A Sam Rainsy Party supporter who party officials say had recently been selected as a commune council election candidate died Sunday, four days after he was shot in the Tuk Chrouv commune of Kompong Cham province.
Phun Phann, 32, was shot several times at about 7:30 pm Wednesday, police said. He died at a hospital in Tbong Khmum district.
Seng Sokim, Kampong Cham province deputy chief of judicial police, said Tuesday that an unidentified group of gunmen was involved in the shooting. “We’re not sure what the motivation is,” he said after receiving a report from Dambe district police.
Sam Rainsy Party Cabinet Chief Pi Thach said Tuesday that the shooting was political. “Phun Phann was working hard for the party and was recently admitted as a member of the party commune council,” Pi Thach said.
“This is real intimidation to the opposition party. If opposition party activists are not strong enough, they may not stay alive,” he said.
Chan Soveth, an investigator for the human rights NGO Adhoc, said his organization is investigating the shooting.
