In Soklyda Recounted Events about the Acid Attack Related to Chea Ratha

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 628 - Thursday, 3.9.2009

"Phnom Penh: In Soklyda, known to have had a relation with former Military Police brigadier general, Ms. Chea Ratha, participated in a press conference organized by the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO).

"In the evening of 2 September 2009, LICADHO held a press conference at its headquarters with Ms. In Soklyda, Ms. Ya Soknim [her aunt], and her mother, where the three of them recounted in detail events related to the previous acid attack against Ms. In Soklyda's aunt, Ms. Ya Soknim, and they accused Ms. Chea Ratha to be the person responsible for the attack.

"Ms. In Soklyda said, in between sobs, that Ms. Chea Ratha is a person involved in many previous cases of acid attacks including against [CTN commentator] Mr. Tith Polen and against her aunt, Ms. Ya Soknim.

"She added that there is much evidence to prove that Ms. Chea Ratha was involved in those cases, including voice recordings of phone calls; however, the court had decided to drop the charges against her, due to a lack of evidence. In the meantime, Ms. In Soklyda expressed concers about her own safety when Ms. Chea Ratha is now freed from charges and can return home.

"Ms. In Soklyda's aunt, Ms Ya Soknim, who is the victim of an acid attack, said in the conference that she is worried about her safety, after the court had decided to drop the charges against Ms. Chea Ratha.

"Also, both Ms. In Soklyda and Ms. Ya Soknim, asked for intervention by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, over this case, and called for support to offer her asylum.

"Kampuchea Thmey could not reach Ms. Chea Ratha for comment in the evening of 2 September 2009, but her lawyer, Mr. Keo Ya, had claimed that his client was not involved in that acid attack, and that she can return back [to Cambodia] soon. Also, Mr. Keo Ya hopes that the Royal Government will offer the position of Military Police brigadier general back to his client.

"The president of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Mr. Chiv Keng, could not be reached for comment by phone in the evening of 2 September 2009.

"Regarding the announcement of the verdict by the Municipal Court, Ms. In Soklyda, LICADHO, and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, released a joint statement in the evening of 2 September 2009, calling the decision to drop the charges against Ms. Chea Ratha and her accomplices a display of impunity in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

"It should be remembered that on 21 August 2009, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court announced to lift the accusations against seven suspects involved in the acid attack against Ms. In Soklyda's aunt, claiming that there was insufficient evidence to put the burden on them.

"After Ms. In Soklyda's aunt had been attacked with acid, the authorities had arrested two people for involvement in the attack and they said that Ms. Chea Ratha was the most important person of this case. After that, Interpol had issued a red warrant in 180 countries to arrest Ms. Chea Ratha.

"Since then, Ms. Chea Ratha has hidden herself, and recently, after the court decided to drop charges against her, a news source said that she will return home soon." Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8,#20,.9.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 3 September 2009

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #279, 3.9.2009

• The Leadership of the Police in Phnom Penh Deployed Thousands of Persons, but They Are Still Unable to Arrest Robbers and Thieves
• The European Unions Provides Cambodia with US$15 Million to Increase Food Security
• The Siamese [Thai] Parliament Allows Its Border Committee to Demarcate the Border with Cambodia [at areas near the Preah Vihear Temple]
• Official: Workers Got Poisoned because the [Maurea Garment Corporation] Factory Used Too Many Chemicals

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #20, .9.2009

• In Soklyda Recounted Events about the Acid Attack Related to Chea Ratha
• The Tonle Sap Authority Held a Meeting to Define the lakes of Cheung Ek, Boeng Tumpun [in Phnom Penh], and Four Other Lakes in Takeo as State Property
• The Sasakawa Foundation Will Hand Over a Project to Create Artificial Human Limbs to Be Controlled by the Government in 2012

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #482, 3.9.2009

• Australian Parliament Members Explained Their Role to the Khmer National Assembly and to the Senate [how they check their government to be under parliamentary control - Phnom Penh]
• In Soklyda Tried through the Press to Beg Hun Sen [and his wife] - Considering Them as if They Were Her Parents [to help find justice for her family over an acid attack, after the Municipal Court had decided to lift the accusation against Ms. Chea Ratha and her group as suspects]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4989, 3.9.2009

• The International Co-Prosecutors Have the Right to Ask for More Investigations [the Khmer Rouge Tribunal regulations allow investigations on more former Khmer Rouge senior leaders besides the current five former Khmer Rouge leaders in detention]
• America [through a human rights official, Mr. Luis C. de Baca, newly appointed US Ambassador-At-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons] Praises the Fight against Human Trafficking in Cambodia
• The Asian Development Bank: Cambodia Has the Lowest Percentage of Internet Users [in Asia - Cambodia is ranked fourth from the bottom of a list, as less than five people among 100, on average, use the Internet; the third is Bangladesh; the second, East Timor; and the first, Burma, while the country with the highest percentage of Internet Users is South Korea where there are 80 people among 100, followed by News Zealand, Singapore, and Japan - and China is the country with the highest number of Internet users in the world]

Sereypheap Thmey, Vol.17, #1786, 3.9.2009

• Kronhoung Trees [luxury wood] in Stung Treng Are Being Cut Down like by a Storm, while the Authorities Just Sit and Wait to Take US$700 per Cubic Meter [as bribe to allow the transport of the wood]
• Mr. Sam Rainsy Asked for Contributions [from Sam Rainsy Party supporters] to Construct Party Headquarters worth US$20,000

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