A Change of Guard

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Friday 15 July 2016

A cold blooded murder of prominent analyst - Dr. Kem Ley - and its ramifications

By Khmer Wathanakam
www.khmerwathanak.blogspot.com


A cold blooded murder of a prominent analyst, Dr. Kem Ley, has sent a shock wave throughout the country and Cambodian communities around the world. Many people have expressed their angers, sadness, sorrow, regret and disbelief. Dr. Kem Ley is the most courageous analyst who unveiled all social and political issues that the country and the people are facing: border issue, illegal immigrants, land concession, deforestation, and especially corruption involved with Hun Sen's clan in which the Global Witness has just released.  After analyzing the report related to Hun Sen's Family corruption, he was gunned down by a suspect who is more likely a hired killer or a staged killer since his primary confession was not well connected to real situation. And more evidently, the circumstance and time of killing raised more doubt among journalists and the public.  Based on sources from Facebook and other independent news, the gas station known as Star Mart was cut off electricity. First, based on one witness who wrote on Facebook, when his family and he went into that shop before Mr. Kem Ley was in, the shop workers told him that there was no electricity and their coffee maker broke, then they just walked out to other shop. But when Mr. Kem Ley came in later they had coffee available for him.  Secondly, the shooter shot Mr. Kem ley 2-3 meters away; why did the shooter stain with blood on his face and shirt? Thirdly, the killer accused Mr. kem Ley that he had owed him $3,000, but his claim was totally rejected by Mr. Kem Ley's wife and her brother. Fourth, the suspect could not afford to buy a modern and expensive gun to shoot the victim.  The suspect never knew or had any connection with Mr. Kem Ley, and he is very poor and broke because he lost gambling, according to his wife and his mother's account. Based on this primary information along with current political situation, and a pattern of assassination of many activists and the others in the past, this murder is most likely politically motivated, and the suspect is more likely a staged or fake killer who had been hired to act to cover up the real killers.

Since the UN-sponsored election in 1993, political assassinations had happened throughout the country, particularly prior and during election campaigns, and it also happened at any time when political situation is vulnerable such as a massacre on Sam Rainsy Party rally in 1997 followed by a bloody coup that more than hundred people were killed and other hundreds more wounded. Then the 1998 and 2013 post election crisis that led to the government crackdown on protesters scored hundred more deaths and wounded.  Also assassination on individual has continued one by one-- many journalists, movie and singer stars, union, human right, and environment activists along with opposition politicians. So far, none of the dead and wounded people have received justice yet while the killers are free to kill more if they need to do so.  Dr. Kem Ley's assassination has similar pattern to a number of murder cases in the past. The point is when the victims dared to criticize the regime or did thing that was viewed as a threat to prime minister Hun Sen's power, his family members, and cronies, they were gunned down or imprisoned mercilessly. Dr. Kem Ley was on Hun Sen's black list for years since he is the most courageous analyst who has unveiled all issues related to Hun Sen's rule. Especially, he unveiled corruption network of Hun Sen regime that strongly supported by Global Witness reported just three days before his murder.

Although a pattern of the past murder cases are similar since they have never found the killers to justice, Dr. Kem Ley's murder case breaks the pattern because this time, the killer was quickly caught along with gun on his hand and his face and shirt was soaked with a victim blood. It looks like the suspect struggled with the victim before the victim died.  In fact, the victim died instantly after at least three shots were fired by the suspect about 2-3 meters away according witnesses. Now even if the suspect was on the hands of police, hundreds of question have been raised. Did the suspect act alone? Is the money dispute confessed by the suspect true? Did the suspect hired or staged by some one else? Who is behind this cruel murder? For what reason? We let our readers answer all these questions and make their own judgment based on facts and pattern of the past murder cases.  However, we can give our short but clear answer to all these questions.  There is no doubt that Hun Sen was behind this assassination. Because three days after Global Witness reported about Hun's family business empire involved with 114 companies worth over $200 millions on the registration while they estimated from $500 millions to $1 billion were unaccounted because they used different names or lack of transparency.  Along with this report, Dr. Kem Ley added more about how the business corruption was operated in network of Hun Sen family members and cronies.

