After four years the Cambodian judiciary still denies justice to Chea Viceah, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun

Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang who were wrongly convicted and imprisoned for Chea Vichea's murder.

Offerings made in honor of Chea Vichea memory on the fourth anniversary of his assassination

Today, the 28th of January, 2008, marks the fourth year of imprisonment of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for the murder of Chea Vichea, President of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC). As of today the two men have served a total of 1,461 days in prison. The prosecution of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, has attracted widespread criticism for serious irregularities and the lack of evidence against them. Their trial by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in August 2005, and an Appeal Court hearing which upheld the guilty verdict in April 2007, violated Cambodian legal procedure and international human rights standards. Both courts ignored key evidence, including witness testimony that Born Samnang was 60km away from the crime scene at the time of the murder. The Appeal Court disregarded a written statement by Va Sothy, the prime witness to the murder, that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were not the killers whom she saw. The Appeal Court also ignored the conclusions of its own prosecutor, who acknowledged that the police investigation into the murder was incomplete and recommended that more investigation be conducted. Both courts ignored key evidence, including witness testimony that Born Samnang was 60km away from the crime scene at the time of the murder.Local and international human rights groups and individuals including retired King Norodom Sihanouk have repeatedly stated that the two men are not the real killers of Chea Vichea. The family of Chea Vichea has also publicly denounced the trial and conviction of the two men and have refused to accept the USD$5,000 compensation that the court ordered the two men to pay.The human rights community both in Cambodia and internationally continues to insist on the immediate release of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun. Early last week union members, NGO workers, representatives from the Human Rights Party and the Sam Rainsy Party, and others gathered to mark the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Chea Vichea. A small police contingent escorted 150 supporters as they marched from the FTUWKC headquarters to the newspaper stand near Wat Lanka where Chea Vichea was shot on 22 January, 2004.At the newspaper stand a ceremony was held to pay tribute to the union leader. Wreaths were laid and incense lit in prayer, honoring Chea Vichea who gave his life for the struggle to represent the needs of Cambodian workers.