Heng Pov's Case - Suite

News from Cambodia N° 0635E

HENG POV’S CASE – suite

Khemara Jati
Montreal, Québec
Le 26 Août 2006

Heng Pov's revelations come to confirm what Cambodians already knew since for a long time. In our previous article, we excerpt article of The Cambodia Daily of August 10th, 2006 which brings Cambodian's opinions on this affair. Heng Pov reveals only details and names. It is also necessary to note that Heng Pov does not say all he knows. It is normal.

But the most mattering is that this affair fascinates our fellow countrymen in Cambodia and abroad as well. Newspapers in cambodian language publishing Heng Pov's affair have doubled their sale and even more some until multiply tenfold. Naturally these newspapers translated and diffused into cambodian of Heng Pov's interview made by Sylvaine Pasquier in L'Express of August 17th, 2006, entitled: « Cambodge. Les basses oeuvres de Hun Sen - Cambodia. The Hun Sen dirty manoeuvres » and « Heng Pov Statement ».

This unanimous position of Cambodians comes to confirm unquestionably the hatred of our fellow countrymen regarding the dictatorship, the crimes, the drug traffickings and the shameless corruption amounting to hundreds of millions of US of the clan Hok Lundy - Hun Sen.

How the secret services of great powers as those of Japan, the United States, France and China can ignore these crimes? Of course Heng Pov is not a saint person. But what he reveals is a big part of the reality of facts known by all Cambodian and spread over the world. All the police of the world always use “penitents” to collect important information which takes place inside mafias and other criminal spheres. Why major powers do not take advantage of this occasion to use Heng Pov's allegations to put an end the « Culture of Impunity » in Cambodia ? By not doing that is it not an implicit confession that it is these major powers which make this « Culture of Impunity » continuing on Cambodian people ?

This « Culture of Impunity » which denounces William Shawcross since 1979, in his book well known internationally: « Sideshow »[1] and translate into French under the title « Une Tragédie sans importante »[2]; followed by the another book of the same author « The Quality of Mercy » translated into French under the title « Le Poids de la Pitié »[3]?

Now Cambodian has to take advantage of this occasion to point out implicitly the major powers complicity in the unlimited continuation of this « Culture of the Impunity ». Now this complicity is spread over in broad daylight, these major powers can continue until when pretending to ignore the massacres, the crimes, the drug trafficking and the wild corruption of the clan Hok Lundy - Hun Sen? While these massacres, these crimes, these traffics and these wild corruptions are now denounced openly by Heng Pov, with precision of a well informed man because he is himself inside the power circle?

Why do not try at least to verify Heng Pov's allegations and interrogate the criminals quoted by Heng Pov? Is not that the current regime has just confirmed indirectly the truthfulness of Heng Pov's revelations by the voice the Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith, who declared in Phnom Penh Post of August 25th 2006 (title of the article: « Heng Pov’s talk of high crimes « negates claim to asylum » » : « If Heng Pov says he knows about crimes within the government it means he is an accomplice to these crimes » ?

So Khieu Kanharith, instead of replying Heng Pov’s allegations accordingly, as requires the national and international opinion, does not he admit implicitly that these allegations are exact and true ? So the regime at bay has not just walked on its feet trying to impose Heng Pov to return in the claws of Hok Lundy's henchmen ?

Then Cambodian people, by her unanimity, are not they obliging major powers to think more seriously about this Heng Pov's affair? Singapore was already responsible for « failure to render assistance for a person in danger of death in the murder of Ho Sok ». Does the government of Singapore is going to be again responsible for « failure to render assistance for a person in danger of death » in this new case of Heng Pov ?

This time the government of Singapore is not the only one responsible for « failure to render assistance of person in danger of death ». Can the whole major power escape from carrying also its responsibility?

So this « Heng Pov's case » is an immense force for Cambodians, where ever they are, and in her unanimity, to impose on major powers to respect our will. Cambodians do not want to live any more under this kind of « Quality of Mercy » imposed by major powers since 1991. This « Quality of Mercy » which is really translated to « Quality of Mockery » and which becomes during the years more and more unbearable and impossible to support by Cambodian in a whole.

