The family of the slain journalist has left the country

Cambodge Soir

05-09-2008

A decision based on security reasons. An FBI agent will try to draw an identikit sketch of the killers of Khim Sambo and his son.

Together with her two children, the wife of Khim Sambo, opposition journalist killed together with his son during last July’s election campaign, has left the country two weeks ago. This news was revealed by Chan Soveth, Adhoc investigator. This departure was orchestrated by three human rights organisations; Adhoc, Licado and the UN Office of the High Commissioner, responsible for human rights in Cambodia.

The investigator specifies furthermore that other witnesses are hiding for security reasons. According to him, the main reason behind this departure is because “the family doesn’t trust the police as the persons behind this double murder haven’t been arrested yet”. Their destination still remains secret.

This situation won’t facilitate things for Phnom Penh’s Commissioner, Touch Naroth. The policeman admits that this departure is “an obstacle concerning the investigation although it won’t stop the FBI and Cambodian police to continue their hunt”.

He brushes aside the declarations made by the human rights associations about the question of trust concerning the police. “These associations are saying anything, if the family doesn’t trust the police, who can she ever trust then?, asks the cop.

After having focused on the case of Khim Sambo since the beginning, the investigators are now concentrating on the son.. “Together with the FBI, we agree on this point”, says Touch Naroth. Why the son? Because according to a hospital report, one of the doctors who treated him during his arrival at the emergencies heard him whisper that he had been killed out of “resentment”.

In the next days, two new FBI agents are being expected in Phnom Penh; one investigator and one drawer who will have to sketch an identikit of the killers based on the descriptions given by witnesses.