Impunity
is a word that gets used often in discussions about Cambodia.
Yesterday, pop star Pov Panhapich was shot at close range, on her way to English class.
Khmer forums are rife with speculation.
Today: via text message: it seems another Free Trade Union officer has been killed. That would be the fourth since Chea Vichea. I’ll leave it to the press to cover more details on both.
For all we know, both victims could have had a dispute unrelated to their professional roles. (A gambling debt? An old grudge?)
Cambodia has an extensive legal code, but enforcement is uneven. If these two have done something wrong, they should have been taken to court.
But until there is stronger rule of law, daylight shootings will continue. And the details will never see the light of day.
