Cambodia: Seek Out Political Killers, Says UN
by GREG TORODE and HUW WATKIN

July 31, 1998

The United Nations yesterday demanded urgent action by any new Cambodian government to bring political killers to justice.

UN special envoy Thomas Hammerberg was "devastated" to learn that not a single prosecution had been brought following the deaths of up to 100 political figures after the coup last year and other killings surrounding last Sunday's election.

 "So far nothing has been done," he said.

 "I sincerely hope the new government will be interested in the human rights agenda. We urge them to look into these cases. If there are culprits they should be arrested and charged," said Mr Hammerberg.

 UN human rights investigators believe four killings since May 20 appear political in motive while a further 13 "might be" election-related. A probe was continuing into seven more, they said.

 The four confirmed involved opposition figures but rights workers said the police force, dominated by ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian Peoples' Party, was unlikely to take action.

 The killing of an opposition Funcinpec election observer in the province of Kandal late last month was seen as a "classic" example of police inability to seriously institute a probe.

 Thong Sophal was found with his head smashed and eyes, fingers and all the flesh on his legs missing. Local police dismissed any political motive and ruled the case a "suicide".

 National police chief Hok Lundy recently declared that not one of the 69 murders in the capital over the past four weeks had been political.