Who Killed Chea Vichea?

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noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:23:00 +0000

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Phnom Penh Post

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:45:00 +0000

Great article about Who Killed Chea Vichea? published in The Phnom Penh Post today!

CHEA Vichea spent the morning playing with his daughter, studying his Khmer-English dictionary and plucking his moustache before deciding to leave his Phnom Penh home and pick up a copy of the day’s newspaper.

“I watched him from the balcony as he left,” Chea Vichea’s wife, Chea Kimny, tells director Bradley Cox. “I got up and went to the kitchen. Suddenly, I felt like something kicked me in the chest.”

Cox arrived at the newsstand outside Chamkarmon district’s Wat Lanka just minutes after Chea Vichea was gunned down on January 22, 2004, and his footage from the scene makes for some of the most powerful moments of his new documentary, Who Killed Chea Vichea? ...

Read the rest

Theary Seng on WKCV

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:21:00 +0000

Thanks to Theary Seng for her posting on Who Killed Chea Vichea?, which she calls a "brilliant, excellent, high-quality film." Theary is an author, columnist and former Center for Social Development director (web site) who has dedicated her life to peace and justice in Cambodia.

She writes:

I was honored to count Chea Vichea a good friend since 1995 upon my first return to Cambodia ... In January 2004, I remember nonchalantly asking the driver of the law firm tasked to pick me up from the airport, "So, what's new here?"

"They killed Chea Vichea."

I felt like lightning had struck me dead.

Read on...

Cannes Independent Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:53:00 +0000

Who Killed Chea Vichea? is going to Cannes — the Cannes Independent Film Festival (CIFF), that is. The independent festival takes place in Cannes alongside the main festival, but is not part of the main festival. So get excited...but not too excited.

Nonetheless, we're very pleased that filmgoers, buyers and distributors in Cannes will have a chance to see the film.

The screening will be sometime from May 12 to 23. Watch this space for details; they should be posted in early May.

Voice of America

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:42:00 +0000

Chea Vichea Film Prompts Questions in US
By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer

Who killed Chea Vichea? The question remains unanswered not just for the man’s family but also American audiences who attended the premiere last weekend of a vivid film about Cambodia’s politics and the slain union leader’s struggle for labor rights. ...

Read full article

Huffington Post: "moving"

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:30:00 +0000

From Jim Luce's interview of Cambodian member of parliament Mu Sochua in The Huffington Post:

... Who Killed Chea Vichea? will premiere March 27 at the Frederick Film Festival in Maryland. Chea was shot in broad daylight by assassins, but the government arrested two other men and imprisoned them for their supposed crime.
I was given a private screening of this moving film by its director Bradley Cox and will write its review shortly. Images of Buddhist priests crying as they watch the funeral procession are haunting.

Read full interview

Frederick Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:20:00 +0000

Who Killed Chea Vichea? will screen at the Frederick Film Festival in Maryland on Saturday, March 27 at 2:30pm.

This is your first chance to see Who Killed Chea Vichea? with final music and narration, and in full color-corrected glory! And director Bradley Cox will be at the screening to participate in a discussion after the film.

The screening is at 2:30pm at the Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W Patrick St, in downtown Frederick (map). Tickets are $9 at the door. Don't worry, it won't sell out -- the theater is huge!

Box office here or call 301-600-2828.

6th anniversary, and Big Sky screening

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:29:00 +0000

On this, the sixth anniversary of the murder of Chea Vichea, we are happy to announce that the one-hour version of Who Killed Chea Vichea? is in the final stages of post-production.

The next screening will be on February 14th, in Missoula, Montana, at the widely respected Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. If you've seen one of our preview screenings, please visit the film's page on the festival site and add your review. And of course if you're anywhere near Missoula, we hope you'll attend.

In Phnom Penh today, hundreds marched to commemorate Vichea and to demand justice in the case. The union that Vichea led threatened a week-long nationwide strike unless the government arrests the actual killers.

Here's a video report from RFA (in Khmer):

Sam Oeun: Don't arrest the innocent

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:20:00 +0000

Sok Sam Oeun, one of the two men awaiting retrial in the assassination of Chea Vichea, urged the authorities not to arrest any other innocent people for the crime. From VOA:

“In prison it’s not easy,” Sok Samoeun, who is awaiting an Appeals Court hearing on murder charges against him, said on Hello VOA. “It’s something that has more suffering than I can say.”

Full story

Screenings in Canada at CLiFF

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:12:00 +0000

The fine cut of Who Killed Chea Vichea? will screen this Saturday, Nov. 28 in Toronto and Victoria BC as part of CLiFF, the Canadian Labor International Film Festival.

If you live in or near either city, this is your chance to preview the near-final version of the film!

In Toronto, the program starts at 3:30 at the Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St West. (details)

In Victoria, the program starts at 2pm at Camas Books, 2590 Quadra St. (details)

Please spread the word to anyone who might be interested!

