July 08, 2017
One year after the murder of Kem Ley, we, the undersigned civil society groups, believe that justice has not yet been served for the late political analyst and the family, friends and colleagues he left behind.
The well-known political analyst and anti-corruption campaigner was shot dead at point blank range on 10 July 2016 while drinking coffee in a Phnom Penh petrol station. There has been no transparency in the murder investigation, and there are still many unanswered questions in the case.
Despite compelling evidence – including video footage – indicating potential accomplices, only one suspect was charged and convicted in a flawed trial which failed to fully cross examine witnesses or investigate serious doubts about the killer’s motive. Impunity for those not properly held to account for his murder will fuel distrust of the justice system.
We, the undersigned civil society groups, call for an independent inquiry into the silencing of Kem Ley. His murder led to a massive outpouring of emotion from hundreds of thousands of Cambodians who poured into the streets of the capital for his funeral procession. Along with Kem Ley’s family, colleagues and friends they also deserve to see justice served.
Immediately after the murder, a group of UN human rights experts called for “a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the crime […] conducted by an independent body with no ties to the government.”1 One year later we have seen that the criminal justice system has failed to protect its citizens’ right to life. With so many unanswered questions, an independent inquiry is the only credible way to seek justice for Kem Ley and his family and friends.
We, the undersigned civil society groups, have not forgotten Kem Ley’s murder and reiterate our previous demand for the investigation to be taken over by an independent inquiry made up of international experts with full access to evidence including CCTV footage from the crime scene. 2 If not, public faith in the judiciary and police will continue to be eroded and the family and friends of Kem Ley will continue to be denied justice.
This statement is endorsed by:
- Activity for Environment Community
- Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
- Bak Rotaeh community
- Banteay Srey Community
- Boeung Chhouk Community
- Boeung Kak Community (Kampong Chhnang)
- Boeung Kak Lake Community (BKL)
- Boeung Pram Community
- Boeung Trabek Community
- Borei Keila Community (BK)
- Bos Snao Community
- Buddhism for Peace Organization (BPO)
- Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
- Building Community Voice (BCV)
- CamASEAN Youth’s Future (CamASEAN)
- Cambodia Development People Life Association (CDPLA)
- Cambodia Youth and Monk Network (CMYN)
- Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
- Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
- Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
- Cambodian Domestic Worker Network (CDWN)
- Cambodian Food and Service Worker Federation (CFSWF)
- Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
- Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA)
- Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA)
- Cambodian Informal Economic Workers Association (CIWA)
- Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC)
- Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
- Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO- CEDAW)
- Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
- Capacity Community Development Organization (CCD)
- Center for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
- Cham Kravean Community
- Chambak Community (Kampong Speu)
- Chambok community (Kampong Cham)
- Cheko community
- Chi Tron Community
- Chikor Leu Land Community
- CI5 Community
- Coalition for Integrity & Social Accountability (CISA)
- Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Domestic Unions (C.CAWDU)
- Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC)
- Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW)
- Community Network in Action (CAN)
- Community Peace-Building Network (CPN)
- Community Voice Development Organization
- Da Commune Community
- Equitable Cambodia (EC)
- Farmers Association for Peace and Development (FAPD)
- Forestry Community
- Forestry Stoeung Khsach Sor community
- Former Boeung Kak Women Network Community
- Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC)
- Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)
- Green Vision Organization
- Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF)
- Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
- Independent Monk Network for Social Justice (IMNSJ)
- Indigenous Youth at Brome Commune, Preah Vihear Province
- Indigenous Youth for Community Ratanakiri (IYCR)
- Indradevi Association (IDA)
- Kampreus community
- Khmer Youth Association (KYA)
- Land Community, I Village, Preah Sihanouk Province
- Lor Peang Land Community
- Minor Indigenous Right Organization (MIRO)
- Mother Nature
- Phnom Bat Community
- Phnom Krom Community
- Phum 21 Community
- Phum 23 Community
- Phum Dei Chhnang Community
- Phum Prasat Rang Land Community
- Phum Samut Leu Community
- Phum Sela Khmer Land Community
- Phum Thmei Taing Samrong Community
- Pong Rok Land Community
- Ponlok Khmer
- Prek Takung Community
- Prek Tanou Community
- Prey Chher Pich Sangva Laor Chhert Community
- Prey Chher Romeas Hek Community
- Raksmey Samaki Community
- Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
- Samaki 4 Community
- Samaki Meanchey Land Community
- Sangkom Thmey Land Community
- Sdey Krom Rohal Soung Fishery Community
- Somros Koh Sdach Fishery Community
- SOS International Airport Community
- Spean Chhes Community
- Sre Prang Community
- Ta Noun Land Community
- Thmor Kol Community
- Toul Rada Community
- Toul Sangke B Community
- Tourism Employee and Service Union of Grand Diamond City Company
- Tourism Employee Union of Poipet Casino Resort Company
- Trapaing Anhchanh Thmey Community
- Tumnop II Community
- Tunlong Community
- Urban Poor Women Development (UPWD)
- 185K Thida Chambok community
- 23 Community
- 24 Families Community
- 297 Land Community
- 92 Community
