Monday, 23 July 2012
May Titthara
Phnom Penh Post 
A
soldier watches over villagers in Kratie province’s Chhlong district
following a violent eviction in May. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh
Post
Ministry of Interior
officials announced yesterday that three more villagers accused of
involvement in a “secessionist plot” in Kratie province turned
themselves in and confessed their guilt on Saturday, taking advantage of
the prime minister’s offer of immunity for those who agree to act as
witnesses.
National Police spokesman Kirt Chantharith said that,
so far, a total of six villagers – out of an undisclosed number of
accused – have admitted to planning an autonomous zone in Kratie’s Pro
Ma village.
“All those villagers will move to be witnesses, and
we do not know surely how many more villagers are involved, but it
depends on what we hear in court,” he said.
In May, Pro Ma was
the site of the forced eviction of hundreds of families involved in a
long-running land dispute with agro-business company Casotim – an
operation in which a 14-year-old girl was shot dead by government
forces.
The government has called the eviction an
anti-secessionist raid, despite villagers’ repeated claims that they
were simply applying for land titles.
Sok Tong, 61, one of the
five alleged secessionists initially accused by the Ministry of Interior
who has continued to evade arrest, said that pressure from authorities
had elicited this latest round of confessions, and went on to challenge
authorities to release proof of their guilt.
“Prime Minister Hun
Sen has to show evidence that accuses us of creating an autonomous zone,
and what is it?” Tong asked. “How can I admit fault, if I did not do
anything wrong as they accused me?”
Tong added that the villagers
who already confessed had told him that they did so not because they
were guilty, but rather to avoid arrest, and because cooperation seemed
like their best shot at having their land returned.
Alleged ringleader Bun Ratha, 32, and his father, Bun Chhorn, 55, are still on the run.
Mam Sonado, president of the Association of Democrats and the director of the Beehive radio station, was arrested on July 15 for allegedly masterminding the secessionist plot.
According
to his attorney, Sok Sam Oeun, Sonando is still being detained at Prey
Sar prison, and will seek bail again – after being denied once already –
in roughly two weeks.
To contact the reporter on this story: May Titthara at titthara.may@phnompenhpost.com
1 comment:
I think some khmer soldiers or their leaders are so dumb and stupid to wear that red scarf around their neck while patrolling or on duty. That red bright scarf just serve as a target from his enemies.
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