Meanwhile, we saw some unusual events, usually Hun Sen reacts to all criticisms angrily and arrogantly even small or big criticism from inside or outside the country. And typically, after his reactions, bad events or punishment would happen: in 2003, less than 12 hours, after Hun Sen angrily commented about Thai Movie Star, Pkay Preuk, Thai embassy and businesses in Phnum Penh were burnt down by angry mobs. 24 hours after his comment about protest against him in New York and Paris, violent mobs beat up two CNRP's MP without police intervention then fallowed by removing Kem Sokha from vice president post of parliament. Then less than 12 hours after his reaction to Sam Rainsy's Speeches in Tokyo and Seoul, Cambodian court issued an arrest warrant for Sam Rainsy forced him to flee the country in exile for his third time.  For Senator Hong Sok Hour and Oum Som Ann, Hun Sen ordered to arrest them without lifting their immunity protected by the constitution. But this time, Hun Sen is unusually quiet, no reaction or mention about Global Witness or Dr. Kem Ley's comment, though some of his children came to defend him and family reputation.  Then Dr. Kem Ley was gunned down mercilessly in the morning when he walked into their designated target of assassination.

Then Hun Sen pretended to condemn Dr. Kem Ley's murder as crewel and ordered his police to investigate thoroughly. It just reminds us that when he came from Paris, he immediately condemned the barbaric attack on two CNRP's MP and called for the suspect to turn themselves over to the authority. However, only three of attackers were turned themselves in while many are at large. Then the court handled their verdicts for only four months each in jail.  Now all eyes turn on Hun Sen again; how would he handle Dr. Kem Ley's murder case? He may use a strategy of one arrow kills two birds. In this scenario, Hun Sen will force this fake or staged killer to link himself with CNRP's members and more arrest warrant will issue for those he has targeted. Now the pro-CPP media--Fresh News, Cambodia Express, CamNews...started to propagandize that the suspect was hired to be Kem Sokha's bodyguard and brought to Phnom Penh three days before he killed Dr. Kem Ley.  Thus, all CNRP's MPs and activists should be more vigilant and watch out.  It recalls Hun Sen's tactic in 1997, when he ordered his bodyguards to toss two grenades  into Sam Rainsy Party peaceful rally, killing at least 16 people and wounded over one hundreds people; then Hun Sen accused the attackers were the members of the Sam Rainsy Party, and threatened to arrest Sam Rainsy too though overwhelm evident pointed out to Hun Sen's bodyguards, released by FBI.

Now as political atmosphere is heating up when Hun Sen has staged Kem Sokha's sex scandal then he stuck in it couldn't find the way out. And Dr. Kem Ley's assassination just pushes the current political situation even more complicated. In his current tactic, Hun Sen may want to take down both Kem Ley and Kem Sokha at the same time: by linking Kem Ley's murder case to Kem Sokha bodyguards then arrest Kem Sokha as an accomplice.  It's a scary tactic if Hun Sen executes this plan. Nevertheless, Hun Sen can't do it without risk since most people as well as the international community are watching closely how Hun Sen handles Dr. Kem Ley's murder case. As most people already pointed their fingers at Hun Sen as a person of interest who was behind Dr. Kem Ley's assassination, any linking this murder case to CNRP's members or leaders will draw backlash from the people, Dr. Kem Ley family, and the international community. Or in order to save his face, Hun Sen may order his court to convict this sole hired killer to a certain time in jail or to drag this case on as Chea Vichea' case and many other murder cases which have been waiting for justices for years.  Don't expect Hun Sen's court will find true justice for Dr. Kem Ley's murder case; the same result will happen as many previous ones unless the current regime changed.  Whenever, the current regime changed, the iron curtain would open to the public about secrecy of the CPP, and the people would know who were behind all the murder cases that have demanded for justices for years.



14 comments:

Anonymous said...



The whole country, except the hardcore CPP, is mourning for the fallen hero, Kem Ley, while the government pretends to look the other way.
For whom is this government working for?
It does not look like it works for the people, but instead it works for the Hun’s clan and its cronies.


Anonymous said...