Is not it of contempt in supporting the Vietnamese to come and settle openly as master in Cambodia, monopolizing our lands and a third of our continental shelf, massacring many times our people and killing all those who dare to oppose to them, plundering our agricultural natural resources as rice and rubber, grabbing our land, sharing our wealth in hydrocarbons of our continental shelf with Thailand and now a project of plundering openly our wealth in petroleum on our continent ? Forcing Cambodian people to continue to live in ignorance, disease and misery? Is not it the scorn ?

The anger of the unanimous Cambodian people rise more and more in power. Some foreigners among whom the religious one do not they say that it would be needed maybe a revolution to put and end this « Culture of Impunity » in Cambodia conducting by Vietnam and until now supporting by major powers?

Note : Cet article est disponible en français sur demande.

[1] Ed. Simon and Schuster, New York.
[2] Ed. Balland, Paris
[3] Ed. Balland, Paris 1985

Heng Pov's Allegations

The Cambodia Daily
OPINION
Friday, August 25, 2006

Government Should Properly Reply to Heng POV’s Allegations

Letter to the Editor

The allegations made over recent weeks by disgrac­ed former Municipal Po­lice Commissioner Heng Pov need to be properly answered by the Royal Gov­ernment of Cam­bodia if it does not wish to see its credibility further eroded and the international image of Cambo­dia tarnished even more.

Until now, the responses given by government spokesmen Khieu Kanharith and Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Soph­eak have not been serious and could be construed even as being irresponsible.

In this regard, such crimes as the grenade attack against a peaceful rally in Phnom Penh March 30, 1997, and the execu­tions of a number of Funcinpec generals and senior officials dur­ing the July 1997 coup constitute crimes against humanity.

The people of Cambodia would be right in demanding that these crimes be added onto the list of crimes against humanity to be in­vestigated by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

These crimes are not unlike those committed by Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge and should thus not be treated differently.

Take for instance the execution of Interior Secretary of State Ho Sok.

According to a confidential US Embassy report, released to me by the US State Department under that country's freedom of in­formation legislation, on July 23, 1997, the then-US Ambassador to Cambodia. Kenneth Quinn, met with Sar Kheng, the deputy prime minister and minister of interior, to discuss events following the July 1997 uprising.

Sar Kheng told Ambassador Quinn that he “was sure that Ho Sok had been executed” and that as of that day (July 23, 1997), he had established a committee to conduct an investigation of the case.

Furthermore, Sar Kheng also commented that he had “Sus­pended the person from the Inte­rior Ministry who he considered most responsible for that action.”

The result of that investigation was never made public and the person suspended was soon reinstated on Prime Minister Hun Sen's instructions.

Similarly, Sar Kheng told the US ambassador that he was not sure if the other Funcinpec gen­erals had been killed while en­gaged in battle, or arrested and then executed. He agreed that all these cases needed to be investi­gated.

Until such time as the result of investigations on these atrocities are made public and those persons found guilty are punished accordingly, Cambodia, I am afraid, will not enjoy national reconciliation and stability and its government shall not be respect­ed by international public opinion.

Ambassador Julio Jeldres.
Chairman, Khmer Institute of Democracy,
Australia

Published by / Publié par Khemara Jati
Montreal, Quebec
August 25 Août, 2006

Group Call For New Probe Into Journalist Deaths

GROUP CALL FOR NEW PROBE INTO JOURNALIST DEATHS

By Kay Kimsong
THE CAMBOOIA DAILY

A Cambodian journalists associa­tion on Friday called for fresh investi­gations into the killings of six Khmer journalists following the decision to reopen the case of Koh Santepheap newspaper publisher Thong Uy Phang who was shot and wounded by assassins in 1988.

Last week the Phnom Penh Mu­nicipal Court revived the investiga­tion into Thong Uy Phang’s shoot­ing, court prosecutor Ouk Savouth said Friday.­

The revival came days after for­mer police chief Heng Pov fled the country in the face of an arrest war­rant for the killing of a municipal judge and attempted assassinations of three others.

Heng Pov has long been linked to the shooting of Thong Uy Phang.

“The association calls on prosecutors and court directors to also re­vive the investigations into the crimes against the others journalists,” the Khmer Journalists Democracy Association said in a statement.

The association called for justice in 1994 kiIlings of Voice of Khmer Youth publisher Non Chan, Koh Santepheap reporter Chan Data, and Khmer Ideal puhlisher Thon Bunly; the l997 killing of Fighter newspaper reporter Cheath Duongdaravuth and the 2003 assassination of Funcinpec radio broadcaster Chuor Chet­harith. It also called for an investiga­tion into the killing of Chhou Chhouam Mongkul publisher of In­tervention newspaper, the shooting of Ek Mongkul a Funcinpec radio Commentator, and the alleged death threats this year against Love Khmer newspaper publisher You Saravuth.

“We Khmer journalists have to protect each other, help to find out the killers and find out the truth why several journalists were targeted,” Sok Sovann, the president of the KJDA said Friday.

Oum Sarin, president of the Cambodian Association for the Protect­ion of Journalists, joined the call to reinvestigate the cases.

Prach Sim, editor of the best-sell­ing Popular Magazine said that he also supported the KJDA but noted that times have improved for journ­alists since 1993.

Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said that court investiga­tions into the cases highlighted by the KJDA have not stopped.

“The association should specify what the court has done wrong,” he said. “They are running on low bat­teries.”

Published by Khemara Jati
August 13, 2006

Heng Pov case

News from Cambodia N° 633E

HENG POV CASE

Khemara Jati
Montréal, Québec
August 12th, 2006

It seems that there is a certain resemblance or similarity between the Heng Pov's affair and that of the mayor of Phnom Penh Chea Sophara's dismissal.

Indeed, on February 16th, 2003, under Hok Lundy's order, Hun Sen kicked Chea Sophara out. As mayor of Phnom Penh, Sophara acted in favor of all the Phnom Penh inhabitants interest. Sophara did not give any privilege to any Vietnamese in regard to the Cambodians. And after the Vietnamese unhealthy sandwich houses in Phnom Penh get fire, Sophara obliged these Vietnamese to go living somewhere else. For the Vietnamese Hok Lundy, it is an act of Lese-majesty against the Vietnamese. There is also Sophara's will to open Preah Vihear temple allowing Cambodian and foreign tourists to visit it any seasons by reaching the temple of Preah Vihear from Cambodian side. He is also plan to build the cable railway at Preah Vihear. For that purpose he begins to build a feasible road during rainy season from Cambodia. While Hanoi promised with Bangkok that Preah Vihear temple can be easily accessible only from Thailand. Too much is too much. Hok Lundy orders Hun Sen to replace Chea Sophara by the current mayor Kep Chuktema, more docile and more respectful of the Vietnamese inhabitant interests especially for those living in Phnom Penh. Moreover the thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra does not come and invites Hun Sen for a lunch at Preah Vihear? By doing that does not Thailand confirms openly that Preah Vihear belongs to them?

An example of the new Phnom Penh mayor Kep Chuktema obedience. According to the well known Cambodian architect Van Molyvan, the extension of Phnom Penh, the most logical, should be made in the North-south axis, along the Mekong and along the Bassac and transform Takhmau into a satellite town of the capital. According to this plan, the Vietnamese community of Chbar Ampov would necessary to be expelled[1], and also the entrenched camp of Tuol Krasaing where Hun Sen is living. To avoid dislodging the Vietnamese out of Chbar Ampov, the project imposed by the Vietnamese to enlarge the capital is to be Westward instead, in spite of the distance from Pochentong airport. Chea Sophara would not never accepted such an absurd project.

With Heng Pov, it is another business. Chea Sophara has the safe life because he does not know much the secret schemes of Hok Lundy and Hun Sen. Heng Pov, him, on the contrary, he knows almost all shady and criminal cases which the current regime would like to hold secret. The current regime and Hok Lundy in particular, has no interest to see Heng Pov alive and free to speak.

Of course Heng Pov is probably a criminal, but certainly much less than Hok Lundy and the other criminals in the current regime. In The Cambodia Daily of August 11th, 2006, there is a long article concerning Heng Pov, wrote by Phann Ana and Adam Piore. In this article there is a very interesting passage describing how Heng Pov was able to occupy his post in the police:

« Heng Pov was born into an ethnic Vietnamese – Chinese family in Prek Phnov village, Ponhea Leu district, Kandal province. Heng Pov’s law enforcement career began shortly after his 1981 marriage to an older Vietnamese woman, named Tung Thi Van, who was the daughter of Tung Pov, a powerful vietnamese agent in Phnom Penh government.