Adhoc: Inconvenient Films

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:24:00 +0000

Who Killed Chea Vichea? will be screening tomorrow night in Vilnius, Lithuania as part of the "Adhoc: Inconvenient Films" Human Rights Film Festival. Also Nov 5 in Klaipeda and Nov 8 in Kaunas. Please pass the word to your Lithuanian friends!

Vilnius: Pasaka, 09.10.27 at 18.20
Kaunas: VMU Club "Sesija," 09.11.08 at 16.00
Klaipeda: LCC, 09.11.05 at 19.10

More info: www.nepatoguskinas.lt/index.php?cid=30781

Vichea's brother faces lawsuit

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Chea Mony has always been clear that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun did not kill his brother, Vichea. He even rejected a compensation payment that the court ordered them to pay his family.

Now that the appeals court has reopened the investigation, Mony, who was elected president of the union Vichea led, is pointing the finger at the government--and the government doesn't like it.

"I am ready to take responsibility and dare to be imprisoned for my conclusion about my brother's case, which is that the government prepared a plan to kill my brother."

A government spokesperson has already announced that it plans to sue Mony, though it has not yet filed the suit. In Cambodia, judges can order imprisonment for libel, in addition to monetary compensation.

In recent months the regime has been using the courts, which it controls, more and more frequently to silence its critics.

In the most recent case, opposition member of parliament Mu Sochua lost her defamation suit against Prime Minister Hun Sen, who then won his countersuit against her after having her stripped of her parliamentary immunity.

Meanwhile the United Nations and the ILO have welcomed the reopening of the investigation, saying, "It now seems beyond doubt that there is insufficient evidence to maintain the charges against Born Samnang and Sok Sam Ouen. ...The charges against the men should now be dropped, allowing the police to resume the search for those really responsible for shooting Chea Vichea in January 2004."

ABC Radio Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:51:00 +0000

Who Killed Chea Vichea? director Bradley Cox comments on the United Nations' call for the Cambodian government to drop the charges against Born Samnnang and Sok Sam Oeun.

Interviewed by ABC Austrialia's Liam Cochrane on August 21, 2009.

Read the transcript
Listen to the audio (Windows Media)

A longer wait for justice

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:14:00 +0000

Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun appeared on Monday at the Appeals Court, which was under orders from the Supreme Court to re-open the case.

And re-open the case it did. The judge ordered further investigations. While he did not clear Samnang and Sam Oeun of the murder of Chea Vichea, he said they should feel like "free men that can enjoy all their rights."

An observer at the hearing writes:

We're left with mixed feelings. On one hand, everyone's happy they were not sent to back to jail but realistically that wasn't going to happen. On the other hand, it's now five and half years, and the prosecution has failed to build a case against the two; in any decent country, their charges would have been removed.

It appears the appeals court had to open such a hearing to fulfill the order to re-investigate. If this is true, then I guess the re-investigation will last for roughly a century.

The Cambodian authorities are in a trap of their own making.

Under international pressure, they convicted two innocent men, as we show in Who Killed Chea Vichea?.

Again under international pressure, they freed those two men (conditionally anyway).

In theory, what should happen now is a real investigation to find the actual killers -- exactly what they tried to avoid by framing Samnang and Sam Oeun five and a half years ago. The fact that the court didn't exonerate them puts an end to any hope of that, if there ever was a hope.

News articles:
Phnom Penh Post (English)
Cambodge Soir (French)
Deutsche Presse Agentur (English)

Appeals court hearing tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:02:00 +0000

Anxiously awaiting news from the Appeals Court, which is scheduled to re-hear Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun's case tomorrow.

It seems as if the closer the movie gets to being finished, the more the outcome of their case changes. As of now they are free -- we hope the Cambodian government doesn't reverse that.

Voice of America

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:45:00 +0000

Documentary Probes Chea Vichea’s Murder

From the English-language version of VoA's radio interview in Khmer:

“Who Killed Chea Vichea?,” a new documentary from filmmaker Bradley Cox, screened in Rhode Island last week. ...Rights groups have welcomed the film, claiming it sheds light on the innocence of the two men and the shortage of independence within the court system.

“Evidence in the video will show better that neither of the accused were Chea Vichea’s killers in 2004,” Om Samath, a rights investigator for Licadho who has been following the case, told VOA Khmer last week. “This is a good thing that will push the Appeals Court to seriously look into the case and hopefully be able to bring the real killer for prosecution and give justice to the victims.”

Read the full article

Directorial Discovery Award!

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Bradley Cox, 2009 winner of the Grand Prize for Directorial Discovery at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, for Who Killed Chea Vichea?

RIIFF report

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:48:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who turned out for yesterday's screening of Who Killed Chea Vichea? at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

This was my first time screening a film at a festival, and I was pretty nervous going in. But wow, people actually showed up, filled the theater, watched attentively, reacted at the right places, forgave the technical defects that remain to be fixed, and asked smart questions at the end. You got it. We actually have a movie here!

