One year on, CCHR issues a report into the tragedy on Koh Pich Bridge on 22 November 2010
In advance of the first anniversary of the tragedy at Koh Pich Bridge, the 22 November 2011, and the first ever International Day to End Impunity, 23 November 2011, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”), a non-aligned, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia, releases “The Koh Pich Tragedy: One Year on, Questions Remain” (the “Report”). Over 350 people died in a deadly crush during the 2010 Water Festival, and in the absence of any meaningful investigation of this tragic event by the Royal Government of Cambodia (the “RGC”), the aim of the Report is to encourage a full investigation into the tragedy. CCHR is also releasing a Briefing Note, which summarizes the details of the Report.
The RGC conducted an investigation into what happened on Koh Pich Bridge, but the results were presented just a week after the incident on the 29 November 2010, and its findings were vague and inconclusive. Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that what happened was the responsibility of the RGC, but despite this clear admission, no one has been sanctioned and no legal proceedings have been commenced. Questions remain unanswered, such as: what caused the panic and crush on the bridge? What health and safety measures were in place for the festival, and particularly surrounding the bridge? Were people electrocuted? Was the emergency response adequate? Have any new measures been implemented for future festivals to ensure there is no recurrence of this tragic event?
The Report is not an attempt to provide definitive answers to these questions, but is merely written to raise the questions and discuss the issues arising from the crush and the days immediately following it, as well as the manner in which the tragedy was dealt with by the RGC. Given the uncertainty and confusion surrounding the events of that night, CCHR recommends that the investigation be re-opened and further questioning be conducted to try to determine exactly what happened.
In order to write the Report, CCHR conducted interviews with over 100 people affected by the crush – victims directly involved in the incident, victims’ families, and other witnesses, such as policemen and medical staff at hospitals. CCHR also conducted extensive research in documenting and compiling media coverage of the event, and gathered information from the website of Phnom Penh City Hall. This information offers insight into the aftermath of the tragedy, and provides reactions to what happened on the bridge and what was witnessed.
Commenting on the release of the Report, Ou Virak, President of CCHR, said:
“The 22 November 2010 was the most shocking day in Cambodia’s recent history, when hundreds of people tragically lost their lives on Koh Pich Bridge due to the complete absence of security and crowd control measures. This was on an evening when the victims should have been revelling in the festivities of Cambodia’s most popular annual event. The anniversary of this tragedy falls on International Day to End Impunity – 23 November; a timely coincidence as despite the gravity of the event, no one has been held accountable. In the absence of any efforts to hold those responsible for the event to account, CCHR undertook our investigation and wrote this report in order to ensure that this terrible event is not removed from the public consciousness. CCHR dedicates this report to all those who lost their lives or their loved ones and those who were injured on the bridge that night. Our thoughts and condolences are with you all at this time”.
Please find attached the following documents in Khmer and English:
CCHR Report - The Koh Pich Tragedy, One year on, Questions Remain;
CCHR Briefing Note - The Koh Pich Tragedy, One year on, Questions Remain;
CCHR Press Release - One year on, CCHR issues a report into the tragedy on Koh Pich Bridge on 22 November 2010
-ENDS-
The Report and Briefing Note are available to view or to download in Khmer or English on the Cambodian Human Rights Portal, www.sithi.org, and on the CCHR website, www.cchrcambodia.org.
For more details please contact Ou Virak (tel: +855 (0) 12 40 40 51 or e-mail: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org).
Notes to Editor:
CCHR was founded in November 2002.
CCHR is a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), the global network for freedom of expression.
The Cambodian Human Rights Portal www.sithi.org is the 2011 winner of the Information Society Innovation Fund ward in the category of Rights and Freedoms.
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