Sam Rainsy raised Mrs. Meas Srey's hand to show her courage to uproot the border stakes (Photo: Meng Huor, Radio France Internationale)
26 December 2009
By Pen Bona
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy declared that he is taking sole responsibility for the uprooting of border stakes in Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province. Sam Rainsy’s decision to come out and take this responsibility takes place at a time when the Svay Rieng provincial court charged a number of villagers of colluding with Sam Rainsy to uproot the border stakes at the end of October. This legal case is heating up the political atmosphere in Cambodia one more notch.
Sam Rainsy, who in the past claimed that he was only a witness in the uprooting of border stakes, has changed his mind and he now accepts the full and sole responsibility in this case.
From France where he is now staying, the opposition leader issued a statement on Friday indicating that, according to the law, he is the person who is solely responsible and who should be tried by the court. All the other persons who were present in this incident were victims of his action only.
Sam Rainsy’s decision to accept full responsibility is taking place at a time when the Svay Rieng provincial court is continuing its investigation in this border stakes uprooting. The court also charged a number of villagers who participated in the uprooting with Sam Rainsy. Up to now, the court has arrested two villagers and three others fled because they are concerned about being arrested.
At the end of October, Sam Rainsy and a group of villagers uprooted 6 border stakes that were installed by the joint Cambodian-Viet border committee in Koh Kban Kandal village, Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province. The villagers charged that these stakes were planted on top of their rice fields. Subsequently, Sam Rainsy was charged by the Svay Rieng court for destruction of public properties and for inciting racial discrimination.
Sam Rainsy declared that he was only witnessing the uprooting of these border stakes that led to the loss of Cambodian territories. However, now, he declared that he is taking full and sole responsibility in this case. Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman, explained today that Sam Rainsy did not uproot the stakes, but as a MP who was present on the spot, he accepts to take the responsibility for the villagers.
Yim Sovann claimed that the villagers are not to be blamed because they uprooted border stakes that are planted on their properties. However, if the court wants to charge anyone in this case, the court should only charge Sam Rainsy. Nevertheless, the Svay Rieng court is still continuing its work in this case.
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