Cambodian PM orders thorough probe into killing of political analyst

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday ordered the authorities to launch a full investigation into the killing of a prominent political analyst.

Kem Ley, 46, director of the Organization for Social Development, was shot dead on Sunday in a mini-mart near a gas station in Phnom Penh, where he was having a coffee.

"I order the authorities to find out the perpetrator(s) and accomplice(s) in order to bring them for prosecution in accordance with the law," the prime minister said during the inauguration ceremony of premises at the National Military Police's headquarters here. "This severely affects the reputation of the government."

He strongly condemned the brutal act and called on the people to stay calm in order to give possibility to the competent authorities to probe into the case.

He also appealed to people not to turn this tragic case into political issue and urged politicians not to use the case as a political platform because it could cause social chaos.

Meanwhile, the prime minister declared a large-scale campaign to crack down on all forms of crimes in order to strengthen security and social order.

National Police spokesman Gen. Kirt Chantharith said on Sunday that a 38-year-old male suspect, whose shirt was stained with blood, was arrested with a Glock pistol shortly after the crime.

He said the suspect confessed to the crime, saying that he got furious with Kem Ley, who owed him 3,000 U.S. dollars, but did not repay him.

However, Gen. Chantharith said, the police did not believe the suspect's confession yet, as a full investigation was going on. Enditem