The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 506
Committee for Finding the Truth Affirms that Mr. Kem Sokha Cannot Avoid Legal Responsibility Over Involvement in Corruption
“Phnom Penh: The International Republican Institute [IRI] of the United States of America, which was the only big donor of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights [CCHR], decides to stop its assistance completely from 1 May 2007, while Mr. Kem Sokha announced the creation of a new political party to participate in the general elections in 2008. The committee for finding the truth created by former members of the staff of the CCHR affirmed that Mr. Kem Sokha cannot avoid legal responsibility related to involvement in corruption.
“A press release dated 28 April 2007, signed by this committee for finding the truth, created by former staff members of the CCHR, says that the IRI decided to stop its aid completely as of 1 May 2007. As for the aid for the [radio program] Voice of Democracy, it will be decreased to one hour for a daily news program from June, to be stopped completely on 30 September 2007.
“At the same time, Mr. Kem Sokha announced the creation of a new political party to participate in the fourth term parliamentary elections in 2008.
“Mr. Kem Sokha told Rasmei Kampuchea by phone on the afternoon of 30 April 2007 that he is creating a party called Cambodian Human Rights Party. He has already submitted an application, and he will register the party in the list of political parties at the Ministry of Interior in May. After that, the first congress of the party will be held in July.
“Mr. Kem Sokha said that at this time he only thinks about the creation of the Cambodian Human Rights Party. He has not yet thought about merging with any other political party. However, he said that in the future it depends on the citizens, because the party belongs to the citizens.
“Mr. Kem Sokha also said that he would be no longer a valid president of the CCHR after the end of April.
“The committee for finding the truth of the former staff members stated in the press release their conclusion that the issue, that that Mr. Kem Sokha returns to politics and creates a party, is an individual’s political right, but it is not a way to avoid legal responsibility over involvement in corruption and defamation that Mr. Kem Sokha committed while he was the president of the CCHR.
“The committee for finding the truth stated that in response to a number of complaints that it has made against Mr. Kem Sokha, accusing him of corruption (such as the cheating related to aid money, partisanship, and violation of staff member’s rights) and defamation, the court has issued warrants to summon the plaintiff, the defendant, and witnesses to provide further explanations. These are the first actions of the court which applies legal procedures.
“Concerning the accusations by the committee for finding the truth, Mr. Kem Sokha told Rasmei Kampuchea, ‘That is an old and again the same issue, we have already solved it, and the donor also stated this. Therefore I have no more comments.’” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4272, 1.5.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 and 2 May 2007
Chakraval, Vol.15, #2675, 1.5.2007
- US Prepares to Try Chhun Yasith [head of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters organization in the USA] in July; Cambodia Prepares to Send Eleven Witnesses [according to Hok Lundy, Director-General of National Police]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1328, 2.5.2007
- More Than 20,000 Liters of Smuggled Fuel Seized by Customs Officers in Prey Veng
Khmer Amatak, Vol.8, #469, 2.5.2007
- Samdech Krom Preah Demands that the King to Cancel Unjust Verdict [against himself] by Phnom Penh Municipal Court
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6027, 1.5.2007
- International Judges Welcome Decrease of Registration Fees for Foreign Lawyers [at Khmer Rouge trials]
- National Assembly Adopts Law against Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3146, 1.5.2007
- Mr. Yim Sovann [Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian from Phnom Penh]: Cambodia Gives Opportunity to US Dollars [used as regular currency in Cambodia] to Violate Sovereignty
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3147, 2.5.2007
- Petition for Pay Rise and Action against Corruption Taken by Workers of 40 Factories to National Assembly
- 9,057.75 sq km of 181,035 sq km of Current Cambodian Land Is Under Control by Private Companies [according to an expert on immovable property]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4272, 1.5.2007
- IRI Decides to Stop Aid While Mr. Kem Sokha Announces Creation of Party
- International Judges Stated that They Will Continue Meeting to Adopt the Internal Rules [for the Khmer Rouge trials] in Late May
- New Zealand Government Plans to Spend US$1 Million per Year to Help People at Angkor Wat Area
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4273, 2.5.2007
- Prime Minister Decides to Give Additional 4,000 Hectares of Teak Tree Plantations to People [Tboung Khmum, Dambae, and Ponhea Kraek, Kompong Cham]
- German Research Group Provides Video about Angkor City of 12th Century to [Cambodian] Government
- Publisher of Samleng Khmer Krom Was Killed by Stepson [for personal rancor]
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3023, 1.5.2007
- US Wants [Cambodian] Government to Remove Political Barrier for Samdech Krom Preah; Norodom Ranariddh Party Collects 200,000 People’s Thumbprints to Petition the King [for amnesty for Prince Ranariddh]
