(RSF/IFEX) – On 8 June 1998, Thong Uy Pant, the director and editor-in-chief of the daily “Koh Santepheap” (“Island of Peace”), sustained serious bullet wounds after being shot at by an unknown person in one of the main streets of Phnom Penh. Wounded in the back, Thong Uy Pant was taken to the Calmette hospital […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 8 June 1998, Thong Uy Pant, the director and editor-in-chief
of the daily “Koh Santepheap” (“Island of Peace”), sustained serious bullet
wounds after being shot at by an unknown person in one of the main streets
of Phnom Penh. Wounded in the back, Thong Uy Pant was taken to the Calmette
hospital in the capital. His life is no longer in danger. His assailant was
wounded by one of the journalist’s body guards
but managed to flee. “Koh Santepheap” is close to the Cambodian Communist
Party (PCC). The motives for this attempted murder are unknown.
Background Information
Since 1996, at least three journalists have been killed in bomb explosions,
while another, Thun Bun Ly, was shot down by an unidentified gunman in May
1996. Three others received bullet wounds during the same period. As yet,
none of the presumed
murderers or assailants have been arrested or questioned by the police (see
IFEX alerts).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
brought before the courts and the exact motives for his act are clarified
law
courts in tracking down the murderers of journalists, so that a “culture of
impunity” is not
perpetuated
Appeals To
Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Fax: +855 23 26144
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