No Hun Sen is a real killer and he accused CNRP behind the take Kem Sokha to prison. One stone kills two birds? It's enough!!

Anonymous said...

I do see kem Ley can cause CPP more damage than CNRP in long term if he continues to do his job. Yes, Kem Ley’s death cause huge damage for CPP in Short term, but the party has better chance to recuperate in long term in 2018. Remember, majority of Cambodian people have long term memory deficit. CPP still has few ways to deal with interbarional community, one of them is very crucial and lifeline of CPP policymaker.

Anonymous said...

Every 5 years we lost election, Yuon root grow deeper and deeper. Through Hun Sen's clan business empire, Yuon will gradually swallows Khmer until like Kampuchea Krom.

Anonymous said...

Ah Kouk Hun Sen is so cheap, he killed Kem Ley and tried to link this murder to CNRP, I don't forget the 1997 grenade attack yet on Sam Rainy Party killed and wounded hundreds of people and he said Sam Rainsy and his supporters did it. Enough is enough Ah Kwark. God will punish you someday.

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen will kill the suspect to cover up the fact that he hired the killer.
Why the U.S still give the aid to Cambodia? Hun Sen and his crews use all the money.

Anonymous said...

Cambodia was the Killing Field. Now WHAT?

Once he was a Khmer Rouge, Hun Sem still believe he can kill free?
He acted as he is an innocent! Too bad!
The whole entire killing Kem Ley was set up by Hun Sen. A poor killer won't live longer in prison, his life will cut short by someone.

Hun Sen has played DUMB games to confuse the world!



Anonymous said...


ដោយខ្ញុំតែងដើរជាមួយលោកបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ធ្លាប់ប្រាប់ខ្ញុំថា៖ កាលចុងឆ្នាំ២០១៤ បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី និងបណ្ឌិតជាច្រើនទៀត ជាអ្នកផ្តល់គំនិតយុទ្ធសាស្រ្ត និងផ្តល់ទាំងថវិការជួយបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ដោយពួកគាត់តែងជួប ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិជាច្រើន ពិសេសពួកគាត់តែជួបលោក កឹម សុខា ។

ពេលដែលលោក សម រង្សី និងលោក កឹម សុខា ក្បត់ឆន្ទ:រាស្រ្ត ក្បត់ពាក្យសម្បថមុខប្រាសាទអង្គរ ចូលសភាជាមួយបក្សប្រជាជន ធ្វើឲ្យបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី បណ្ឌិតផ្សេងទៀត ម្ចាស់ជំនួយ និងអ្នកគាំទ្រ បក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិបាក់ទឹកចិត្ត និងខឹងលោកសម រង្សី និងលោក កឹម សុខា ជាខ្លាំង ។

ក្រោយមកបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី និងបណ្ឌិតផ្សេងទៀតខិតខំផ្តល់យោបល់កែស្ថានការ និងបានខិតខំសរសេរអត្ថបទ «វិធីកែទម្រង់ ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យផ្ទៃក្នុងបក្ស» ដើម្បីធ្វើឲ្យបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិខ្លាំង និងរឹងមាំ។ អត្ថបទនោះ ត្រូវបានតំណាងរាស្រ្តជាច្រើនគាំទ្រ តែអកុសល អត្ថបទនោះត្រូវលោកស្រី ជូឡុង សូមារ៉ា ប្រពន្ធលោក សម រង្សី បោះចោលចូលធុងសំរាម និងបោះសំដី ដាក់បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ថា«បើលោកឯងខ្លាំង បើកបក្សឲ្យបាន។ គ្រានោះហើយដែលបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី និងបណ្ឌិតជាច្រើន មានការឈឺចាប់ខ្លាំង ក៏សម្រេចបង្កើតចលនាខ្មែដើម្បីខ្មែរ បច្ចុប្បន្នប្រែក្លាយ ជាបក្សឈ្មោះថា «បក្សប្រជាធិបតេយ្យមូលដ្ឋាន»។

