The day CHEA Vichea was gunned down in 2004, in bright day light at a newspaper stand in Phnom Penh. After investigations 2 people were arrested: Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, both claimed innocence all along. They insisted that they were framed by the Police. Both were sentenced to prison terms.
A documentary was made by a group of foreign observers; the film is Who Killed Chea Vichea?
The case was moved to appeal and they were released. Recently the case was reviewed by a higher court and they were rearrested.
Press Release as published by LICADHO:
December 27, 2012 - We, the undersigned organizations, condemn in the strongest terms the unexpected decision by Appeals Court Judges Chhoun Sunleng, Seng Sivutha and Khoun Leang Meng to uphold the Phnom Penh court’s grossly unfair verdict against Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun. The two were arrested by Ministry of Interior police officers in the hearing room and sent back to jail earlier this morning.
The pair, widely believed to have been framed as scapegoats for the 2004 killing of unionist Chea Vichea, had been freed in December 2008 by a courageous Supreme Court, in a decision which ordered further investigation into the killing amid extensive evidence of their innocence.
“This morning’s verdict has left us speechless”, said Moeun Tola, Head of CLEC Labour Program. “The Appeals Court decision defies any sense of justice and rule of law.”
The swift appeal hearing, which took place on November 7, 2012, offered no new evidence of Sam Oeun and Samnang’s guilt – as expressly ordered by the Supreme Court. The judges nevertheless found them guilty, relying on former police officers’ written testimonies. In doing so, the judges decided to systematically dismiss and ignore evidence and testimonies in favor of the two, including:
- The sole credible eye witness to the killing – the newspaper seller standing next to Chea Vichea when he was murdered - who stated that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were not the killers she saw on that day.
- The then lead cop of the murder investigation, former Phnom Penh police chief Heng Pov, who – after falling out of grace - stated that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were not the killers.
- Eye witnesses who placed Born Samnang in Prey Veng province, 60 kilometers away from Phnom Penh, at the time of the killing.
- Torture committed by police officers against Born Samnang to extort the initial confession, which he quickly retracted.
- A witness stating that, at the time of the killing, Sok Sam Oeun was staying with him and some friends.
All of the above was enough for the Supreme Court to free the two. In the absence of any credible evidence proving Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun’s guilt, it should have been enough to find them not guilty.
“This verdict adds to the many tragedies which occurred in 2012, making it the worse year in over a decade when it comes to human rights and rule of law.”, said LICADHO Director Naly Pilorge. “We urge the Supreme Court to quickly reverse today’s decision and put an end to this gross farce by finding the pair not guilty of a crime they simply didn’t commit.”
“King Father Norodom Sihanouk once declared the pair innocent. The fact that the court unjustly sent the pair back in jail amid King Father’s mourning period is disgraceful” said Sar Mora, President of CFSWF.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Email received
Thank You for Your Email
From the President's Office after the Inauguration in response to my mail January 21st, 2013:
To van_sar@msn.com
To van_sar@msn.com
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President Obama 2nd Term Strategy
From Washington Post, Jan. 20th Excerpt:
---------------
“Let’s not focus on what’s possible or doable,” Obama has advised, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions. “Tell me what our goal should be, and let me worry about the politics.”
At the center of Obama’s search for a second-term strategy and lasting legacy sits a question being asked now by supporters outside the administration and officials within it:
Can Obama, given his political personality and partisan circumstances, be the transformational president he aspired to be or, instead, just a moderately effective manager during difficult times?
His domestic agenda includes politically challenging issues such as immigration changes, measures to address climate change and gun control — the last two emerging in part from a personal sense of regret that he did not do more to advance them in his first term.
Abroad, Obama will be challenged to define an agenda rather than to have one defined for him by events, including the uprisings remaking the Middle East.
------------------------
---------------
“Let’s not focus on what’s possible or doable,” Obama has advised, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions. “Tell me what our goal should be, and let me worry about the politics.”
At the center of Obama’s search for a second-term strategy and lasting legacy sits a question being asked now by supporters outside the administration and officials within it:
Can Obama, given his political personality and partisan circumstances, be the transformational president he aspired to be or, instead, just a moderately effective manager during difficult times?
His domestic agenda includes politically challenging issues such as immigration changes, measures to address climate change and gun control — the last two emerging in part from a personal sense of regret that he did not do more to advance them in his first term.
Abroad, Obama will be challenged to define an agenda rather than to have one defined for him by events, including the uprisings remaking the Middle East.
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President Obama Second Inauguration
January 21st is the Inauguration Day for the second term of President Barack H. Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. It is agrandiose Celebration of Democracy.
Normally this is done on January 20th, but this year it fall on Sunday, and it is good that this done on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
January is my 75th Birthday.
Normally this is done on January 20th, but this year it fall on Sunday, and it is good that this done on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
January is my 75th Birthday.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
January 7
Hailed by the CPP, the 7th day of January `1979 is celebrated every year since as a victory day over the Democratic Khmer Rouge regime.
The opposition and the nationalist group protested that and see it as a day Vietnam invaded and started colonizing Cambodia in the guise of liberating the Cambodian people from the rule of the Khmer Rouge.
The debate will never end ...
So let's look at the story, in brief:
(To be continued)
The opposition and the nationalist group protested that and see it as a day Vietnam invaded and started colonizing Cambodia in the guise of liberating the Cambodian people from the rule of the Khmer Rouge.
The debate will never end ...
So let's look at the story, in brief:
(To be continued)
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year 2013
I wish you all a Happy New Year 2013 filled with prosperity and good health!!
For some there will be a loy of oppotunities, but for others, it may be a Year of Living Dangerously. The number 13 may be not a good number for people who are superstitious. Not for me though.
But for all I hope that it will be all good.
For some there will be a loy of oppotunities, but for others, it may be a Year of Living Dangerously. The number 13 may be not a good number for people who are superstitious. Not for me though.
But for all I hope that it will be all good.
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