Month: January 2007

Tuesday, 30.1.2007: Confederation of Trade Unions Opposes Release of the Persons Accused to Have Murdered Chea Vichea, because if They Were Released Outside the Court System, It Would Contradict the Rule of Law

Norbert Klein Leave a comment

Vol. 11, No. 493, Tuesday, 30.1.2007

“Phnom Penh: While some civil society organizations and trade unions started a campaign to demand the release of the accused Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang from prison on the third anniversary of 1,096 days in prison, the Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions released a statement signed by Mr. Chuon Momthol, opposing the demand for the release.

“The statement, which is 180 degree different [from the demand of other unions and civil society organizations], says that after seeing many statements released by the Human Rights Action Committee [a coalition of 24 local NGOs] asking for the release of the two accused – i.e. Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun – the Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions would like to appeal as follows:

  1. The Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions finds that the demand for the release of the two accused mentioned, outside the court system, is an act which contradicts democracy and the rule of law.
  2. The lawyers for the two accused must try to seek ways and good evidence to defend their defendants in order to get them discharged in the Appeals Court or the Supreme Court, because thumbprinted appeals and supporting petitions cannot invalidate a court verdict; it would not be good for a democratic society like Cambodia.
  3. The Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions would like to appeal to the courts of all levels and all law enforcement agencies that they should not release the two accused, unless the lawyers have sufficient evidence to have their defendants released, and if other culprits have not been found, the death of Mr. Chea Vichea would be meaningless and it would be like an animal’s death.

“The Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions expects that the courts will firmly enforce the laws, relying on the existing evidence in order to find justice for Mr. Chea Vichea, and hopes that the courts will not release the accused without legal reason and evidence.

“The Human Rights Action Committee (a mixed committee with 24 human rights organizations) started a campaign of posters on Sunday [29.1.2007] calling for the release of the two men who were jailed in 2004, accused to have killed Mr. Chea Vichea, the head of the Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers.

“Large posters with numbers ‘1.096’, which is the total number of days since the two men were arrested, were put on the walls outside the LICADHO office [Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights]. Ms. Kek Galabru, the President of the LICADHO, said that 13 posters with photos of the two men and the writing below ‘They need justice’ were put up at the offices of trade unions and non-government organizations in Phnom Penh.

“The Human Rights Action Committee said in a statement on Sunday that the two men were tried by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in August 2005 ‘despite many pieces of evidence indicating that they are not guilty.’ In October 2005, the Appeals Court could not hold a scheduled hearing of the two men, because Judge Mr. Samreth Sophal failed to attend, claiming that he got diarrhea.

“Amnesty International also asks again for the release of the two men, and calls for an independent investigation of the case already for the last three years.” Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #5953, 30.1.2007

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 30 January 2007

Kampuchakbot, Vol.11, #241, 29.1.2007

  • Oknha Dul Phok [a representative of a Khmer Association in the USA] Provides Cabinets, Tables, and Chairs to the Royal School of Police

    • Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1256, 30.1.2007

    • Samdech Hun Sen and Mr. Sok An Receive Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Vietnam’s National University of Hanoi
    • Fire Swallows All Stalls of Koub Nimitt Market, Ou Chrov [Banteay Meanchey]
    • Bird Flu Recurs in Japan

    Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #5953, 30.1.2007

  • Confederation of Trade Unions Opposes Release of the Persons Accused to Have Murdered Chea Vichea, because if They Were Released Outside the Court System, It Would Contradict the Rule of Law

    • Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3075, 30.1.2007

    • Mr. Yim Sovann [SRP parliamentarian from Phnom Penh] Welcomes Position of Khmer Government to Ask Foreign Countries to Cancel Debts; Heng Samrin Says Russia Is Not Yet Certain about Cancellation of Cambodian Debts
    • Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation [in US] Plans to Demand Kampuchea Krom Land Back from Yuon [Vietnam]
    • CPP Officials at Local Level Use Tricks to Retain Power and Start Election Campaign before Time

    Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4198, 30.1.2007

    • Court Accuses Ms. Keat Kolny [Finance Minister Keat Chhon’s sister] of Involvement in 500 Hectares of Community Land in Ratanakiri
    • South Korea Is Top on Investment List in Cambodia [South Korea is said to have invested the most capital among 14 countries, all together more than $1 billion. China is second]

    Reach Seima, Vol.2, #141, 30.1.2007

    • [US] National Democratic Institute for International Affairs Accepts Four Parties [CPP, Funcinpec, SRP, and Norodom Ranariddh Party] for [election] Observation Training
    • First Deputy Chief of Poipet Commune from CPP Collects Voter Registration Cards from People [this is considered to be a threat before commune elections]

    Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #2956, 30.1.2007

    • Prime Minister of Second Term Government Signed on 25 May 2000 to Allow [Taiwanese] Yuan Ta Company to Do Whatever They Wish at Olympic Stadium
    • General Khieng Savorn [member of SRP Steering Committee – accused of involvement in robberies and terrorism plot] Is Released Temporarily for Health Reason
    • [Chea Mony] Head of Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers Urges Prime Minister to Tell Garment Companies to Deposit Money in Banks

    Sar Neung Khmao, Vol.8, #190, 29-30.1.2007

    • Samdech Hun Sen: CPP Is Not Monarchist, but a Party that Protects the Throne
    • National Authority for Solving Land Disputes of the Royal Government Has 53 Lawyers
    • Fate of Cambodia Is in CPP’s Fists

    Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #318, 30.1.2007

    • Sam Rainsy: Current Government Must Not Recognize Debt of $1.5 Billion to Russia [because the Cambodian government of that time had been appointed by Vietnam and was not recognized by UN]
    • UN Spokesperson [Farhan Haq] Says Khmer Rouge Tribunal Moves Ahead but Big Issues Have Not Been Solved