Opposition CNRP leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha on Thursday joined mourners to pay their respects to human rights advocate Chan Soveth, who suffered a fatal heart attack Wednesday.
Funeral proceedings for the longtime senior investigator at local rights group Adhoc began in the morning at Wat Kol Totoeng in Phnom Penh’s Chbar Ampov district, where friends, family and colleagues gathered to bid farewell to the activist.
Arriving at 11:30 a.m., Mr. Rainsy and Mr. Sokha took turns lighting incense before placing it in a memorial for Chan Soveth. “Chan Soveth defended human rights to help victims and those who suffered from all kinds of things,” Mr. Rainsy said after visiting the memorial.
“Even in the remote provinces, we would also see Chan Soveth going down to help and defend the suffering people, so he was a good example for all of us.” Mr. Sokha offered his own praise for the campaigner.
“His analysis was correct and his activities were good—especially in his investigations; he would speak based on the law to defend all victims,” he said.
