Layman flees after pagoda raid

KIM YUTHANA MONDAY, 15 AUGUST 2011 15:02

A BUDDHIST layman had fled a pagoda in Kampong Thom’s Sandan district on Friday after a workshop on human rights and protection of natural resources was interrupted by armed police officers, human- rights activists said yesterday.

Kim Muth, 67, a member of the Buddhist Laymans’ Commission at the Kiribeptaram pagoda, and  chief abbot Chim Sinet had been contacted by commune chief Chhouy Mab, who allegedly threatened to arrest them if they continued to allow NGOs to host forums at the pagoda, said Chhim Savuth, forum co-ord- inator for the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said.

“This is an attempt by the commune chief to break the spirit of innocent villagers, monks and civil-society organis-ations,” he said.

Chun Yoeun, Kim Muth’s son, confirmed yesterday that his father had “escaped” the pagoda and said he was “living in fear”.

Choouy Mab said yesterday  he had visited the pagoda to advise its leadership to inform him of all future events so secur-ity could be provided.

He said Kim Muth had fled the pagoda because of a dispute with “gangsters” two years ago. He claimed Kim Muth had returned to the pagoda, but CCHR said he was still in hiding.

Police identify brokers

MONDAY, 15 AUGUST 2011 15:02

SEN DAVID

Photo by: Meng Kimlong

Migrant worker Nouv Vuthy (left), 21, holds hands with his mother on returning to Cambodia from Malaysia last month after escaping from a fishing vessel

Police say they have discovered the identities of all the brokers responsible for the trafficking of seven Cambod-ian men, who were forced into slave labour aboard Thai fishing boats.


Last week, police revealed they had made one arrest and were tracking three more suspects following the return of the fishermen to the Kingdom on July 29.


The victims were rescued in May and early June during raids carried out on a plywood factory in Malaysia after they swam to shore to escape the boats. They described being forced into back-breaking labour and witnessing shootings and beatings. 


Yesterday, officials revealed additional information had been sourced.


“We know there are a total of seven brokers involved. One has already been arrested, one has died and others have fled,” Chiv Phally, deputy director of the Ministry of Interior’s anti-human trafficking and juvenile protect-ion department, said. 


Although he could not reveal all the wanted men and women’s identities because “it might spoil the investigation”, Chiv Phally did confirm that one suspect was already dead.


One of the alleged brokers, 40-year-old Sean Han, died at some point this year in Malaysia. He is thought to have fallen from a boat and drowned.


Police are now hunting for the remaining suspects. “Pol-ice believe they are in Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey,” Chiv Phally said. 


Trafficking victim Nouv Vuthy is supportive of the ongoing investigation.


“I hope it will be successful,” he said yesterday.

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