Ten years after Cambodian political analyst Kem Ley was killed, human rights groups and his supporters say full justice has still not been delivered, as they continue to honour his legacy.
Am Sam Ath, operations director at the rights group LICADHO, said that although Oeut Ang, also known as Choub Samlab, was sentenced to life imprisonment, civil society organisations believe important questions remain unanswered.
Authorities said the killing resulted from a dispute over a debt of 3,000 US dollars. But Am Sam Ath said the explanation had failed to convince parts of the public and civil society.
He noted that the court divided the case into two investigations. While Oeut Ang was convicted, there has been no publicly reported progress in the investigation into whether other people may have helped plan or coordinate the killing.
“This is why civil society organisations and Kem Ley’s supporters continue to call for further investigation to secure full justice for him,” Am Sam Ath said.
He warned that the lack of a complete explanation could contribute to a continuing culture of impunity and discourage others from carrying out independent social analysis because of concerns for their safety.
Am Sam Ath said, Kem Ley left an important legacy in Cambodia by promoting freedom of expression, encouraging people to speak the truth, and producing research that remains valuable to young people and future scholars.
Ny Sokha, president of the human rights group ADHOC, said the tenth anniversary was an opportunity to recognise Kem Ley’s contribution and sacrifice.
He described Kem Ley as someone willing to speak openly about social and political issues, helping the public gain broader information and understanding.
Ny Sokha said that had Kem Ley remained alive, he would probably have continued analysing Cambodia’s political, economic, and social challenges, including restrictions on freedoms and questions of social justice.
He encouraged young people to study Kem Ley’s work and ideas, describing his research and commentary as valuable resources for understanding Cambodian society and history.
Kem Ley was shot dead on the morning of July 10, 2016, inside a convenience store at the Caltex Bokor petrol station in Phnom Penh.
In March 2017, a court sentenced Oeut Ang to life imprisonment for the killing. Authorities maintained that the crime arose from the alleged debt dispute.
Civil society groups, human rights activists, and independent observers have continued to call for further investigation, saying significant aspects of the case have yet to be clarified.
