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.
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