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Khmer Times/Taing Vida Friday, 22 July 2016
Phnom Penh City Hall has reached an agreement with slain political commentator Kem Ley’s family over the route his funeral procession will take on Sunday.
The route will take Mr. Ley’s body from Wat Chas, where it has been for funeral rites since his murder, through the capital to its final resting place in Takeo, where the outspoken democracy and human rights advocate was born and raised.
Those joining the procession, which departs from the capital at 7am, have been barred from traveling the route on foot, City Hall said yesterday.
The decision on Mr. Ley’s funeral procession comes after a two-day meeting between Phnom Penh municipal authorities and Mr. Ley’s wife, Bou Rachna.
Cars and motorcycles will be allowed in the procession, according to Ms. Rachna.
The route to Takeo will start at Wat Chas before following National Road 6 to the Cambodia-Chinese Friendship Bridge. After crossing the bridge, the procession will continue on to Monivong Boulevard toward Russian Boulevard and the Chao Chav roundabout.
It will then proceed along National Road 3 until it reaches its final destination.
Phnom Penh deputy governor Khuong Sreng said police would maintain security in the capital during the procession, adding that authorities would help safeguard the route and protect the city against politically motivated chaos.
Theng Savoeun, the head of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC) and a member of Mr. Ley’s funeral organization committee, estimated that more than 40,000 people would take part in the funeral procession, as it will take place on a weekend when most people don’t have to work.
“A lot of people have come to mourn Kem Ley and express their love for him. His death has shaken a lot of Cambodians’ hearts,” Mr. Savoeun said.
Between 5,000 and 8,000 mourners have paid their respects to Mr. Ley every day at Wat Chas since his murder on July 10.
The circumstances surrounding Mr. Ley’s death have given rise to deep concerns because he was a critic of the government and was outspoken on human rights in the Kingdom.
Although the gunman implicated in the murder, Eurth Ang, was arrested soon after the shooting, the investigation into Mr. Ley’s death is ongoing, according to Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Ly Sophana.
During police questioning Mr. Ang, who initially gave police a fake name meaning “meet to kill” in Khmer, confessed to killing Mr. Ley because of an outstanding $3,000 debt owed to him.
Mr. Ang’s wife, however, said the reason made no sense because she and her husband were living in poverty and had no way to come up with $3,000 to give someone else. Mr. Ang faces life in prison if convicted on charges of “premeditated murder” and “carrying or transporting weapons without authorization,” which were leveled against him by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court last week.
Although Prime Minister Hun Sen and other members of the government have condemned the murder, crafting an official stance in support of the political commentator, Mr. Ley had always been unapologetic in voicing his criticism of the establishment.
He also acknowledged the dangers of speaking out against the government and often spoke of what might happen to him because of his criticism.
“I never thought that I was going to live long,” Mr. Ley once said. “One day, I might die or be shot to death. But as long as I live, I will say what the others dare not to. No one can buy me or make me not speak out.”
Clik here to view.
Khmer Times/Taing Vida Friday, 22 July 2016
Phnom Penh City Hall has reached an agreement with slain political commentator Kem Ley’s family over the route his funeral procession will take on Sunday.
The route will take Mr. Ley’s body from Wat Chas, where it has been for funeral rites since his murder, through the capital to its final resting place in Takeo, where the outspoken democracy and human rights advocate was born and raised.
Those joining the procession, which departs from the capital at 7am, have been barred from traveling the route on foot, City Hall said yesterday.
The decision on Mr. Ley’s funeral procession comes after a two-day meeting between Phnom Penh municipal authorities and Mr. Ley’s wife, Bou Rachna.
Cars and motorcycles will be allowed in the procession, according to Ms. Rachna.
The route to Takeo will start at Wat Chas before following National Road 6 to the Cambodia-Chinese Friendship Bridge. After crossing the bridge, the procession will continue on to Monivong Boulevard toward Russian Boulevard and the Chao Chav roundabout.
It will then proceed along National Road 3 until it reaches its final destination.
Phnom Penh deputy governor Khuong Sreng said police would maintain security in the capital during the procession, adding that authorities would help safeguard the route and protect the city against politically motivated chaos.
Theng Savoeun, the head of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC) and a member of Mr. Ley’s funeral organization committee, estimated that more than 40,000 people would take part in the funeral procession, as it will take place on a weekend when most people don’t have to work.
“A lot of people have come to mourn Kem Ley and express their love for him. His death has shaken a lot of Cambodians’ hearts,” Mr. Savoeun said.
Between 5,000 and 8,000 mourners have paid their respects to Mr. Ley every day at Wat Chas since his murder on July 10.
The circumstances surrounding Mr. Ley’s death have given rise to deep concerns because he was a critic of the government and was outspoken on human rights in the Kingdom.
Although the gunman implicated in the murder, Eurth Ang, was arrested soon after the shooting, the investigation into Mr. Ley’s death is ongoing, according to Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Ly Sophana.
During police questioning Mr. Ang, who initially gave police a fake name meaning “meet to kill” in Khmer, confessed to killing Mr. Ley because of an outstanding $3,000 debt owed to him.
Mr. Ang’s wife, however, said the reason made no sense because she and her husband were living in poverty and had no way to come up with $3,000 to give someone else. Mr. Ang faces life in prison if convicted on charges of “premeditated murder” and “carrying or transporting weapons without authorization,” which were leveled against him by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court last week.
Although Prime Minister Hun Sen and other members of the government have condemned the murder, crafting an official stance in support of the political commentator, Mr. Ley had always been unapologetic in voicing his criticism of the establishment.
He also acknowledged the dangers of speaking out against the government and often spoke of what might happen to him because of his criticism.
“I never thought that I was going to live long,” Mr. Ley once said. “One day, I might die or be shot to death. But as long as I live, I will say what the others dare not to. No one can buy me or make me not speak out.”