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Wednesday 21 July 2010

An author and an opposition radio journalist receives death threat


By Khmerization
Source: RFA

An author of a book recently banned by the government and a radio journalist for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party's (SRP) Candle Radio Program has received a telephone death threat from an anonymous caller, reports Radio Free Asia.

Pen Puthsphea (Puthsophea), author of two question and answer examination books recently banned by the government, said he received a death threat through a telephone call, with a hidden number, at around 12:20pm on Monday, 19th July. "The person called me with a hidden number. 'You, don't be too strong! Be careful or you will die!' He only said like that and just hanged up", Puthsphea told RFA.

Pen Puthsphea said the death threat against him could be attributed to the banning of the two books. He said the books have been in bookstores since 2006, but have just recently been banned by the government.

Touch Naroth, Phnom Penh Police Commissioner, declined to comment when reached by phone on Monday, saying that he is in a meeting.

Mr. Pen Puthsphea said his books are question and answer books about Cambodian culture and about the current political situations in Cambodia , but were deemed critical of the government and Prime Minister Hun Sen. "In the books I mentioned there are 4-5 political leaders in the country. If the government applies this collective leadership, then the country will progress forward very fast. And in the bracket, I stressed that 'a government led by Samdech Hun Sen will be unable to develop the country faster because there are rampant corruption from top political machinery down to the bottom level", he said.

Mr. Sok Sam Oeun, president of the Cambodian Legal Defenders Project, said the government has the obligation to protect Mr. Pen Puthsphea and find the culprit.

Mr. Chheng Sophors, investigator for human rights group Licadho, said he is investigating the matter after Mr. Pen Puthsphea had lodged a complaint with his office.

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