Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) shakes hands with National Assembly president Heng Samrin (R) during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in Phnom Penh, Jan. 7, 2016.

Cambodian National Assembly President Blocks Testimony on Kem Ley Murder

RFA | 22 December 2016

The president of Cambodia’s National Assembly blocked the opposition party’s attempt to interrogate members of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet over the investigation into the murder of popular analyst Kem Ley.

Heng Samrin, who heads the National Assembly and is a leader of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), refused to forward Cambodia National Recue Party (CNRP) lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang’s request to question the cabinet members to the legislative body.

The move effectively prevents the National Assembly from questioning Interior Minister Sar Kheng and Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana in an open session.

A press release issued by the National Assembly said Kem Ley’s July 10 murder is still under investigation, and that it falls under the court’s jurisdiction and not the National Assembly’s.

“The Kem Ley case falls under the court’s jurisdiction from the first stage, and both the National Assembly and the royal government have no right to interfere in court affairs,” the statement reads.

The decision comes a day after it appeared that government officials might offer up some explanation about the slow pace of the investigation.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Khieu Sopheak told RFA earlier this week that Sar Kheng plans to provide clarification on the investigation to the National Assembly, but the exact nature of the clarification was unclear. In addition to his role as interior minister, Sar Kheng also carries the deputy prime minister title.

‘The assembly acts with groundless reference’

Eng Chhay Eang, who heads the National Assembly’s Human Rights, Complaints and Investigation Commission, told RFA that Heng Samrin’s logic is flawed.

“I am surprised over this matter because it should not be the National Assembly that replies,” he said. “The government should be the one who replies.”

“The National Assembly has a duty to submit the request and summon relevant ministers to clarify in the presence of any expert commissions of the national assembly,” he added. “But now, the assembly acts with groundless reference.”

Kem Ley was gunned down in broad daylight on July 10 when he stopped in a Star Mart convenience store beside a Caltex gas station in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.

Though authorities charged a former soldier, identified as Oueth Ang, with the killing, many in Cambodia don’t believe the government’s story that Kem Ley was killed by the former soldier over a debt. The accused killer has used the nom de plume Chuop Samlap which roughly translated means “meet to kill.”

Just days before he was gunned down, Kem Ley had discussed on an RFA Khmer Service call-in show a report by London-based Global Witness detailing the extent of the wealth of the family of Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for 31 years.

Since the arrest, the investigation has apparently stalled, or is not being pursued as the Cambodian authorities have someone in custody.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court says the case is still open as the investigative judge, Seng Leang, is still pursuing it.

CNRP President Sam Rainsy filed a petition in with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, requesting Chevron Corporation to release any surveillance footage it may have of the shooting death of Kem Ley.

Caltex is the brand name the Chevron Corporation uses in more than 60 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Southern Africa.

Caltex and Star Mart have declined to respond to RFA’s inquiries concerning the surveillance videos.