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[justinm at ucr.edu]

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Thanks,
justin

"The real killer has long been silenced '
Bradley Cox on Who Killed Chea Vichea?

Interview / Cor Speksnijder in de Volkskrant, Amsterdam

Google translation:

It is a painful impression. The suspects of the murder of Cambodian union leader Chea Vichea be presented to the press crying.

Through their tears going to make it clear that they are geluisd by the police with the murder and nothing to do. "Mother, I am not a murderer," snottert one of the two. It helps nothing, they will be sentenced to twenty years.

The American documentary Bradley Cox (53), attended the press conference by the police and the equally sad court, touched convinced that the two are innocent and victims of higher political powers. "I wanted this matter and the story to tell the world. It is not a unique story, it happens more often in Cambodia." The result of his research is the film Who Killed Chea Vichea?.

Chea Vichea led one of the largest unions in Cambodia, a union for workers in the clothing industry. This sector is Cambodia's main source of export revenue. As a defender of workers rights and corruption fighter, he was more than once clashed with the police and he was a thorn in the flesh of the regime in Phnom Penh. On one morning in January 2004, he was shot dead at a kiosk in the center of the Cambodian capital.

Not long thereafter, the police on the plugs with the 'perpetrators': Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun. Both men denied desperate strongly and said that the police them by torture a false confession had been forced. However, the case before the court. Despite the weak evidence and statements from acquaintances who provided an alibi, followed a conviction that was upheld on appeal.

They are now four years.

Cox spoke with witnesses - including government officials - who confirmed that the convicted murderers are not or can be.

It was difficult these witnesses whether or not recognizable for the camera to get. Fear of reprisals from the police and judiciary is - with reason - deeply rooted in Cambodia.

The owner of the newspaper kiosk, that the murder was committed for her eyes to see, testified before the innocence of the two when they knew they could leave the country. Shortly after her for the camera made them traveled to Thailand together with Cox. She was given asylum in the United States.

Cox is concerned about the safety of other witnesses filmed. "Some have left the country, others are still there." Even he himself departed for security from Cambodia, where he had lived for five years. He settled in Thailand.

According to Cox was the contract for the murder came from high government circles. "At lower levels, nobody would such a decision, with so many - even international - implications, can take." Anyone who has met the tractor will never be found, Cox believes. "That is probably a long silenced."

Cox assumes that Who Killed Chea Vichea? in Cambodia will be prohibited. That also happened with The Plastic Killers, an earlier, shorter version of the documentary. "That elections are held, does not mean that Cambodia is a democracy."

Original Dutch version

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu