Published on 27 April 2007
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The body of Pov Sam Ath, editor of the newspaper Samleng Khmer Krom (Voice of the Khmers Kroms) was found in a suitcase yesterday in the Pich Nil valley in Kampong Speu province in the south of the country.
The autopsy showed that his killer used the 29-year-old journalist’s bicycle brake cables to strangle him with.
Reporters Without Borders called on the government, and particularly the Minister of the Interior Sar Kheng, to commit the necessary resources to an exhaustive investigation into the killing. “We believe it is important not to overlook the professional lead,” the worldwide press freedom organisation added.
Provincial police commissioner Kéo Pisei said the journalist’s body had been dumped in the valley three to four days before it was discovered. No clues had yet been found which could help identify any suspects. Police were not apparently giving priority to any particular lead. The body was returned to the family on the same evening and burial was expected to take place very shortly.
Pov Sam Ath was the founder and editor of Samleng Khmer Krom for which he obtained a publication licence from the information ministry in 2000. He had to renew it in January 2007, because the newspaper only appeared irregularly. Many of its articles focused on local news.
The information minister declined to comment on the case but said that the ministry would be sending a wreath to the funeral, in tribute to Pov Sam Ath.
Scores of Chinese journalists, bloggers and human rights activists were arrested, put under house arrested or expelled from Beijing before and during the Olympic Games. The Games have now finished and we call for their release !
