CAMBODIA: Soldiers and police escape prosecution
24 October 2008 6:55 am

cambodia_police.jpgFor Cambodia's police and armed forces, impunity is the rule of law. In recent months Phnom Penh has been witness to a spate of shootings perpetrated by police or Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) personnel.

FORUM-ASIA's member in Cambodia, LICADHO, details in its website various cases of police abuse and violence. 

These individuals at the time of the shooting incidents were either off-duty or working second jobs as security guards, during which they were illegally carrying firearms.

These perpetrators escaped prosecution because they were protected by their high-level connections, paid out-of-court compensation to the victim to ensure a criminal complaint was not made, or were allowed to go into hiding.

More information on "Impunity at Work in Cambodia" related to police violence can be found at LICADHO's website: http://www.licadho.org/articles/20081015/82/index.html