Cambodia | Man confesses to killing activist but family doubts it

Prominent political analyst Kem Ley smiles as he celebrated the 67th anniversary to commemorate the Kampuchea Krom territory’s return to Vietnam in June 2016

A Cambodian man yesterday confessed in court to killing an outspoken government critic over an unpaid loan, but the victim’s family said he’s a scapegoat in a political assassination.

Migrant worker Oeut Ang said he fired shots that killed Kem Ley last July because he was upset over the USD3,000 he was owed. Shortly before his death, Kem Ley spoke on radio on a report about Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s allegedly embezzled wealth.

Cambodian authorities deny any involvement in his killing. Kem Ley’s relatives believe the suspect isn’t telling the whole truth and that the government may have masterminded the killing.

“I killed Kem Ley because he cheated me,” said the suspect, who identified himself by his nickname “Chuob Samlab,” translating loosely as “meet and kill.”

“Nobody else ordered me to kill him,” he said.

Kem Ley’s 78-year-old mother, Phork Se, was shocked to hear that the trial has started without her being invited. She called it a “political theater.”

“I know that the accused person is not the real killer,” she said. “That’s why I’m not interested in this trial.”

Interviews after the killing cast doubt on Ouet Ang’s confession. After his arrest, his wife said they “lived from hand to mouth” and that her husband couldn’t have lent Kem Ley the money, a huge sum by Cambodian standards. Kem Ley’s relatives said that the doctor-turned-commentator lived simply and had never met the suspect.

Kem Ley appeared constantly as a political analyst on the country’s few remaining independent radio stations and newspapers, a thorn in his government’s side. He’s the most prominent critic killed since trade union leader Chea Vichea in 2004.

Tens of thousands wept across the country at his funeral two weeks after the killing. The huge crowds were also a reflection of anger against a government that’s been jailing and intimidating political opponents. AP