Officials: No Release for RCAF Officer, Despite NGOs’ Efforts

ang snoul district, Kandal prov­ince – Officials at Brigade 911 para­troopers’ headquarters on Wed­nes­day refused to release an RCAF officer from detention, saying he had vio­lated the internal rules of the military by failing to at­tend work for more than seven months.

Their announcement came af­ter more than an hour of negotiations be­­tween commanders at the headquarters and human rights workers trying to obtain the re­lease of 911 Lieutenant Phork Sambath, who has been de­tained since March 1.

Rights workers say Phork Sam­bath was arrested over a property dis­pute involving his uncle, who lives in the US, though officials at the headquarters said that was not the case.

“In the army’s rules, personnel cannot be freed before being disciplined,” said Soth Saroeun, a dep­u­ty brigade commander, after meeting with officials from the Cam­­bo­dian Center for Human Rights, Lic­ad­ho and Adhoc.

The CCHR has said that Phork Sam­­­bath was arrested by se­nior para­troopers who de­mand­ed that he accept $3,000 in return for vacating his home in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kok district. The house be­longs to Phork Sam­bath’s uncle, Srey Vath, who earlier this year ac­cused his ne­phew of trying to claim ownership of the home.

Srey Vath allegedly took the dis­pute to his nephew’s commanding of­­­ficer, and Phork Sam­bath was de­­tained soon afterward, his wife Im Kan­ha has said.

On Monday, Im Kanha said that her fami­ly has been demanding $25,000 from Srey Vath in return for leaving the house, which they are currently occupying. She at­tri­bu­ted her husband’s detention to the dispute, adding that he is feeling weak and has been suffering from headaches.

Soth Saroeun conceded that Phork Sambath’s family has a long-running dispute with Srey Vath over the ownership of the home, but he denied pressuring the de­tainee to accept money to leave it.

Srey Sen Kosal, a medical officer with Licadho, was allowed to meet with Phork Sambath, and said he ap­peared to be in good health but so­ber­ed by his experience.

Chan Soveth, an investigator with Adhoc, said he would continue to follow the case closely.

But for the moment, at least, Phork Sambath’s detention is set to continue, said Yim Chumnith, a deputy commander at the brigade, adding that 911 is taking good care of him.

“If I release him, it would mean the rules are loose,” he said.