US Support to Cambodian Military Under Scrutiny
As military police began a 10-day training program with the U.S. military in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, questions are being raised again over Washington’s ongoing support to Cambodian security forces involved in serious human rights abuses. On January 3, military police officers opened fire with AK-47 assault rifles killing five people and wounding at least 42 more after being deployed to break up a demonstration of mostly stone-throwing garment workers on Veng Sreng Street in the city’s Pur Senchey district. … Under the U.S.’ Leahy Law, no U.S. military assistance shall be afforded to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country if there is credible information that such unit has committed any gross violation of human rights. Since the killings and injuries by the military police and Brigade 911 on January 2 and 3, the U.N., the opposition CNRP and a chorus of NGOs have decried their disproportionate use of force, with local rights group Licadho calling the Veng Sreng Street killings the “worst state violence against citizens in 15 years.” … Under the Leahy Law, an exception clause can be exercised if the U.S. is satisfied that the Cambodian government is taking effective steps to bring individuals responsible for human rights abuses to justice. … Royal Cambodian Armed Forces spokesman Lieutenant General Chhum Sucheat said the killings on Veng Sreng Street are being investigated, and that he could not comment further while the investigation is underway. …
Matt Blomberg
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/us-support-to-cambodian-military-under-scrutiny-50670/
