The Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) calls on the Cambodian Government to investigate into the suspicious accident that left a journalist of Radio Free Asia, Mr. Sok Serei, in a very critical health condition. On December 14th, 2006, at around 4:45 pm, Mr. Sok Serei was involved in an accident in front of # 149 street 19, Sangkat Chey Chumnas, after picking up his daughter from school. The accident knocked Mr. Serei unconscious when his head hit the road hard. He failed into a coma for one day and remained unconscious for the total of 10 days. He is currently in stable but critical condition. His condition has been improving and has left the hospital but remain under 24 hours care in his own home due to the increasing cost of the hospital bills. His mental state is still worrisome. He is complaining about acute and severe headache and difficulty in remembering. His daughter was also seriously injured but is now in stable condition. Immediately after the incident, the car with two men left the place.

According to witnesses, Mr Sok Serei, was riding a motorcycle with his eight years old daughter after picking her up from her nearby English school just like what he did at the same time every working day. The accident happened when a Toyota pick up truck with a license plate of Koh Kong Province open its door of the driver seat hitting Serei's motorcycle causing it to fall. Witnesses also claimed that the door open in sudden strong thrust hitting Serei's motorcycle to the ground immediately. One man who is sitting in the passenger front seat left the car and was seen standing prior to the accident. No witness at the area knows the two men. According to witnesses, the two men showed no sign of concern for the well-being of the injured Serei or his daughter and left with their car as soon as he can after the crowd cleared the way. Mr. Sok Serei and his daughter were taken to the hospital when his father in law arrived many minutes later. The number of the license plate was noted by witnesses and is known to the police and AFEC. Police has indicated that they now know the identity of the owner of the vehicle but no formalinvestigation is underway at this moment. AFEC is deeply concerned that this incident might be a premeditated hit and run crime instead of an accident. It might be due to the work on corruption that Mr. Serei had been exposing in the last months or his works revealing illegal forest concession in Koh Kong. One recent case reported by Serei involves high ranking official in the Ministry of Rural Development. Serei was also reporting on many activities of the civil society that are critical of the government.

Koh Kong Province to which the license plate of the car belongs is bordering Thailand in the Southwest of Cambodia and far away from Phnom Penh. The road condition is extremely poor at this time. The probability for an accident to happen that involved a vehicle from Koh Kong Province in Phnom Penh injuring one of the few brave independent influential radio reporters is almost zero.

AFEC believes there must be a thorough investigation as there are many possible ways that such an accident can be staged by professionals who want to inflict pain and suffering to a maverick reporter that would not yield to pressure or threat.

For more information, please contact:
▪ For more information, please contact: Ou Virak, General Secretary of AFEC, Tel: 012 404051 or virak_ou@yahoo.com
▪ Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia is a coalition of 28 Non-Government Organizations, Labor Unions and other Associations working to promote freedom of expression in Cambodia.

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