By Ly Menghour
The Mekong Times
Military officials and former members of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) have said an investigation ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen into links between the SRP and three decade-old terrorism cases are proceeding well.
The prime minister said this week that six SRP defectors to his party had brought with them evidence linking the opposition party to a rocket attack on his vehicle convoy in 1998, and the establishment of the paramilitary group Cambodian Freedom Fighters and the nationalist Moha Nokor (Empire) movement.
General Meas Sophea, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), confirmed Tuesday that the investigation had begun but would not give further details.
Lek Bunnhan, an SRP defector who has been appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of National Defense, said he and senior military officials from the ministry are investigating the cases.
“The evidence gathered is nearly sufficient. The evidential documents point to Sam Rainsy because the issues [attempted assassination of the prime minister and the forming of paramilitary groups] stem from the SRP,” he said.
Deputy Secretary General of the SRP Mu Sochua said that the accusations are aimed at diverting the public’s attention from more important issues while the election approaches. The nation’s courts have already wrongly charged an SRP activist, Sok Yoeun, with the 1998 assassination attempt, and CFF members had already been convicted, she said.
Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) spokesman Muth Chantha also alleged that the investigation was politically motivated.
“What the government is doing – ordering the investigatation of terrorism cases at election time – is not right…
“There have been political killings, which the CPP has been connected with, especially those during and after the July 5-6, 1997 coup, including the assassinations of politicians. Hun Sen is just doing whatever he can to pressurize opposition parties,” he stated.
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said that the CPP will win the upcoming election and therefore has no need to intimidate opposition parties. “These investigations need to be made because it is the obligation of the court and authorities to maintain social order and seek justice for plaintiffs and victims,” he said.
However, Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, considered the investigation “politically motivated intimidation.”
The Mekong Times
Military officials and former members of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) have said an investigation ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen into links between the SRP and three decade-old terrorism cases are proceeding well.
The prime minister said this week that six SRP defectors to his party had brought with them evidence linking the opposition party to a rocket attack on his vehicle convoy in 1998, and the establishment of the paramilitary group Cambodian Freedom Fighters and the nationalist Moha Nokor (Empire) movement.
General Meas Sophea, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), confirmed Tuesday that the investigation had begun but would not give further details.
Lek Bunnhan, an SRP defector who has been appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of National Defense, said he and senior military officials from the ministry are investigating the cases.
“The evidence gathered is nearly sufficient. The evidential documents point to Sam Rainsy because the issues [attempted assassination of the prime minister and the forming of paramilitary groups] stem from the SRP,” he said.
Deputy Secretary General of the SRP Mu Sochua said that the accusations are aimed at diverting the public’s attention from more important issues while the election approaches. The nation’s courts have already wrongly charged an SRP activist, Sok Yoeun, with the 1998 assassination attempt, and CFF members had already been convicted, she said.
Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) spokesman Muth Chantha also alleged that the investigation was politically motivated.
“What the government is doing – ordering the investigatation of terrorism cases at election time – is not right…
“There have been political killings, which the CPP has been connected with, especially those during and after the July 5-6, 1997 coup, including the assassinations of politicians. Hun Sen is just doing whatever he can to pressurize opposition parties,” he stated.
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said that the CPP will win the upcoming election and therefore has no need to intimidate opposition parties. “These investigations need to be made because it is the obligation of the court and authorities to maintain social order and seek justice for plaintiffs and victims,” he said.
However, Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, considered the investigation “politically motivated intimidation.”
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