Cambodia

A death in Cambodia

Kem Ley was uncomfortable. He denounced openly abuses in Cambodia, not sparing with criticism of the government. At the weekend he was shot dead in Phnom Penh. His death raises questions – not only for the murderer.

Kem Ley was a brave man who had the mouth not prohibit. Even if he knew that that could be in a country like Cambodia is dangerous, and he was in the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen has long been a thorn in the eye. But that does not stop him from publicly against corruption or social injustice. Again and again, he criticized the as a very corrupt current head of government – particularly in the context of the last national elections in 2013.

In the past week, Kem Ley was encountered recently in the media. At the station Radio Free Asia he had of the extensive economic Empire of the family of Hun Sen spoke. A short time before had NGO Global Witness in a Report published in the it to the extent of the business relations of the ruling family and the allegation of enrichment on a large scale went. Actually, it was planned, more to follow of the radio show broadcast. However, more was to come.

Kem Ley, six days before his violent death in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh

On Sunday (10.07.) was murdered Kem Ley in Phnom Penh. He was shot in the Store of a gas station. Only a little later, a suspected offender was arrested. He said according to media reports, the activists killed because of this debt I had with him, and not paid back. However, in this representation, there is doubt. “Many observers speak of a political assassination against critics of the regime and do not believe in the arrest of a perpetrator that was taken a few minutes after the fact by the police,” says Khim Sophanna, the project coordinator of the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation for Cambodia. This Wednesday (13.07.) has charged the prosecutors of the indictment against the man.

Deterrent foretaste of the election campaign?

Prime Minister Hun Sen responded via Facebook to the death of the activists. “I am speaking to the members of Kem Ley, my condolences. He was killed by a Killer. I condemn this brutal murder,” is written there. In addition, the head of the government ordered an investigation into the case. This is also the Cambodia urges niche foreign press club, in a written opinion on the case. “We demand a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances of the deaths and also the increasing politically motivated violence and repression in the country.” With Kem Ley Cambodia have lost an important political commentator. “We are very concerned that this murder curtails the freedom of speech and to Silence critical voices.”

So, the foreign press club, fear could have an impact on the upcoming elections. In the coming year in the Southeast Asian country, local elections are planned, followed by the next national elections in 2018. Khim Sophanna of the Naumann-Foundation, it looks similar. He referred to the fact that the “murder in the midst of a difficult political crisis”. The Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, is currently experiencing hard times. “Sam Rainsy is in November 2015 for the third Time in exile. Him Minister threatens in his home in prison for mutmaßlicherer slander of the former. Kem Sokha was ousted as Vice-President in October 2015. He was arrested in may 2016 under the house.”

For 31 years, and Hun Sen (l) is in Power – just an NGO raised serious allegations against the family because of enrichment

Balance sheet after more than three decades, Hun Sen

And these are only cases, currently the most prominent. The list of those who have incurred the wrath of the government and now must bear the consequences, is significantly longer. Currently 15 CNRP activists, four staff members of a human rights organization, as well as the Deputy-Secretary-General of the national election Commission, Sophannna more were. The recent wave of arrests only a few weeks ago. At that time, Hun Sen had issued a clear warning to its critics and warned that he would consider demonstrations against his government as “acts of Rebellion”.

For 31 years, Hun Sen and his Cambodian Peoples’Party (CPP) are already in Power. In the 1970s, he had fought on the side of the Khmer Rouge, was regarded as a medium-sized squad. He ruled the country with an iron fist. Repression and intimidation are an integral part of his political style. The clear message from him, that he Who dares to open their mouths, is dangerous. And, just as from the foreign press club feared – the impact on those who had spoken previously open, but now prefer to remain silent.

All requests for interviews to the Deutsche Welle journalists or political analysts in the country, has not been forthcoming. Out of fear for his own life and the family want to Express no one. Because not only imprisonment but also allegedly politically motivated murders like that of Kem Ley in Cambodia is not an isolated case.

Two uncomfortable voices, silenced

Over ten years ago, Chea Vichea, was murdered, presumably because of his political and trade Union engagement

Thus, was killed in January 2004, Chea Vichea. The from the point of view of the government uncomfortable leader of the Free trade Union of workers (Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia), was shot on the open road from a motorcycle. Also in this case, were quickly found guilty. The men were sentenced to 20 years in prison. Both local as well as international organizations such as the International labour organisation ILO or the office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for human rights criticized the process as unfair Farce. More than five years, the alleged perpetrators spent behind bars, before the Supreme court of the country took the verdict back and the two of them for lack of Evidence acquitted.

The well-known Cambodian environmental activist Chut Wutty died by bullets. In the spring of 2012, he was shot and killed by the military police, as he wanted to document it in the company of two journalists, deforestation of forests. The activist had done the Research on the contribution of government to the trade in illegal timber.

“We will not forget you”

Environmental activist Chut Wutty was shot and killed – because he wanted to demonstrate to the government’s ties to the illegal timber trade?

With Kem Ley, another Name is added now. The 46-Year-old leaves behind a pregnant wife and four children. In the capital city of Phnom Penh, the sympathy of the population is after the murder of the activists. As his family the corpse in a station wagon with an open tailgate through the streets to the Buddhist internal combustion driving left, joined spontaneously by thousands of people to a funeral March.

Also in the Internet, many Cambodians Express their feelings. “He was a voice of accountability. He was the basis of democracy, and had no fear, for his Convictions,” says Vanna on Twitter. Panhuvath Chan Heng writes in Facebook: “politics is too cruel. It doesn’t matter on which side he stood. He was primarily a scholar, a researcher, a teacher, a father and a great man had to leave us much too early.” And Kim Anna sends him in to the social media one last greeting: “Your beloved country will not forget you and your name. Find peace while we go your way.”