According to the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC), Ouch Horn [spelled 'Horn' and not 'Hon'], a member of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), was shot several times on 30 June 2001 in Sretrork, in the district of Borset, in the province of Kompong Speu (NICFEC 2001-2002). "After the killing, the villagers signed a report in support of the killing on the grounds that he was a black magic sorcerer" (ibid.). Some believed that the village chief was behind both the murder of Ouch Horn and the village signing campaign (ibid.; Human Rights Watch Apr. 2002). A police officer and a former military man who had become a farmer were convicted of Ouch Horn's murder in October 2001 (ibid.; NICFEC 2001-2002). Furthermore, Human Rights Watch noted that "Uch Horn," a prospective SRP candidate, had "previously complained to two local human rights groups ... that he had received death threats" (Human Rights Watch Apr. 2002).

For more information on assassinations or suspicious deaths of political party candidates or activists from 3 January 2001 to 1 February 2002, see the attached list from a report issued by the Cambodia Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

No mention of the other SRP member named in the Information Request could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Human Rights Watch. April 2002. Cambodia's Commune Elections: Setting the Stage for the 2003 National Elections. http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/cambo0402/cambo0402.pdf [Accessed 14 May 2003]

Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC). 2001-2002. Cambodian Commune Council Election Report 2001-02. http://www.ngoforum.org.kh/Woking_Group_Issues/Civilsociety/nicfec_report.htm [Accessed 20 May 2003]

United Nations. March 2002. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Report on the Elections of the Commune Councils, p. 21. http://www.un.org.kh/undp/publications/rpt_election.pdf [Accessed 20 May 2003]

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Internet sites, including:

Asian Network for Free Elections

Cambodia Post

Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, COMFREL

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001

Danish Immigration Service

European Union

Human Rights Watch

Sam Rainsy Party

United Nations

WNC

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