Thursday, 03 May 2012
By Heng Reaksmey,
VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
Photo: by Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
“We also urge the Government to take concrete and immediate
measures to ensure the safety of all witnesses and investigators as well
the families of the deceased men.”
The US and the EU have separately urged the Cambodian government to
undertake a thorough investigation of the shooting death of
conservationist Chut Wutty.
Chut Wutty died along with a military policeman, In Ratana, in an exchange of gunfire in remote Koh Kong province that has left many unanswered questions.
The government has established an investigative committee, and two men have been detained for questioning in the April 26 shooting. However, neither of them has been charged with a crime.
The US Embassy on Thursday urged the government “to undertake a thorough, transparent, and credible investigation into this matter.”
“Furthermore, the United States encourages authorities to prosecute anyone found responsible in a similarly transparent and credible manner,” the embassy said. “The United States remains concerned about the use of force to curb the actions of individuals seeking to peacefully shed light on important issues like illegal logging.”
The EU said in its own statement it was concerned with ongoing violence toward environmental activists.
The UN office of human rights said the shooting was the fifth this year involving live ammunition use against civilians and rights workers.
“Despite the current lack of clarity about what exactly happened, we are very concerned that the killing of Mr. Wutty marks the latest and most lethal in a series of gun attacks on human rights defenders in Cambodia,” Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said. “We also urge the Government to take concrete and immediate measures to ensure the safety of all witnesses and investigators as well the families of the deceased men.”
Chut Wutty died along with a military policeman, In Ratana, in an exchange of gunfire in remote Koh Kong province that has left many unanswered questions.
The government has established an investigative committee, and two men have been detained for questioning in the April 26 shooting. However, neither of them has been charged with a crime.
The US Embassy on Thursday urged the government “to undertake a thorough, transparent, and credible investigation into this matter.”
“Furthermore, the United States encourages authorities to prosecute anyone found responsible in a similarly transparent and credible manner,” the embassy said. “The United States remains concerned about the use of force to curb the actions of individuals seeking to peacefully shed light on important issues like illegal logging.”
The EU said in its own statement it was concerned with ongoing violence toward environmental activists.
The UN office of human rights said the shooting was the fifth this year involving live ammunition use against civilians and rights workers.
“Despite the current lack of clarity about what exactly happened, we are very concerned that the killing of Mr. Wutty marks the latest and most lethal in a series of gun attacks on human rights defenders in Cambodia,” Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said. “We also urge the Government to take concrete and immediate measures to ensure the safety of all witnesses and investigators as well the families of the deceased men.”
4 comments:
The girls who were with wutthy should know remember the face of the shooter was...
Ah hun xen and his men need to hurry caught or arrest the killers. Otherwise, the killers would go after them, next. The snakes will bite it owner!!!!!!
They said they didn't see who fired the shots because they were on the phone to their editor when the bullets were fired. I think they probably remember the faces of those present before the shooting, when they just don't know which one of them fire the shots.
The bottom line is I don't think the investigation committee is independent at all. I don't think they will get to the bottom of the issue, which is to find the real killers and the mastermind of the murders, which is likely to be the owner of the timber company.
The girl's family probably threaten with life and death! She scare to talk..
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