Khmer Times/May Titthara Thursday, 06 October 2016
UN human rights representative Wan-Hea Lee told the head of the government-aligned Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) that an independent commission should be created to investigate the murder of noted political commentator Kem Ley, who was shot and killed in July.
Keo Remy, head of the CHRC, told reporters on Tuesday that in his meeting with Ms. Lee, country representative for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), that there was a suggestion to create an independent body to probe Mr. Ley’s death, which has been shrouded in allegations of government complicity and hamstrung by a slow investigation that has released little information since the arrest of alleged shooter Eurth Ang minutes after the murder.
Mr. Remy asked to meet with Ms. Lee and OHCHR officials to cooperate on a variety of issues and improve facets of the CHRC’s efforts and programs. The two also discussed training for law enforcement agencies and a special joint commission between the human rights bodies to receive complaints and discuss any necessary technical laws.
But Ms. Lee apparently had pointed words for Mr. Remy, telling him that any commission on Mr. Ley’s death should have the participation of a variety of bodies outside the government – something both local and international bodies have called for but has been repeatedly dismissed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and police.
The discussion about the investigation into Mr. Ley’s murder comes on the heels of the birth of his fifth son on Sunday and an attempt to bring his wife, Bou Rachana, to court.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued a second summons on Tuesday, demanding she appear for questioning later this month about her husband’s murder, despite the fact that she fled the country with her sons in August and recently gave birth.
Ms. Rachana has been in Thailand since August 28 after leaving Cambodia in fear of her and her family’s safety. They were waiting for her to give birth so they could then seek asylum in a third country.
Mr. Ley was shot twice by Mr. Ang on July 10 while he was reading a newspaper at a Caltex gas station coffee shop in Phnom Penh.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, amongst a host of others, has claimed the government was involved in the murder.
They point to the fact that Mr. Ley had only days earlier made comments on a Global Witness report illustrating ties between Mr. Hun Sen’s family and some of the country’s largest corporations, as well as Mr. Ang’s past as a soldier known to love guns and shooting.
Critics also cited the police’s refusal to release video footage from the gas station and publish any information about potential motives the shooter may have had to murder Mr. Ley.
The initial motive Mr. Ang gave upon arrest – that Mr. Ley owed him $3,000 – was dismissed days later when Mr. Ang’s wife and mother confirmed that the family was poor and would have had no way to loan someone that large a sum of money.
Mr. Ang has been charged with premeditated murder and illegal possession of a weapon, according to article 200 and 490 of the Criminal Code.
Am Sam Ath, a senior coordinator at rights group Licadho, said an independent investigation commission was necessary to ensure the case did not end up like those in the past for murdered environmentalist Chut Wutty and union leader Chea Vichea, which many considered a whitewash.
“However, even if it is [created], we still would not have confidence in the commission because so far, the security camera footage [from the gas station] has not been shown to the public yet,” he said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Mr. Ley’s brother, Kem Rithysith, said the OHCHR’s suggestion that an independent investigation be held was a good idea but largely unnecessary because he believes “99 percent of citizens know who killed my brother Kem Ley.”
“We want justice. Please show us the security camera footage. Why is the government trying to hide it? For me, I think there is no justice in Cambodia under Hun Sen.”
UN human rights representative Wan-Hea Lee told the head of the government-aligned Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) that an independent commission should be created to investigate the murder of noted political commentator Kem Ley, who was shot and killed in July.
Keo Remy, head of the CHRC, told reporters on Tuesday that in his meeting with Ms. Lee, country representative for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), that there was a suggestion to create an independent body to probe Mr. Ley’s death, which has been shrouded in allegations of government complicity and hamstrung by a slow investigation that has released little information since the arrest of alleged shooter Eurth Ang minutes after the murder.
Mr. Remy asked to meet with Ms. Lee and OHCHR officials to cooperate on a variety of issues and improve facets of the CHRC’s efforts and programs. The two also discussed training for law enforcement agencies and a special joint commission between the human rights bodies to receive complaints and discuss any necessary technical laws.
But Ms. Lee apparently had pointed words for Mr. Remy, telling him that any commission on Mr. Ley’s death should have the participation of a variety of bodies outside the government – something both local and international bodies have called for but has been repeatedly dismissed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and police.
The discussion about the investigation into Mr. Ley’s murder comes on the heels of the birth of his fifth son on Sunday and an attempt to bring his wife, Bou Rachana, to court.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued a second summons on Tuesday, demanding she appear for questioning later this month about her husband’s murder, despite the fact that she fled the country with her sons in August and recently gave birth.
Ms. Rachana has been in Thailand since August 28 after leaving Cambodia in fear of her and her family’s safety. They were waiting for her to give birth so they could then seek asylum in a third country.
Mr. Ley was shot twice by Mr. Ang on July 10 while he was reading a newspaper at a Caltex gas station coffee shop in Phnom Penh.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, amongst a host of others, has claimed the government was involved in the murder.
They point to the fact that Mr. Ley had only days earlier made comments on a Global Witness report illustrating ties between Mr. Hun Sen’s family and some of the country’s largest corporations, as well as Mr. Ang’s past as a soldier known to love guns and shooting.
Critics also cited the police’s refusal to release video footage from the gas station and publish any information about potential motives the shooter may have had to murder Mr. Ley.
The initial motive Mr. Ang gave upon arrest – that Mr. Ley owed him $3,000 – was dismissed days later when Mr. Ang’s wife and mother confirmed that the family was poor and would have had no way to loan someone that large a sum of money.
Mr. Ang has been charged with premeditated murder and illegal possession of a weapon, according to article 200 and 490 of the Criminal Code.
Am Sam Ath, a senior coordinator at rights group Licadho, said an independent investigation commission was necessary to ensure the case did not end up like those in the past for murdered environmentalist Chut Wutty and union leader Chea Vichea, which many considered a whitewash.
“However, even if it is [created], we still would not have confidence in the commission because so far, the security camera footage [from the gas station] has not been shown to the public yet,” he said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Mr. Ley’s brother, Kem Rithysith, said the OHCHR’s suggestion that an independent investigation be held was a good idea but largely unnecessary because he believes “99 percent of citizens know who killed my brother Kem Ley.”
“We want justice. Please show us the security camera footage. Why is the government trying to hide it? For me, I think there is no justice in Cambodia under Hun Sen.”