Cambodia: Disappearances/killings of monks and student

Case KHM 110998
                                  
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT 
intervention regarding the following situation in Cambodia.

Brief description of the situation:

The International Secretariat has been informed by reliable sources of the 
presumed injuries, killings  and disappearances of  three monks and one 
student in Cambodia.

According to information received today,  on September 9 1998, the 
police shot at 60 monks who were marching on the streets and calling for 
peace.  It has been reported that two monks were injured and one of them 
later died in the hospital. Two persons have been identified as missing, 
namely Tong Bun Rith, a student and Kong Sideeun, a monk at Wat 
Lanka.  Additionally, on September 8 1998, peaceful demonstrators who 
had gathered near the National Assembly, were dispersed with AK-47 
rifles, electric batons and water canons.  Seven demonstrators were 
alledgely beaten until they lost consciousness and about one hundred of 
them were injured.


Actions requested :

Please write to the Cambodian authorities urging them to:

i.		carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of the 
monk who died in the 		hospital in order to identify those 
responsible and impose upon them the civil, penal and/or 		
administrative sanctions provided by law;

ii.	safeguard the right of the victim's family to adequate compensation 
and reparation ;

iii adopt urgent measures to reveal the whereabouts of Mr. Tong 
    Bun Rith and Mr. Kong Sideeun and guarantee in all 
    circumstances the respect of their physical and psychological  
    integrity;                        

iv. ensure their immediate release should they be detained without 
    valid judicial charges or, should such charges exist, bring them 
    before a civil, competent and impartial court which will rule on 
    their situation according to the rules of due process and the 
    international legal standards;           

v.  guarantee the full respect of human rights and fundamental 
    liberties throughout the country in accordance with national 
    laws and international standards.

  Addresses :

His Excellency Hun Sen
Prime Minister office
Office of the Council of Ministers
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Fax: (855) 23-426-054


His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk
King of Cambodia
C\O Cabinet of His Majesty
Royal Palce
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Fax: 855 -23  426 802 

Geneva, 11 September 1998
Kindly inform us of any action taken quoting the code of the present 
appeal in your reply.

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.