CambodiaWatch's Statement on the killing of Chut Wutty

Statement

On 26 April 2012 at the Koh Pao village, Bakkhlong sub-district, Mondol Seima District, Koh Kong province, near a logging depot/mill of the Timber Green Company at Veal Bey point, while conducting field research in relation to illegal logging, Mr. Chhut Vuthy (Chut Wutty), a well known forest activist of Cambodia and Director of Natural Resource Protection Group, was shot and killed by military police officers of the Military Police of Koh Kong province, Cambodia. The person who allegedly shot Mr Vuthy was a military police officer named In Rotana.  

CambodiaWatch-Australia condemns in the strongest terms the killing of 

Mr. Chhut Vuthy.  

CambodiaWatch-Australia expresses our deep condolences to the family of Mr. Chhut Vuthy.

Initial reports suggest that just prior to the incident Mr. Chhut Vuthy (Chut Wutty) and two other journalists from the Cambodia Daily stopped by the logging depot belonging to a private logging company, the Timber Green Company, which company is known to be protected by the Koh Kong Military Police. The trio were approached by two military officers, namely Mr. In Ratana and Mr. So Sopheap (the former was an assistant to the military police judicial investigation Office of the Koh Kong Province Military Police) and the two  military officers were soon joined by three other military police officers at the scene before the killing occurred. It has been reported that the military police officers illegally confined Mr Vuthy and the journalists and confiscated their cameras.

It has been reported that Mr. Vuthy was in the his car when he was shot and killed by In Rotana. An official statement initially said that Mr. Vuthy and In Rotana exchanged  gun fire which  resulted in both being killed. Later statements said that it was In Ratana who shot and killed Chhut Vuthy and bullets ricocheted off the car and killed In Rotana. A bit later it was the military officer In Rotana only who shot and killed Mr. Vuthy and then killed himself. Both died of the gun shot wounds to the stomach.

It is reported that while Mr. Vuthy and In Rotana were wounded and still alive, the military police officers refused to provide medical aid to the wounded and prevented the wounded from being taken to hospital for medical treatment. The wounded died without being afforded medical treatment.

CambodiaWatch-Australia urges the Royal Government of Cambodia to immediately create an impartial mixed committee to investigate the killing and, if it is found that crime(s) have been committed, bring the relevant culprits to justice.

End.