Dear Editor:

On the 25th of this month those accused of the killing of

Jeun Sokha go to trial.

As many of you will recall, Sokha was killed on

the 14th of March this year, the innocent victim of a street fight in which a

grenade was thrown. She leaves a loving husband and a 2-year-old son, Sokheng,

who she adored and worshipped.

We the undersigned would like to express

our concerns that a free and fair trial take place and that those convicted face

the maximum penalty under the law and that justice is done for this wonderful

woman and her family.

Jeun Sokha was first and foremost our friend.

Those of us privileged to have known her knew a beautiful and decent woman, a

wife and mother whose smile could light up the day. Sokha represented the best

of this country. Hard working, honest and ambitious, all the qualities Cambodia

will need to build a civil society of peace.

Her death was a tragedy not

only for those who knew and loved her - not only for her husband and son, family

and friends - but for all of Cambodia.

The best of this beautiful country destroyed by the worst. An innocent life

taken away by rage and pride. It is our hope that in bringing justice for Jeun

Sokha we can light a beacon for the thousands of innocent decent Cambodians who

have died and suffered unknown and uncared for. That light will be Sokha's

permanent legacy.

It is our determination that her death shall not be in

vain. No! Her death and this trial create an opportunity to make a change. To

say enough. The culture of violence and impunity that has taken so many decent

people like Sokha and denied justice to so many like her will no longer be

tolerated; to state clearly that those who use armed violence to solve their

problems, those who use weapons of war in the streets, have no place in this

society and will be taken out of it [and] they will suffer the full consequences

according to the law.

If this happens, if justice is delivered to the

family of Jeun Sokha, if peace, law and a civil society is strenghened, then

Jeun Sokha's light will shine in Cambodia forever, and she will not have died in

vain.

Chris Motherhead, Matte Vinggaard, Clare Blackwell, Troy

Billsborow, Pete Davidson, Rolf Lanzinger (Lanzi), Stuart Ball, Galen Mcanelly,

Jim Lauranos, Katie Owen, Larissa Wakin, Charles Melton, David Preece, Shelley

Preece, Danny Whitehead, Michelle Vizzard, Mark Bell, Catherine Adams, Sonia

Taheri, Ton Paeng, Yim Socheat, Adam Behm,

- Trent Eddy.