In a letter to King Norodom Sihanouk, National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh said the National Assembly is working closely with the government and the courts to prevent mob killings or police beatings of suspected criminals.
“The National Assembly has made requests to the government to prevent and crackdown effectively on extrajudicial killings,” Prince Ranariddh said in his letter dated Dec 29.
The prince wrote the letter in response to a letter that opposition party leader Sam Rainsy wrote to the King. At least two senior government officials have now written recently to the monarch on mob violence.
Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote to the King on the same issue and said there is “no principle” from the government endorsing mob killings or police beatings of suspected criminals.
Sam Rainsy called on the monarch to ask Cambodians to stop the extrajudicial killing of thieves, who are often lynched by mobs or shot to death by police. He said the extrajudicial executions are against the Constitution, which abolished the death penalty.
Prince Ranariddh cited the National Assembly’s reaction to the kidnapping of opposition parliamentarian Lon Phon as evidence lawmakers are committed to strengthening the rule of law.
“The government paid a ransom to liberate Lon Phon after a strong reaction and intervention from the National Assembly,” the prince said.
Lon Phon was released after being held for three days. Officials claimed $140,000 in ransom was paid, a substantial amount of which was loaned from unnamed government officials.
