REACTION TO FINNISH VISA FOR CONVICTED CAMBODIAN COP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 002210 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KJUS PREF CB SUBJECT: REACTION TO FINNISH VISA FOR CONVICTED CAMBODIAN COP ¶1. (SBU) Summary. While the Cambodian government has reacted angrily to the Finnish government's decision to offer a visa to convicted senior police official Heng Pov, Cambodian human rights NGOs and the political opposition are pleased with the decision. Following the announcement on December 6, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong held a press conference that was played repeatedly on government-controlled media in which the MFA sharply criticized the GOF decision. Some NGOs suggest that Heng Pov could face legal problems in Finland, where Cambodian citizens may take the former RGC police official to court. End Summary. Cambodian MFA: GOF Decision "Very Regrettable" -------------- -- ¶2. (U) Following the GOF's confirmation of the December 6 announcement in Malaysia that Finland would grant Heng Pov a visa, the Cambodian government criticized Finland's government of giving asylum to a Cambodian criminal, and sardonically urged Finland to accept other criminals interned in Cambodia's prison system. In a letter by Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to his counterpart in Finland, Hor Namhong expressed anger and obvious frustration that Finland's government had decided to issue a visa for convicted criminal Heng Pov. "I would recall that this is the second time a convicted criminal from Cambodia has been offered shelter in your country," Hor Namhong said in the letter dated on December 7. "Sok Yoeun, who was convicted for a rocket attack and attempting to assassinate Prime Miniter Hun Sen in 1998 was also given sanctuary by your country on a similar pretext". ¶3. (U) "It is very regrettable indeed that criminals who fabricated claims against the Royal Government of Cambodia to masquerade their actual crimes have gained protection from Finland," Hor Namhong said. In the letter, Hor Namhong said there are many convicted criminals in Cambodia; and suggested if Finland wishes to provide care for them, Cambodia will be very pleased to send them to Finland. On behalf of the RGC, Hor Namhong urged the Government of Finland to reconsider its decision. ¶4. (U) Ex-Municipal police chief Heng Pov, who is being detained on immigration charges by Malaysian police, fled from Cambodia in late July -- shortly before Cambodian authorities issued an arrest warrant. A Cambodian court later convicted Heng Pov in absentia to 18 years imprisonment on several counts, including the murder of Judge Sok Sethemony in Phnom Penh. In Singapore where Heng Pov first arrived, Heng Pov rebuffed the government's accusations, countering that senior RGC officials were behind such unsolved political crimes as the murder of union leader Chea Vichea in 2004, the 1997 grenade attack that killed 16 protesters outside the National Assembly, and the murder of famous actress Pisith Pilika. Singapore later expelled Heng Pov to Malaysia, the point of entry for his arrival in Singapore. Malaysian immigration authorities arrested Heng Pov on October 3, and his lawyers appealed to Malaysian authorities to resist RGC calls for his deportation to Cambodia. ¶5. (SBU) With the GOF visa offer, the Cambodian press has given extensive coverage to the Heng Pov case once again. Hor Namhong gave a press conference on December 7, which was broadcast on both state and privately-owned television and radio that same evening. Numerous stories appeared on the front pages of the local print media on December 8. Press reports also quoted Finland's Ambassador to Malaysia as saying that the GOF arrived at the decision as a result of human rights concerns raised by Heng Pov's lawyers as well as unnamed NGOs. The latter reference ensured that Cambodian NGOs contacted by the press for reaction to the GOF decision were circumspect in their public remarks for fear of being too closely identified as supporting Heng Pov's case. NGO Reaction to Finnish Offer -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) Director Kem Sokha characterized Finland's offer of an entry visa to Heng Pov as a humanitarian gesture. Kem Sokha told us that he believes Finland offered the visa to Heng Pov after careful consideration of the case. He added that Finland has provided asylum to other Cambodians, e.g., SRP official Sok Yoeun, as well as family members of slain union leaders Chea Vichea and Ros Sovannareth. Kek Galabru, LICADHO Director, said that many Cambodians in Canada, Australia, the United States and Finland do not want Heng Pov to be deported to Cambodia because of the lack of an independent judiciary and prospects for a fair trial. Many of those individuals have lobbied other countries, including Finland, for asylum for Heng Pov, she said. ¶7. (SBU) Thun Saray, Director of ADHOC, offered no insight into Finland's decision. He said that Heng Pov's issue is complicated because Heng Pov was also involved in crimes in Cambodia and is not PHNOM PENH 00002210 002 OF 002 an innocent man. However, Cambodia's judiciary is neither neutral nor fair for cases like Heng Pov's, the human rights leader added. Heng Pov would never have a chance to disclose information regarding his crimes and those involving other senior RGC officials if he were sent back to Cambodia, said Thun Saray. Nay Dina, Executive Director of Khmer Institute for Democracy (KID),added that the truth about many unsolved crimes in Cambodia may come to light once Heng Pov is safely relocated to Finland or another third country. ¶8. (SBU) When contacted by the press, Sam Rainsy, leader of Cambodia's main opposition party, claimed surprise over the offer of asylum. Since Heng Pov's flight from Cambodia, Sam Rainsy has instructed his colleagues to distance themselves from the issue, comparing the issue to a "conflict among rascals." Privately, however, Rainsy has indicated a strong desire to see Heng Pov receive asylum from a third country and not face return to Cambodia, where the opposition leader has opined that Pov would likely be killed. ¶9. (SBU) Comment. Cambodia's public believes that Heng Pov is culpable for many crimes, but also has knowledge regarding other crimes his ranking supervisors ordered or covered up. NGOs have mixed feelings about Heng Pov, but all noted respect for Finland's decision. However, it is not clear Heng Pov was involved in the crimes for which he has been charged and convicted in absentia. No one contacted believes Heng Pov's trial was fair and impartial, nor do they have confidence the ex-police official will be able to tell his full story if returned to Cambodia. Heng Pov has claimed that he has proof of his allegations, but to date has offered nothing specific. Some sources speculated that Heng Pov could face charges in Finland brought by other Cambodians, as the former MOI official may have been involved in the cases that led to their decision to seek asylum abroad. While the process for removing Heng Pov from Malaysia to Singapore and then possibly on to Finland remains unclear, Heng Pov is likely to prefer risking legal action against him in Finland to going to jail in Cambodia. End Comment.