Heng Pov Affair (suite)

NEWS FROM CAMBODIA N° 0655-E

HENG POV’S CASE
The Funeral in the silence ?
(Recapitulation)

Khemara Jati
Montreal, Quebec
December 04, 2006

The Heng Pov's allegations are very important. The secret services of great powers know perfectly that the big parts of that are exact. However these revelations are only a part of the reality of the facts. Heng Pov cannot reveal for example the Hanoi direct interventions of during the coup d'état of July, 1997. Heng Pov can reveal it only indirectly as the undeniable fact that Hun Sen was in Vietnam during this coup d'état. Then he says that he does not want to be judged either in Cambodia nor in Vietnam. But these revelations have the merit to make the world know why and how the « Culture of Impunity » was able to continue until nowadays. Until when? Major powers will have more and more difficult to hide their support and assistances to the bloodthirsty, criminal and corrupted Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan.

Heng Pov does not dare to reveal for example the fact that Ho Sok became the man to be shooting down by the Vietnamese, because he has had very good relations with a certain number of the CPP army officers. Ho Sok knew about movements of the CPP army units. Unfortunately the politicians of Funcinpec do not know how to keep in secret and make in public the confidential information given by Ho Sok. Ho Sok did not foresee either the whole Popular Army of Vietnam (PAV) unit intervention during the coup d'état of July, 1997. This intervention came to surprise the whole Funcinpec's generals. Fortunately the bitter and sharp defeat of the PAV best units of shock of O Smach front saved the honor of the Cambodian weapons. This direct intervention of the PAV is confirmed in private by Cambodian personalities of the civil servant who were present in Cambodia in that time and also by foreign personalities who ask to remain anonymous. It would be surprised that the intelligence services of major powers can ignore these facts.

The Heng Pov's allegations are so clear that make Ron Abney changed decision. We diffuse below the reasons of this motive of Ron Abney's position relating to his complaint with FBI about the massacre of March 30th, 1997 in which he was injured. Ron Abney at the same occasion informs us that he dropped his complaint in order to allow Rainsy and Kem Sokha to work normally in Cambodia. By doing so Ron Abney is only confirming our opinion concerning the major power’s arrangements with Hun Sen allowing Rainsy to return to Cambodia. But with Heng Pov's revelations, Ron Abney calls to reopen the file. It is what torments and enrages Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan. We reproduce below the reaction of its spokesman:

«Unlike Ron Abney, who considers Heng Pov as a “eyewitness” of the first importance, the Minister of the information and the spokesman of the government Khieu Kanharith considered that nothing justified the reopening of the investigation.

« He (Ron Abney) thinks that Heng Pœuv's statements constitute a new element, while they are only charges without proof. He forces on a door which is already opened. He wants to teach the crocodile to swim: at the FBI, all are professionals », he declared before denying the explanation according to which the complaint withdrawal was politically motivated. « The justice is the justice. It is not as in the United States where any sentences can be negotiated. In Cambodia, there is not the case. We are not politicizing the justice », he explained before concluding that Ron Abney was a « damn pest »[1].

In the same statement, Khieu Kanharith offended and attacked openly the justice of the United States after qualifying Ron Abney as « damn pest ». No any reaction from the American authorities. Still the FBI does not make public its inquiry results on the massacre of March 30th, 1997, after more than 9 years later, as mentioned Chea Vannath, former President of Center for Social Development[2]. This Chea Vannath's opinion is shared by all Cambodians. For what reasons does the USA government stubbornly refuse to make public this essential document in order to understand a part of what took place in Cambodia since 1991? That in spite of Heng Pov's revelations? Again by reintroducing a complaint with FBI, did Ron Abney also become a « damn pest » for the United States government?

In these conditions, Rainsy is obliged to call his activists to stay away from Heng Pov troubles[3]. But Rainsy qualified Heng Pov Affair as « squaring of account between criminals ». Why do not use this « squaring of account between criminals » to settle our account against Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan who undersells our lands and our continental shelf with our reserves in hydrocarbons, for the benefit of Vietnam and also of Thailand? The Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan did not always use and instigate the conflicts between Cambodians, at their need, by the massacres, the murders and the corruption, in order to sit solidly their dictatorship over Cambodians ?

