His Excellency Norodom Ranariddh
First Prime Minister
Office of the First Prime Minister
Phnom Penh
Cambodia

Vienna, 12 December 1994

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the killing on 9 December 1994 of Mr. Chan Dary, a journalist working for the popular Khmer-language newspaper Koh Santepheap.

We are informed that Mr. Chan Dary was fatally shot by unidentified gunmen in Kompong Cham province, about 90 kilometres northeast of Phnom Penh, as he was returning home from work. His murder follows closely those of two of his colleagues. Mr. Nuon Chan, editor of the weekly Samleng Yu Vachun, was shot dead by unidentified men on 6 September 1994. Mr. Tou Chom Mongkol, editor-in-chief of the privately-owned biweekly Antarakum, was found unconscious by police officers on 10 June 1994. He was taken to hospital where he died the next day. His death remains unresolved.

IPI, representing publishers, editors-in-chief and leading journalists from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 89 countries, is most concerned about this series of killings over the last six months, which indicates a disturbing escalation of violence directed against journalists who are critical of the government or army. We therefore urge you to authorize a full investigation into Mr. Chan Dary’s killing, and to disclose any findings with regard to the other two cases.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director