Khmer Student for Democracy Movement leader, Pang Sokhoeun, alleged that he received two death threats by a anonymous caller Sunday, via his telephones voice mails. He said this in an interview with VOA.
He is well known for his criticisms of the government notably when the price of gasoline sky rocketed compared to the neighboring countries.
The messages said:" Hello Sir. Please take care of yourself from tomorrow until the end of this year. I want to kill you."
Mr. Pang Sokhoeun has received such threats three times. The recent one came one day after he conducted some activities to lower the gasoline price by making 1,000 fliers and advertised them on buses, motorcycles for transportation, through SMS systems, saying: the fuel price goes up, the people are poor, and the government must get the price down.
He gave them to legislators, the students, and the NGOs officials. He said he is worried about his safety and he has to change his domicile often.
He said that he wanted the people to know the effects of a gasoline price hike on their daily lives. He added that the time frame of the threat was long, and would not know if the perpetrator will kill him after the end of this year or not.
Phnom Penh Court prosecutor, Mr. Uk Savuth, cannot be reached for comments saying he is busy. The Ministry of Interior's spokesman, General Khiev Sopheak said that he will find the perpetrator, and the threat's source. He said that any kind of threat is an offense.
Cambodia Center for Human Rights President, Mr. Kem Sokha, calls this threat a violation of the rights and freedom of dissidents, of a student movement leader who promotes democracy, who leads students, in the defense of national interests.
He added that the late Free Trade Union of Workers' President, Mr. Chea Vichea, received similar death threats and was murdered later.