During the recent adoption by parliament of the law forcing parliamentarians to make autocensorship, the SRP members of parliament participated in this vote. Is it not the beginning of the work to divide within the SRP as Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan has already made within Funcinpec with the result that we all known? There is also an adoption of a law against the adultery. With the current judicial system totally controlled by the clan in the power, will not this law be mainly used against those who are considered unwanted by the clan ? As so well noticed the civil servant ? While the law on the corruption always remains in wait ? By so doing what the SRP parliamentarians are doing ? Is it the beginning of self-destruction as it was already the case of Funcinpec? Is it understood the call to order recently launched by Rainsy ?

After Ho Sok's murder, Singapore does not dare to oblige Heng Pov to return in Cambodia. Presently Heng Pov is in Malaysia. There are now negotiations between Malaysia and Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan to find solution which would oblige Heng Pov to keep silent. Because, as we mentioned from our first article diffused on August 6th, 2006, all the major powers have interest to keep Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan in power. Let us notice that any international media did not speak about this Heng Pov Affair, in the only one exception of L'Express. Is it a hazard ? These media which are under the full control of the very powerful financial groups of the planet ?

Khemara Jati has a rare chance to be in Canada, an unique country where the freedom of expression is the most liberal. We express our profound gratitude to Canadian authorities for this freedom which we enjoy the most.

Then what is the most consistent solution for the major powers interests ? To return Heng Pov to Phnom Penh ? Heng Pov tortured or / and killed in the gaols of Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan would make too much noises. Heng Pov judged at the corrupted court in Phnom Penh ? There will be certainly a presence of national and international media. Heng Pov can reveal other crimes even worst. This time, it is more difficult to suffocate the crimes committed by Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan.

The only solution is to send Heng Pov somewhere else with the obligation to keep quiet. It is the funeral of the affair in the silence hoping that the forgetness will eventually wash hands stained of blood of the Hok Lundy-Hun Sen clan.

We diffuse below both articles of Cambodge Soir of August 29th, 2006 on the change of Ron Abney's idea and on Rainsy's position on this Heng Pov's Affair.

In a next article we shall try to place this « Heng Pov's Case » in the context of the struggle more and more united of the Cambodian people against the ignorance, the disease and the misery for the national Independence in our territorial and maritime integrity, against the economic and financial monopolies of the vietnamese company Sokimex and the vietnamese bank Canadia, for the economic development for all fellow countrywomen/countrymen, for the liberation of our dear homeland of the vietnamese domination, for democracy and freedom.

Note : Cet article est disponible en français sur demande.
http://khemara-jati.blogspot.com/2006/09/hng-pov-enterrement-dans-le-silence.html

Annexes :

Cambodge Soir
29 août 2006
Unofficial translated from French by Khemara Jati
Sam Rainsy calls his activists to the reserve

Sam Rainsy, now on a tour in the US where he meets his sympathizers of across the Atlantic, called the activists of SRP of Florida and Canada to take distances from Heng Pœuv's affair which he qualified as « internal conflict inside the CPP ». He asks his overseas troops to pay their attention on the management of the country [governing] by the Prime Minister and not allow to be obsessed by the former municipal police commissioner's statement.

« All this history is only a squaring of accounts between criminals. We do not have to get involved in it », declared Sam Rainsy whose comments were aired by Radio Free Asia. Arriving to the US around August 17th to attend the SRP congress of across the Atlantic, he called American radios in Khmer to be interested in all evolutions of the Cambodian political life beyond the only Heng Poeuv's affair. « The SRP is only following the progress of this file like the others because it is about an internal problem within the CPP: we do not have to put the nose inside [it]. »

Sam Rainsy calls nevertheless the friendly countries and the United Nations which want to help Cambodia to verify the information moved by Heng Pœuv to understand the way which are managing the affairs in the kingdom, the extent of the maffioso power, and the crimes related to it. « When we speak about these crimes, they blame some of the others. It is a squaring of accounts between criminals », he beat.

This call to the reserve was not however passed on to the SRP activists of the kingdom, precises the General Secretary of interim of the party Meng Rita. « Since the beginning we refuse to interfere in this history. We already know that Heng Pœuv is a criminal among many others in this country », he explained.

According to Kéo Vanthan, vice-leader of Interpol in Cambodia, Heng Pœuv would indeed be always in Singapore because his visa expired last week. According to his lawyer, the former municipal police commissioner always tries to obtain the asylum in a third country. The progovernmental press wondered at least on Sunday about the moment when the fugitive would be arrested and repatriated in Cambodia. Just like other newspapers of the same political tendency, Rasmey Kampuchea considers that the country which will welcome Heng Pœuv « will make collusive of crimes, will encourage the criminal and will put obstacle to the action of justice ».

