A Norodom Ranariddh Party Activist in Svay Rieng Had Been Murdered

By Khmerization
http://khmerization.blogspot.com/

A Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) campaigner in Svay Rieng was gagged, stripped naked and murdered.

Mr Nguon Ngan from Svay village, Samlei commune of Kampong-Ro district had been missing since 23rd March while he went to repay 300,000Riels (approx. $US85) to Mr. Bo, whom he bought the buffaloes from.

Mr Muth Chantha, a spokesman for the NRP, said that Mr. Ngan, after handed the money to the owner of the buffaloes stopped by at Mr. Sang’s café to have a drink of coffee there. At approximately 11 PM he left for his home, but he never reached his home.

His body was found on the 27th in a shallow grave in a palm bush approximately 4 kilometres from the café where he stopped to have a drink.

Mr Muth Chantha have told Radio free Asia that, due to injuries on the body of the copse, it can be assumed that he was not murdered due to robbery as he was gagged, stripped naked and was buried in a shallow grave. And at the time of the murder the victims did not have any valuable possessions with him.

Mr. Muth Chantha assumed that the murder could be politically motivated as Mr. Ngan had always come to the same café and spoke in high praise of Prince Ranariddh. As a result, in the past, he had clashed with some members of other political parties. Mr Muth Chantha also reasoned that Mr. Ngan is a good speaker who was able to convince many people to join the NRP in the past, and this would make him a target of political harrasment.

Mr Muth Chantha said that Mr. Ngan had been bludgeoned to death with a blunt objects. He told Radio Free Asia that Mr. Ngan’s bicycle, which he had used to travel on the night of the murder, had been located hidden under a house. 3 suspects, the owners of the house, had been identified and were arrested, but were later released by the police.

Mr. Muth Chatha said, the release of the three suspects was suspicious and regrettable. He added that the NRP will continue to push the authority to thoroughly investigate this murder.