Human Rights Watch calls for new probe of 1997 grenade attack

Mar 29, 2007, 1:43 GMT

New York ­ Human Rights Watch called Thursday for the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to reopen its probe of a 1997 grenade attack on a political rally in Cambodia.

The New York-based non-governmental organization accused the Cambodian government of making no progress in pursuing justice in the March 30, 1997 grenade attack on a rally by supporters of opposition leader Sam Rainsy. The blast in a park next to the National Assembly in Phnom Penh killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 150

others.

Four grenades were lobbed into the crowd, and both demonstrators and bystanders were among the casualties. Rainsy was wounded in the leg, shielded by a bodyguard who threw himself on the former finance minister after the first detonation. The bodyguard was among the dead.

'The Cambodian authorities have never conducted a serious investigation into this attack, either despite or because of substantial evidence of government involvement,' said Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch. 'This attack was intended to destroy serious political pluralism in Cambodia, and it partially succeeded.'