Close to 200 family members and supporters of Ta Mok said they will demonstrate this week in front of the National Assembly to urge parliamentarians to release the alleged former Khmer Rouge leader.
“We need to take care of him because nowadays he is too old, and he is very sick,” stated a petition signed by 191 supporters of Ta Mok. “We guarantee that if the courts release him [into our custody], we will send him back to the court during the trial.”
The supporters, including family members and soldiers loyal to Ta Mok, sent the petition to the Council of Ministers, the Cabinets of the National Assembly and Senate, and human rights groups including Licadho and the UN Human Rights office. It was sent from Samlot district, Oddar Meanchey province, on March 3.
“It would be good for human rights in Cambodia if the government released him from prison,” said one supporter. “There are many Khmer Rouge high-ranking leaders who are free and living in comfortable villas and who drive nice cars and have a lot of money.”
