Activists ‘shot at’ by unknown assailant (Cambodia)

[geovalin]

Khouth Sophak Chakrya

Activists from the Boeung Kak, Borei Keila and Thmor Kol communities were on board a bus on Saturday night when a bullet was fired into the windscreen, their representatives said yesterday.

Bo Chorvy, 39, from Boeung Kak, said more than 40 people were on the bus that had almost completed a journey back to the capital from Siem Reap when it was shot at in Daun Penh district.

“When we saw the suspect take out his gun, we ducked,” she said, adding that the bullet had pierced part of the front windscreen.

“Suddenly, we heard the shot and the glass broke … fortunately, no one was injured.”

Chorvy said a man and a woman on a motorcycle had earlier tried to signal to the bus driver to stop in Russey Keo district, but he had ignored it.

The man had then dropped off the woman and followed the bus, eventually overtaking it and opening fire from the front of the vehicle.

The alleged shooting took place near the Daun Penh Referral Hospital, close to the Chhroy Changva Bridge.

The driver, Ki Salon, said it was the first time he had experienced such an incident in four years behind the wheel.

“As first, I thought the suspect was following because he knew someone,” he said.

“But after he dropped off the woman and overtook the bus, he took out a gun and shot at us. The bullet broke the glass on the front on the right side.

“It’s the first time I have experienced something this awful in my life.”

The activists had returned from a ceremony to mark fours years since evictions at the Chi Kreng community in Siem Reap.

“I do not know if this is just intimidation or an attempt to kill us,” Boeung Kak activist Phan Chhunreth said.

Fellow activist Tep Vanny said the villagers had filed a complaint to police about the shooting.

Kan Vannak, Sras Chhok commune police chief, told the Post that the authorities were investigating.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/activists-%E2%80%98shot-%E2%80%99-unknown-assailant