Thun Bun Ly, editor of the Cambodian newspaper "Odom K'tek Khmer"
(Khmer Ideal), was fatally shot by an unidentified gunman in
Phnom Phen on the morning of Saturday 18 May 1996. The shooting
of Ly, a member of opposition leader Sam Rainsy's Khmer Nation
Party (KNP), occurred the same day that the KNP was to open its
first office outside the capital. Ly was convicted last year in
two separate cases of disinformation and defamation for printing
articles, letters to the editor, and political cartoons that
criticized the government, and his newspaper was ordered
permanently closed. The paper was allowed to continue publishing
pending appeals to the country's supreme court.

Recommended Action

Send appeals to Cambodian authorities:

protesting the killing of Thun Bun Ly

urging a full and immediate investigation into his murder

further urging that Cambodian journalists be allowed to practice
their profession freely -- including reporting on politics --
without fear of reprisal

Appeals To

His Excellency Prince Norodom Ranariddh
First Prime Minister
Office of the Council of Ministers
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Fax: +855 23 26144