« At his father-in-law’s urging, Heng Pov joined the police force on March 11, 1982.”

Then, in Cambodia, there is a big number of very powerful Vietnamese in the army, the police among the high personalities of the current regime. Cambodians know it long time ago. What is interesting is that now we know at least two names Hok Lundy and Tung Pov. Cambodians would like to know biographies of this kind concerning the high personalities of the army, the police of the current regime women and men as well. Richer of Cambodia, as the Vietnamese known under the name of Yeay Phu. Cambodians would also like to know a history of the Vietnamese company Sokimex, the Vietnamese bank Canadia and their wealth evaluation in any kind including their real economic powers even political matter.

According to Cambodians in Cambodia, Heng Pov disappeared since already a while ago. Now we know that Heng Pov is in Singapore. Then abruptly Hok Lundy accuses Heng Pov of crimes, embezzlement, etc.

Also let us underline that the current regime have found a million of US dollars in Heng Pov account in the vietnamese bank Canadia. The secret of the accounts in this bank is more hermetic than in the Swiss banks. Let us remind that Hun Sen opened an account in the name of Piseth Pilika with a sum of 200 000 US. After the death of Pilika, these 200 000 US are transferred back to Hun Sen without problem. In a normal way for a normal bank, 200 000 US belong to Pilika. After her death these 200 000 US belong to her legal successors. Nobody can appropriate these 200 000 US. Does not this fact prove that everything is possible in this vietnamese bank Canadia? Now this bank also manages the Bank of Cambodian foreign business. Why do major powers accept such an infringement in the rules of all the banks of the world? Cambodians would like to know also the amount of Hok Lundy bank accounts, Hun Sen and the other personalities currently in power of all level including in the army and in the police as well.

So, after Heng Pov flight to Singapore, during the first period, it is likely that Hok Lundy tries to negotiate an amicable classification with Heng Pov. But Heng Pov knows perfectly Hok Lundy's craftiness and ever trusts in the promises never held by Hok Lundy.

The testimony of Heng Pov can enlighten us on the bottoms of numerous massacres and murders. Heng Pov can destabilize the tandem Hok Lundy - Hun Sen’s power. Is it in interest of major powers? Especially now when Cambodia is known as a place of very rich in hydrocarbon deposits ?

In these conditions, which country will dare to grant the political asylum to Heng Pov and to make in public his testimonies?

We reproduce below the article of the The Cambodia Daily of August 10th, 2006, entitled « Heng Pov moving on to Third Country » by Douglas Gillison and Phann Ana. This article brings the opinion of certain number of Cambodians living in Phnom Penh. In these opinions we would prefer to underline the opinion of Chea Vannath as follow :

« So far the investigation of the grenade attack in front of the National Assembly by the [US Federal Bureau of Investigation] never became public," she said, referring to a March 1997 grenade attack on a Sam Rainsy Party demonstration that killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 100.”

Then it does not show that the USA have no interest to destabilize Hun Sen?

Below is an article of The Cambodia Daily dated August 10th 2006 :

“Heng Pov Moving on to Third Country”

By Douglas Gilllson and Phann Ana

THE CAMBODIA DAILY

"We know what our competent officials are doing but it is completely dark."--Khieu Sopheak, Interior ministry spokesman, on the state of several high-profile murder investigations

Fugitive former Phnom Penh police Chief Heng Pov has left Singapore and was traveling Wednesday to an unidentified third country, his Australia-based lawyer David Chen said.

Chen said an official statement from Heng Pov, who on Monday claimed to have information on criminal activity in the government, will be issued when both lawyer and client have arrived at their destination.

"He is on his way to a third country, the name of which you will find out in due course," Chen wrote in an e-mail.

"I will be flying out to join him in that third country tonight, too.... An official statement from Mr. Heng Pov will be issued when we arrive," Chen wrote.

"I hope you appreciate the sensitivity of this matter and I apologize for being a bit vague at this stage," he added.

CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said Tuesday that Heng Pov-- who is wanted in Cambodia in connection with a host of crimes-- did not qualify for asylum under the laws of any nation.

