Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia has weighed in on the recent murder of a former Cambodian opposition MP Lim Kimya in Bangkok, refuting accusations that his government was involved.
Hun Manet pointed out that the Thai police have classified the motive behind Kimya’s killing as “personal conflict”, according to the Khmer Times.
He also highlighted the swift response by Cambodian police to arrest the suspected killer who fled to the kingdom following a request by Thai police.
He noted that the arrest and extradition of the suspect underscores his government’s commitment to justice and disproves claims of political conspiracy.
The Khmer Times said it was the first time that the Cambodian leader gave his comment on the murder case, while presiding over an inauguration ceremony in Pursat province on Monday.
Overseas opposition politicians, including former opposition leader Sam Rainsy, have accused Senate President Hun Sen and the Cambodian government of masterminding Kimya’s murder.
Hun Manet said the accusation is illogical, given the action taken by the Cambodian authorities in apprehending the murder suspect Ekaluck Paenoi, a former Thai marine, when he escaped to Cambodia.
He added that while the Cambodian government has the “ability” to hide and protect the suspect, the suspect was arrested on Cambodia’s territory and later extradited to Thailand in response to the request from the Thai police.
“I would like to ask a question here. Is the government that stupid?” Hun Manet stated. “If we were the mastermind, why did we extradite the murderer to Thailand?”
“We extradited the suspect to Thailand for further investigation because we also want to know what is behind this case because the Cambodian government had already been unfairly accused, even before further evidence has been gathered.”
The Khmer Times said Hun Manet also emphasized that the Cambodian government condemned the violent killing of the 73-year-old former Cambodian MP and offered his condolences to Kimya’s family.