Cambodge Soir
29 août 2006

Ron Abney : « I drop my lawsuit to help Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy »

Tuesday, August 29, 2006By Soren SeelowCambodge SoirTranslated from French by Luc Sâr

Ron Abney, a former employee of the US organization International Republican Institute (IRI) who was wounded during the grenade attack on March 30, 1997 in Phnom Penh, is trying for almost 10 years to shed some light on this event which was never clarified in Cambodia (the FBI investigation was never made public in its integral form). Notably, Ron Abney filed a complaint in the US against an unknown person under the framework of the Alien Tort Law, a law which allows US citizens attacked overseas to bring their case to US court. Nevertheless, last December, Ron Abney decided against all expectations, to drop the lawsuit. A new turn of even took place in mid-August when Ron Abney wrote to the FBI this time, to request for the reopening of the investigation taking into consideration the recent declarations made by Heng Pov implicating the prime minister and the chief of the national police (read Cambodge Soir, August 24 edition).Asked by email on these seemingly contradictions, Ron Abney explained the circumstances leading to his decision to drop his lawsuit a few month earlier. "That lawsuit was a real concern for Hun Sen. It meant that the FBI investigation must be made available to the US court system, and thus making it available to everyone. Hun Sen did not want this to happen. I decided to withdraw my lawsuit when I was conscious to the fact that human rights defenders [jailed last year for criticizing the border treaty with Vietnam], such as Kem Sokha, and Sam Rainsy [who was in exile in France for one year and who returned back home in February] could have been more concerned if I did not drop the lawsuit. I thought that Sam Ranisy should return back home to pursue his political activities and that it would have release some pressure which weighted on him. It was me who took the decision," Ron Abney detailed. Finally, he explained that the lawsuit was only a mean to reopen the case, and that he is pursuing it through other official means.Unlike Ron Abney who considered Heng Pov as a first class "eyewitness," Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, believes that nothing justify the reopening of the investigation."He (Ron Abney) thinks that the declarations made by Heng Pov bring in something new, whereas they are only accusations without any proof. He forces on a door that is already opened. He wants to teach crocodiles to swim: the FBI personnel are professionals," Khieu Kanharith declared before denying that the lawsuit drop (by Ron Abney) was politically motivated. "Justice is justice. It is not like in the US where one can bargain for lighter sentences. In Cambodia, we don't have that. We are not politicizing the justice," Khieu Kanharith explained before concluding that Ron Abney was a "pest" ("emmerdeur" in French has a stronger connotation than "pest").The IRI representative in Cambodia believes that Ron Abney's steps are his "personal" initiative, so does the US embassy spokesman (in Cambodia) to whom this affair has "nothing to do with politics." Son Chhay, the SRP MP declined to comment on Ron Abney's declarations, and Sam Rainsy who is currently in the US, cannot be contacted yesterday. Soren Seelow

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

Heng Pov granted Finnish visa
Ex-Cambodian top cop granted Finnish visaSun2Surf (Malaysia)
PETALING JAYA (Dec 6, 2006): Former Cambodian national police chief Heng Peo, who is battling repatriation, has been granted a visa and a one-way ticket to Helsinki by the Finnish government."I hope the Malaysian government will release my husband so he can go," pleaded a sobbing Ngin Sotheavy, the 38-year-old wife of Heng Peo."If my husband is deported to Cambodia, he will be tortured and killed," Sotheavy said in a press conference convened by her at a hotel here today. She was accompanied by her husband's lawyers, N. Sivananthan and Abdul Shukor Ahmad.Sotheavy came with her 23-year-old daughter, while the remaining five children, aged between two and 25, are now in Singapore.Sivananthan said they will be writing to Wisma Putra to inform the government about the visa obtained by Heng Peo, adding that the Finnish ambassador here who signed the travel document will do likewise.In the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, Heng Peo's writ of habeas corpus hearing was postponed to Dec 13, after Sivananthan informed the court about the visa issuance to his client.Heng Peo, 49, was arrested on Oct 3 in Bandar Sunway for overstaying his visa after entering the country through Singapore.He has also filed for asylum with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees here after his passport was cancelled by the Cambodian government.
[1] Cambodge Soir of 29 August 2006 : Ron Abney : J'ai retiré ma plainte pour aider Kem Sokha et Sam Rainsy
[2] The Cambodia Daily of 10 August 2006.
[3] Cambodge Soir of 29 August 2006 : Sam Rainsy appelle ses militants à la réserve.