Victims’ Testimonies for the Launch Announcement Session of the Commission of Inquiry for Cambodia, 23 October 2021

The victims of the Hun Sen government’s long-standing democracy and human rights abuses have something very special and very important to contribute to the fact-finding work of the Commission of Inquiry for Cambodia. Their stories place a human face and a human impact picture on how the Hun Sen government’s violations of international law affect the Khmer community on the most basic level. They also tell us why the work of the Commission of Inquiry is so necessary and important. 

These victims and their families have worked for years to bring attention to the injustice that the abuse of their loved ones by the Hun Sen government produced. They asked to have their cases properly investigated by the government, and/or by the international community. They asked to have the real perpetrators of the assassinations and other abuses identified and held accountable. They asked for a full investigation that would reveal the alleged involvements in the crimes of the Hun Sen government at the highest levels. But their calls for help and attention, and their demands for justice and accountability, were largely ignored.  

The government of Cambodia certainly did not want to place itself in a position to investigate major crimes that it very likely helped to organize and carry out. The international community wrongly placed the emphasis on asking the Hun Sen government to conduct more meaningful investigations, despite knowing that the government was likely complicit in the crimes. 

Now, finally, the Commission of Inquiry for Cambodia is providing these victims and their families with a forum where the truth can be told, and their demands for justice and accountability properly responded to.   

Today we will hear the stories and testimonies of the representatives of Kem Ley and Chea Vichea, two of the most prominent critics of the Hun Sen government’s policies, who were assassinated to keep them silent. Over the next several months, the Commission of Inquiry plans to devote one full day of hearings to other victims’ testimonies. So, listen carefully to their stories. They could be our and your stories. We all become victims when our leaders and spokespeople are targeted with violence and intimidation to keep them silent. Especially when law enforcement and court systems are hijacked to do the will of an autocratic government; misusing judges and security personnel to oppress and control, and to stifle free speech and free association rights, instead of to protect the people.

Speaking on behalf of Kem Ley will be his wife, Bou Rachana. The testimony on behalf of Chea Vichea will be read by a voiceover because Chea Vichea’s wife, Kimny Chea was not available to do the broadcast. 

These voiceovers for both victims are not exact translation, and include references and observations drawn from other sources as well.