ទ្រឹស្តីសង្គម និងនយោបាយឯករាជ្យ របស់បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី បានទាក់ទាញយុវជនបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ល្បីៗជាច្រើន ចេញពីបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ មកធ្វើកិច្ចការសង្គម ដូចជាការងារអង្គការ បណ្តាញព្រះសង្ឃ ក្រុមសារព័ត៌មាន យុវជនបរិស្ថាន យុវជនការពារព្រៃឈើ ព្រៃឡង់ និង អារ៉ែង ជាដើម... ហើយបណ្តាញកសិកររបស់អង្គការសេដាក់រាប់ពាន់គ្រួសារ ដែលធ្លាប់គាំទ្របក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ បែជាមករួមគ្នាបង្កើតបក្សថ្មី «បក្សប្រជាធិបតេយ្យមូលដ្ឋាន» ដោយមានម្ចាស់មូលលនិធិ ក្រៅប្រទេសជាច្រើន ដែលធ្លាប់គាំទ្របក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ក៏បែជាត្រឡប់មកគាំទ្រក្រុមបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី វិញដែរ។​ ស្ថានភាពចុងក្រោយ ថ្មីៗនេះ របស់បក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិក្លាយជាពស់ដាច់ក្បាល លោក សម រង្សី រត់ចោលស្រុក លោក កឹម សុខា ជាប់ឃុំក្នុងស្នាក់ការបក្ស ហើយអាចនឹងត្រូវបន្តជាប់ឃុំនៅព្រៃស។

ព័ត៌មានសម្ងាត់១ បានឲ្យខ្ញុំដឹងថា៖ ក្រោយពេលអាជ្ញាធរ ចាប់លោក កឹម សុខា ទៅព្រៃស តំណាងរាស្រ្តបក្សង្គ្រោះជាតិទាំងអស់ គ្រោងរួមដៃជាមួយបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី និងបណ្ឌិតផ្សេងទៀតដើម្បីរើសប្រធានបក្ស និងអនុប្រធានថ្មី ដោយដឹកនាំបក្សតាមបែប «ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យផ្ទៃក្នុងបក្ស»។ ព័ត៌មានសម្ងាត់នេះ ធ្វើឲ្យខ្ញុំរីករាយណាស់ ខ្ញុំក៏មានគម្រោងចូលទៅបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ វិញដែរ។ ព័ត៌មានសម្ងាត់ផ្ទៃក្នុងនេះ ប្រហែលមិនអាចលាក់បាំង ជាមួយលោក សម រង្សី និងលោក កឹម សុខា បានទេ ។ ក្រោយខ្ញុំដឹងព័ត៌មានសម្ងាត់នេះ១សប្តាហ៍ បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ត្រូវបានគេលួចបាញ់សម្លាប់។

ក្រោយពេលបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ស្លាប់ភ្លាម លោក សម រង្សី ផូសផ្សាយថា ការសម្លាប់បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី គឺរៀបចំដោយរដ្ឋអំណាច បន្ទាប់មកថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំ ក្រុមអង្គរក្ស និងសកម្មជនបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ កាងសពជាប់នៅកន្លែងកើតហេតុ រួចហែរសពទៅវត្តចាស់ ដោយស្រែកបញ្ឆេះសារនយោបាយប្រឆាំង ដើម្បីចង់ឲ្យផ្ទុំកំហឹងបដិវត្តិ និងបានប៉ះទង្គិចហិង្សាខ្លះជាមួយអាជ្ញាធរទៀតផង តែអាជ្ញាធរដកថយដើម្បីបញ្ជៀសហិង្សា។

ពេលសពបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ទៅដល់វត្តចាស់ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំ ក្រុមអង្គរក្ស និងសកម្មជនបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ដាក់វេនគ្នាទៅបុណ្យ និងប្រចាំការរាល់ថ្ងៃ កាងសពបណ្ឌិតកែម ឡី ខ្ញុំជាអ្នកស្និតជាមួយបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ត្រូវបានក្រុមនោះព្រួតគ្នាជេរ រារាំង និងព្យាយាមប្រើហិង្សាលើខ្ញុំ មិនឲ្យខ្ញុំចូលគោរពសព បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ទេ។