Heng Pov's much-publicized flight and the accusations against him have returned the question of high profile, unsolved killings in Cambodia to public view in spectacular fashion.

After three years, authorities at last alleged in recent days that it was Heng Pov who was behind the April 2003 killing of Municipal Court Judge Sok Sethamony.

Police have also alleged that Heng Pov plotted to kill Military Police Commander Sao Sokha, Chief Municipal Court Prosecutor Ouk Savouth and Electricity du Cambodge official Kim Daravuth, who was shot in the neck in November but survived.

But the rapid progress in investigating Heng Pov's alleged criminal activity stands in harsh contrast to other unsolved high-profile murders and shootings, human rights workers said.

In July 1999, much-loved Cambodian actress Piseth Peaklica was gunned down execution-style as she shopped in Phnom Penh. Piseth Peaklica, who died a week later, was widely rumored to have been the mistress of a top government official. Her 8-year-old niece was also shot in the back by the gunmen, but survived.

Singer Touch Srey Nich, then 24, survived three gunshots to the head and neck in October 2003 after unidentified assailants opened fire in Phnom Penh. Her mother was killed. Touch Srey Nich had recently recorded songs in favor of the royalist party.

Two days earlier, an assassin approached Chuor Chetharith, 37, a reporter for the pro-Funcinpec radio station Ta Prohm FM 90.5, and killed him with a single shot to the head. In February of the same election year, Sam Bunthoeun, president of the Buddhist Center for Meditation of Udong, was shot dead by gunmen outside Wat Lanka. Sam Bunthoeun was apparently in favor of monks voting in the general election.

Evidence for the convictions of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, who were convicted in August 2005 of the murder of Free Trade Union leader Chea Vichea, has been heavily disputed.

Ros Sovannareth, a chief representative for the FTU, was also shot dead in May 2004. Thach Saveth, an RCAF paratrooper, was convicted of that killing in February 2005.

An RCAF paratrooper was also convicted of killing Funcinpec advisor Om Radsady, who was shot dead in February 2003 as he left a restaurant in Phnom Penh.

"It's many years already but the government has not given the public the results of their investigations," Kem Sokha, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said Wednesday.

Heng Pov's fall from grace could be the result of internal conflict, Kem Sokha said, hastening to add that he had no idea what could have motivated the other unsolved killings.

Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the government was making an honest effort to find the killers in all the lingering cases. "We know what our competent officials are doing but it is completely dark. Excellency Deputy Prime Minister [Sar Kheng] still pushes to continue investigation into these cases but there is no light at all," he said.

"If we have any evidence, witnesses who can explain the cases, we will solve them," he said. 'The cases are not closed. We keep waiting until the criminals appear to arrest them."

Chea Vannath, former president of the Center for Social Development, said the prosecution of Heng Pov appeared to be "selective prosecution."

"I don't want to jump to any conclusions to be fair to everybody. But in my experience in institutions I know you cannot do anything without the blessing or the complaisance of your boss," she said.

She also said she doubted international investigations could shed light on what was happening in Cambodia.

"So far the investigation of the grenade attack in front of the National Assembly by the [US Federal Bureau of Investigation] never became public," she said, referring to a March 1997 grenade attack on a Sam Rainsy Party demonstration that killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 100.

The perpetrators of that crime have never been apprehended.

International investigations, such as the one launched by the UN into the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005, are reserved for world leaders and others of international stature, Chea Vannath said. The international community has little interest in disturbing the political status quo in Cambodia, she added.

"There are so many crises in Asia, in the world, the international community doesn't want Cambodia to be another one."

Conclusion :

On the current conflicts between the gangsters Hok Lundy and Heng Pov, this article gives us an occasion to know Cambodian opinions concerning numerous massacres and crimes committed in Cambodia since 1982. Is it in the major power interests to take this occasion trying to get interesting information regarding these crimes in order to have a new light on these massacres and crimes committed since 1982? Is it in the interests of major powers? In these conditions which country will dare to grant Heng Pov political asylum then ?

Note : Cet article est disponible en français sur demande.

[1] By acrossing Monivong bridge from Phnom Penh then turn to the right, after some hundreds metres, the Vietnamese make understand, to any Cambodian, that it is not allowed any more to any Cambodians to go farther. Otherwise it is for her own risks and perils.