Phnom Penh Post
A soldier who fell
victim to a fire while being detained for disciplinary reasons in Oddar
Meanchey province receives treatment at a hospital in Phnom Penh,
Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Photograph: Vireak Mai/Phnom Penh Post
A soldier based in Oddar Meanchey was sent to a Phnom Penh Hospital
this week after receiving third-degree burns while incarcerated in a
cage for disciplinary reasons.
Neither the victim, 20-year-old Ok Khouch, nor his commanders have said whether it was an intentional attack.
Able to speak only in whispers, Khouch told a reporter that he would
not file a complaint as he knew there was “no intention to burn me”.
“I did not notice how I was burned, because there were tree leaves
covering the cage where I was detained,” said Khouch, whose legs, arms
and back are covered in painful blisters. “The fire spread to me, but a
man helped to find keys to unlock me.”
Yong Lun, Khouch’s commander at Military Brigade 442, said he could
not comment on the incident but confirmed that one soldier was “burnt by
cigarette fire” before rushing to turn off the phone.
According to Khouch’s mother, Nong Yan, the soldier was put in the cage after getting into an altercation with another soldier.
“My son was punished by being put in the cage. What type of rule is
this?” she said.Yan said she believed the fire to be accidental but was
dismayed by the lack of attention from his superiors – none of whom have
visited Khouch or offered to help cover his mounting hospital bills.
“The military commander has said nothing. We don’t have an issue with
anyone who caused this, because my son just considered it bad luck, but
why did his commander keep him detained in the bird’s cage and then not
care about him when he was burnt?”
While Khuoch brushed off the detention, saying that it was an ordinary disciplinary practice, rights workers were aghast.
“To detain a man in a cage is a form of torture,” said Am Sam Ath,
technical supervisor for rights group Licadho, adding that although the
victim did not file a lawsuit, authorities should investigate the
detention, as it was “inappropriate punishment”.
Lieutenant General Chhin Chanpor, deputy military commander in charge
of the troops at Ta Moan, said he was too busy to comment, while Neak
Vong, military commander of the brigade, denied any such incident
occurred.
“It’s just a rumour,” he said. “Nothing happened.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Chhay Channyda at
channyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com
With assistance from Cheang Sokha
With assistance from Cheang Sokha
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