn’t find the motive yet, we are doing our research, but we did not find out yet as to why the [victim] who was just eating his dinner and masked men came in by motorcycle to shoot him at 7PM.”
Sok Serey: Did they stop the motorcycle or did they shoot from their motorcycle?
Chan Thorn: They stopped [their motorcycle], they walked over to shoot and they took off on their motorcycle.
Loy Lem, the No. 1 Chomnar Leu commune councilor, said that the victim who was killed was Touch Hot, he was the SRP party president in Ko village, Chomnar Leu commune, Staung district, Kampong Thom province. He added that this murder seems linked to the accusation leveled against Touch Hot that he knew witchcraft.
A source indicated that Touch Hot’s remain was cremated by his family already. This recent murder coincides with the Kan Benn religious ceremony which is currently being observed in the entire country.
On Saturday 05 September, the local authority could not be reached to ask for clarification in the investigation into this murder.
However, General Khieu Sopheak, spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, said that an investigation must be conducted. “We do not care what party it is, this is the individual right of our people in the entire country, but, if there is a crime committed, an investigation must be conducted to search for the perpetrators,” Khieu Sopheak said.
Kep Thy, SRP party vice-president for the Kampong Thom province, said that he already received information about this murder. “They told me to travel to the location of the incident to check the situation by myself in order to obtain actual information.”
Am Sam Ath, director of investigation for the Licadho human rights organization, said that his group in investigating into this case. “Licadho’s investigating group is following up in this case to find out the cause of this murder,” Am Sam Ath said.
A political observer source in Cambodia noted that the murders on SRP activists have quieted down for a while already, but now, this observer is concerned about this murder, [especially] when it is blamed on witchcraft.
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