The Sam Rainsy Party filed a complaint with the Interior Ministry on Wednesday, demanding the arrest of a Prey Veng province police officer who the party claims beat up one of its activists and two children.
A police official in Kompong Leav district’s Prek Anteah commune denied the allegations and said the officer in question will not be arrested.
The SRP claims that in Porpes village Sunday, Chhum Sri, 37, beat Kong Breach with a bamboo stave until it broke after overhearing her discuss plans for a voter registration drive for the 2007 commune elections.
Chhum Sri then allegedly threw Kong Breach and her 13-year-old daughter against a wall, and struck her 1-year-old nephew, according to a copy of the complaint.
Pim Samnang, an aide to SRP leader Sam Rainsy, also claimed that the officer stamped on Kong Breach’s throat.
“It was more brutal than the Khmer Rouge regime,” Pim Samnang declared.
Chea Poch, SRP lawmaker for Prey Veng, also said the alleged assault was politically motivated.
However, Porpes village police chief Tat Noeun denied that Kong Breach had been attacked and said Chhum Sri would therefore not be arrested.
CPP commune chief Kea Roeun confirmed that Kong Breach was injured and said he has questioned Chhum Sri who he suspects attacked her.
“He didn’t confess, he said it was only a verbal argument,” said Kea Roeun, adding that Chhum Sri claims he had come to the house to ask people to keep quiet.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached for comment.
Prey Veng province CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said he did not know whether an attack had really occurred.
“As usual, before the elections there is always exaggerations about politically motivated attacks,” he said. “I don’t believe it was politically motivated because people in the province are so gentle.”
Chhum Sri could not be reached for comment.