តាមគម្រោងគ្រួសារសពបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ចង់រក្សាទុកសពត្រឹម១០ថ្ងៃ តែបណ្តាញថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំសង្គ្រោះជាតិបញ្ចុះបញ្ចូល គ្រួសារបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ឲ្យរក្សាសពទុកឲ្យបានយូរ ដើម្បីទទួលបានលុយចូលបុណ្យច្រើន។ ចេតនារបស់ពួកគេ ចង់ទុកសព បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី រហូតដល់ថ្ងៃបោះឆ្នោត ដើម្បីចំណេញសន្លឹកឆ្នោតដល់បក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ។ បញ្ជាក់៖ បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ស្លាប់ថ្ងៃ១០ កក្កដា បុណ្យខួបរបស់គាត់ ចំថ្ងៃឃោសនាបោះឆ្នោត។

ការស្លាប់បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី ធ្វើឲ្យរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលខាតបង់ប្រជាប្រិយភាពយ៉ាងខ្លាំង និងបានធ្វើឲ្យទ្រឹស្តីរិះគន់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលរបស់បណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី រីកសុះសាយឡើង និងក៏បានលុបបំបាត់ព្រឹត្តិការណ៍រឿងអាស្រូវផ្លូវភេទលោក កឹម សុខា ដែលបានផ្ទុះឡើងជាង៤ខែ ដែលធ្វើឲ្យអ្នកគាំទ្រសង្គ្រោះជាតិបាក់ទឹកចិត្ត និងឈប់គាំទ្របក្សជាបន្តបន្ទាប់។ តែរឿងឃាតកម្មបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី បានធ្វើឲ្យកំហឹងមហាជនផ្ទុះឡើង ជេរ និងរិះគន់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលយ៉ាងខ្លាំង ប្រជាប្រិយភាពបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ចាប់ផ្តើមកើនឡើងវិញ។

នាងខ្ញុំ ធី សុវណ្ណថា សង្ស័យថា លោក សម រង្សី និង លោក កឹម សុខា ជាអ្នកនៅពីក្រោយនៃការបាញ់សម្លាប់លោកបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី៕

Anonymous said...

Great analysis, Khmer Wathanakam. All points you made are true and most educated Khmer understand the killing of Dr. Kem Ley and the suspect's alibi or testimony doesn't add up. Hun Sen may underestimated the degree of support of Dr. Kem Ley and the ramification of his killing. In the age of social media, his propaganda media, cannot manipulate the events anymore. Young and savvy Khmer youth have access to independent news and information at their fingertips. It remains to be seen what is Hun Sen next move.

Anonymous said...

To Ah Kouk or Mee Kouk at 16:02 Don't try to breat up Khmer unity. We understand all your tricks!!

Anonymous said...


Khmer people need to learn from the evil Yuon Vietnam:

Vietnam has not buried Ho Chi Minh yet until Vietnam completely swallowing Cambodia.

Khmer people must NOT BURY Kem Ley. Keep Kem Ley in the glass coffin until Cambodia is completely free from Vietnam.

Bun Thoeun

Anonymous said...

Bun Thoeun

The organisers and the people all wanted his body to be preserved and displayed as long as practicable, but they mis-administered the medication, and the corpse's condition is fast deteriorating instead. So this is the reason why the body cannot be kept too long in glass.

Anonymous said...

15 July 2016 at 00:16

Thank You so much for your kind answer.

The problem is that this kind of problem we should not have made.

Then we should make a lifelike statue (make sure that it look exactly like him) to revive his legacy.

Bun Thoeun

Anonymous said...



14 July 2016 at 16:02

"នាងខ្ញុំ ធី សុវណ្ណថា សង្ស័យថា លោក សម រង្សី និង លោក កឹម សុខា ជាអ្នកនៅពីក្រោយនៃការបាញ់សម្លាប់លោកបណ្ឌិត កែម ឡី៕"

ខួរក្បាលនាងអែងច្រែះស៊ីហើយ ពេទ្យជួយមិនបានទេ ទាល់ទៅកន្លែងជួសជុលឡាន អោយគេលាងច្រែះចេញ។