Tioulong Saumura responds to libel suit with facts, rationality and courage
- From: "Chim" <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 19 Sep 2005 13:38:39 -0700
Interview with Ms. Tioulong Saumura on Mr. Hun Sen's Chief Bodyguard's
Libel Suit
Reaksmey Heng
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
16/09/2005
Heng Reaksmey report
MP Tioulong Saumura (VOA file photo)
Q- About Prime Minister Hun Sen's chief bodyguard's, Mr. Hing Bun
Heang's new libel suit against you and Mr. Eng Chhay Eang, on
defamation case, what is your comment?
A- I did not defame anybody. I did not accuse anybody. Whatever I did
seven years ago, I only listened to two people who came to see me, and
they alleged that they had some information on the 1997 grenade attack.
In this grenade attack, opposition Sam Rainsy Party's activists, and
many people were wounded or killed. Therefore, it is my duty to listen
to them when these people alleged that they had some information on
this crime to tell me. When these two people came to see me, I just
listened to what they had to tell me. To avoid some confusion and
misunderstanding, I recorded their voices, and took their pictures, to
have a record on this information. Because I am not a researcher, and a
crime investigator, I sent the DVD and the information to some
authorities who can investigate and do some research on such case. As
for me, I have never accused anyone, never expressed my opinions, or
considered the information which the two men gave me as true. I wonder,
seven years have passed, why are the DVDs and this information just
being circulated in public now?
Q- Phnom Penh Court received many complaints about attacks and charges
from civil societies and from other countries, and this court is
partial to the ruling parties. The court ruled in favor of every suits
filed by the ruling parties against opposition Sam Rainsy party, or
other government officials. Do you believe that this court can bring
justice to you or to Mr. Eng Chhay Eang as accused by Prime Minister
Hun Sen's chief bodyguard, Mr. Hing Bun Heang?
A- I believe that there is no base for the court to consider this suit.
If we listen to the DVD, even without me, or without Mr. Eng Chhay Eang
being present in the DVD, there is no place showing me expressing my
opinions or charging anybody. So, I believe that even if the court is
partial, there is no way that it can create a case as filed. Anyone can
listen and see DVDs, and anyone can assume anything or make any
judgment.
If you want to learn more about this interview, please listen to the
audio. Please note that Ms. Tioulong Saumura and Mr. Eng Chhay Eang,
both from Sam Rainsy party, interviewed Mr. Chhay Vy, in a DVD
distributed in Phnom Penh some time ago, who claimed that General Hing
Bun Heang hired him to throw one grenade. General Hing has previously
denied the charge. The 97 grenade attack on the Sam Rainsy supporters
in front of National Assembly killed 16 people and wounded more than
one hundred others.
.
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