Trial of CFF Suspects Begins in Battambang

A trial began Monday in Battambang provincial court for 21 suspected members of the Cam­bodian Freedom Fighters—the fifth trial of ac­cused CFF members since the Nov 24, 2000 attack that left at least four people dead.

Included in this group of suspects—all of whom were arrested last September or October—are three Funcinpec officials, which raised concerns from Phnom Penh party officials.

“I think it’s not fair for the three [Funcinpec members] to be in­cluded in the CFF because we have lots of evidence showing these men were not involved in the CFF,” said Serey Kosal, security adviser for Funcinpec. He said the suspects cannot receive justice from a Battambang court because of “politics.”

Serey Kosal said Battambang officials had no evidence against Srey Bour, Yorn Yi and Nerm Sopheap, the three Funcinpec officials  standing trial. He called their arrest part of a CPP crackdown on Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Party commune candidates or officials in the Battam­bang area.

General Khieu Sopheak, spokes­man for the Ministry of Interior, denied that the government has arrested the three accused CFF members for political reasons.

“It doesn’t matter if the suspects are CPP, Funcinpec or Sam Rainsy Party,” Khieu Sopheak said. “If the suspects are part of the CFF, or if they are trying to overthrow the government, they need to be arrested and tried by the courts.”

He said at least one of the 64 CFF suspects arrested in Sep­tember or October 2001 was a CPP official, but could not provide the name of the suspect.

Hong Kim Suon, defense attorney for Srey Bour and Yorn Yi, said the courts are using confessions from previously convicted CFF members as evidence. He said his clients have maintained their innocence.

On Monday, the courts heard testimony from five accused CFF members. At least one of the suspects said police beat him until he confessed to CFF membership, said one human rights official who monitored the case.

Yann Yet, deputy chief prosecutor for Battambang provincial courts, said the court has confessions and documents that prove the 21 accused are part of the CFF administration. He said the court also has physical evidence, such as ammunition and some wea­pons. He said the court will hand down a verdict Friday.