Hundreds mourn death of Cambodian government critic Kem Ley
PHNOM PENH: Hundreds of Cambodians flocked to Wat Chas in the capitals Chroy Changvar district on Monday (Jul 11) to pay their last respects to prominent political analyst Kem Ley, who was shot dead on Sunday.
Clad in black and white, mourners crammed into a small sheltered area inside the temple, where they kneeled down and bowed to Kem Ley's body. He was covered in a Cambodian flag and a huge pile of flowers that had been placed by mourners.
Kem Ley, 46, was shot behind his left ear and under his left arm while he was having coffee at a minimart inside a petrol station at around 9am. He died at the scene.
The gunman managed to escape, but was soon captured by authorities on Sothearos Boulevard. He was later identified by the Ministry of Interior as 38-year-old Choup Samlap, a Cambodian national from Banteay Meanchey who works as farmer in Thailand.
He is said to have confessed to killing the analyst over an unpaid debt of US$3,000, but there has been speculation in some quarters that the fatal shooting may be linked to Kem Leys outspoken criticism of the Cambodian government.
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