By Sok Pheakdey
Cambodian Express News
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
Phnom Penh – Cops dressed in civilian and in uniform clothes came to the house of Mam Sonando, which also serves as the office of the Beehive radio station located in Thnot Chrum village, Boeung Tompun commune, Meanchey district, Phnom Penh, to arrest him. Mam Sonando is also the president of the Democrat Association and owner of the Beehive 105 FM radio station. According to Mrs. Din Phanara, Mam Sonando’s wife, the arrest was made at 9AM on Sunday 15 July 2012.
Din Phanara indicated that when the cops came to arrest Mam Sonando at home, they read to him the court order issued by the Phnom Penh municipal court which accused Mam Sonando of involvement with land dispute in Kratie province.
As of this morning, the cops took Mam Sonando from his home to the Phnom Penh police headquarters for questioning.
Mam Sonando arrived in Phnom Penh on 10 PM on 12 July 2012, following his visit in the US. He was not arrested at his arrival at the Phnom Penh airport where he was greeted by family members and members of the Democrat Association. At that time, civil society organizations and reporters were closely observing his arrival in Phnom Penh.
In his interview with reporters, Mam Sonando said that he was not afraid of being arrested by the cops because he is not involved with any case where he would incite people to grab land, accusations that were leveled against villagers in Kampong Damrey commune, Chhlong district, Kratie province.
In this land dispute case, Hun Xen announced that legal actions will be taken against the president of the Democrat Association and he claimed that the latter incited people to grab land in anarchy. Because of that, the government had to send cops and soldiers to raid the villagers and this action led to the killing a young teenager on 16 May 2012. Several villagers were also arrested during the raid while a large number of them fled.
Five members of the Democrat Association branch, including Bun Ratha, were pursued by the cops following a court order. The five were accused of being leaders in the land dispute and they incited people to grab land and form a secession zone in Proma village, Kampong Damrey commune, Chhlong district, Kratie province.
Up to now, 4 of the accused came out to confess and the cops used them as witnesses to level charge against Mam Sonando, the president of the Democrat Association.
Mam Sonando, an activist critical of the border issues, was arrested and sent to jail by Hun Xen’s regime on 2004. Prior to his arrest, Mam Sonando left Cambodia to visit France and the US since 12 March 2012.
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