The spouse of a slain supporter of Cambodia’s Candlelight Occasion mentioned Tuesday she has rejected a compensation supply of U.S. $7,000 from the alleged assailant in trade for dropping the felony case, however has mentioned she would contemplate accepting a bigger sum as a result of she doesn’t have cash for her husband’s funeral.

Wen Kimyi additionally urged police to arrest the suspect who shot useless her husband, 49-year-old Po Hin Lean, early within the morning of Oct. 16 whereas he was on his approach to go fishing.

She instructed RFA that police in Ou Reang Ov district of Chak commune in Tbong Khmum province, the place her household lives, summoned her to the police station and instructed her that the suspect provided to pay her if she would drop costs. 

The widow mentioned she needs the cash, however that her household additionally needs justice.

“The police mentioned there have been two suspects, considered one of whom had the gun that killed him,” Wen Kimyi mentioned. “I didn’t get an opportunity to see the suspect to ask [the reasons]. I’ll settle for the compensation as a result of I don’t have cash for the funeral. However I received’t settle for $7,000; I’ll want $15,000.”

Police instructed her that the suspect is a “safety guard” or “neighborhood watchman” for the commune, however declined to reveal the place he put the weapon or his motive for the capturing.

Cambodia’s Ministry of the Inside established a community of such native guards to offer safety to villagers in communes and districts, although they don’t seem to be supposed to hold weapons. 

RFA couldn’t attain Vong Sophy, the police chief of Ou Reang Ov district, or On Sam On, police chief of Chak commune for touch upon Tuesday.

‘Embarrassing for the authorities’

Leng Seng Han, a provincial coordinator for the Cambodian Human Rights and Improvement Affiliation, often known as ADHOC, mentioned the homicide can’t be resolved by means of compensation and that the suspect should be delivered to justice.

“It’s incorrect for [police] to be concerned in meditation outdoors the courtroom,” he mentioned. 

 Eng Sroy, a Police Academy lecturer and president of the Candlelight Occasion​ working group in Tbong Khmum province, mentioned he’s dismayed that authorities haven’t but apprehended the suspects and urged them to conduct a clear investigation to point out they’re offering good safety.

 “It’s embarrassing for the authorities if they will’t arrest the suspects,” he mentioned. “The authorities should differentiate between black and white and stay impartial throughout the investigation.” 

There have been quite a few bodily assaults this yr on activists and supporters of the Candlelight Occasion, an opposition social gathering that emerged from the ashes of the opposition Cambodian Nationwide Rescue Occasion (CNRP), which was banned and dissolved by Cambodia’s Supreme Court docket in November 2017.

This April, Candlelight Occasion candidate Khorn Tun was attacked by unidentified males who threw rocks at her house in Tbong Khmum province throughout the marketing campaign interval for native elections held in June. Prak Seyha, a celebration youth chief for Phnom Penh’s Kamboul district, was attacked and crushed by a mob.

These incidents adopted the dying of Phnom Penh Candlelight candidate Choeun Sarim, who was attacked from behind and killed in visitors whereas using a motorcycle, following threats and assaults.

The killing of the person on this case, Po Hin Lean, got here a day earlier than Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to arrest Sam Rainsy, head of the banned CNRP, who has lived in exile in France since 2015, if he returns to Cambodia. 

Sam Rainsy, 73, was sentenced in absentia in March 2021 to 25 years in jail for what supporters say was a politically motivated cost of making an attempt to overthrow the federal government.

Hun Sen, who has dominated Cambodia since 1985, made the remark at a commencement ceremony the place he spoke, in response to current remarks by Sam Rainsy criticizing the strongman’s plans to nominate his son, Hun Manet, as his substitute.

Translated by Samean Yun for RFA Khmer. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.