Thanks to everybody who helped out -- Bill, Christine, Susan for postering, the GCB for hosting the party, Judith and Peter for sponsoring the pizza. And everyone else who helped out in little ways, or just showed up to support the film.

It's been a long road to get to this point, and we still have a little way to go, but being there to see an audience appreciating the work we've done is quite a reward.

Fake killers face re-trial

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:04:00 +0000

After seven and a half months of freedom, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun are scheduled to go back to court on August 17.

The Appeals Court has been instructed by Cambodia's Supreme Court to re-investigate the charges against them: that they murdered Chea Vichea on January 22, 2004. It is on that charge that they served nearly five years in prison.

From VoA coverage:

“I want the case to end soon because I am innocent,” Born Samnang told VOA Khmer. “I have done nothing. I am waiting for the court to pass its judgment.”

Whatever the outcome of this new hearing, it will be yet another trial related to Chea Vichea's murder in which has nothing to do with the murder itself. As we show in Who Killed Chea Vichea?, the police immediately set about framing these two men, apparently to the exclusion of carrying out any real investigation.

A few thanks, in advance

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:59:00 +0000

It's time to recognize a few people who have really stepped up to help with our screening in Providence next Friday, August 7.

Bill Barta and Christine Francis have been postering and distributing postcards all over town for days. We're especially trying to reach out to Providence's Cambodian community, which numbers about 8000 to 10,000 people, and Bill was telling me about his visits to temples, social service organizations and other places where people recognized Chea Vichea's name and were so happy that there's a movie about him.

Susan Yund has also been postering, and what's more, has arranged for the bar that she runs to host an after-party for the screening. (More details to come, in a separate item.)

And of course there's George T. Marshall and the Rhode Island International Film Festival itself. Aside from accepting Who Killed Chea Vichea? into the festival, they have generously made a block of tickets available to a group of Cambodian and Laotian youth from the Providence Youth Student Movement who otherwise could not afford to see the film.

Thank you all!

Screening in Providence - Aug 7

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:41:00 +0000

Having grown up in beautiful Providence, RI, I'm happy to announce that next Friday, August 7, Who Killed Chea Vichea? will screen (in a near-complete state) in the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

This is an excellent festival to get into, with a packed schedule of interesting films running all week. (I'm hoping to to see Sweet Crude, among others.)

I'm especially pleased that Who Killed Chea Vichea? will be shown in the historic Columbus Theater, where so many have enjoyed the great works of cinema over the years. If you're from Providence you know what I mean.

Better move quickly on to the details...

Who Killed Chea Vichea?
Friday August 7, at 5:20pm
Columbus Theater, 270 Broadway
Providence, Rhode Island

(Included in this screening, the short films In Their Boots: Broken Promise by Abe Greenwald and Open Air by Shira-Lee Shalit)

Tickets are $10 and you can buy them online or at the door; call the festival office at 401-861-4445 for more information.

If you live in or near Providence we hope to see you at the show. In any case please spread the word to any friends or family there (just copy and send this link).

You can also help "add to the buzz" by registering on the festival web site and adding Who Killed Chea Vichea? to your calendar.

And there's more! We invite you to join us at the GCB afterwards, where courtesy of the management you can enjoy a free beverage from 8 to 10 pm, just by showing your ticket stub from the screening. Walk (30 min) or drive to Power Street, just west of Thayer. Walk down the ramp from Power Street and go through the black door on the right. Sorry, 21+ only in the bar.

Preview screening: Seoul, Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:49:00 +0000

Chengye Plaza, the scene of the 13th Annual Seoul Human Rights Film Festival.

All films are screened outdoors, free to the public, as the festival organizers refuse to ask for official clearance for each film, and therefore can't rent a hall. That's an attitude we like!

Who Killed Chea Vichea? screened June 5th and 14th.

Life after prison

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:58:00 +0000

Five months after their release pending a new trial, the two men convicted in Chea Vichea's murder (as shown in Who Killed Chea Vichea?) are trying to rebuild their lives. Story from Voice of America:

Each morning, a thin Born Samnang stands anxiously near a staircase at a crowded market in central Phnom Penh, looking for clients. Now a motorcycle taxi driver, Born Samnang is trying to put five years of turmoil behind him. ...

In memory: Mr. Vuon Phon

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:13:00 +0000

We are saddened to report the passing of Mr. Vuon Phon, of Takeo province, on Sunday April 12. He lived to see the release of his son Sok Sam Oeun from prison just a few months ago.

Mr. Phon's insights remain a great contribution to Who Killed Chea Vichea?. Brad interviewed Mr. Vuon several times for the film. He writes:

"He was a class act. He always impressed me with his dignity, his wisdom and his tenacious devotion to his son. I enjoyed his company immensely. I've met many good people while working on this project, but I admired Vuon Phon greatly. Another friend described him as majestic. I think it's a good word. He will be missed."

We extend our condolences to Sam Oeun and to the rest of his family.

Screening and Q&A at Harvard

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:11:00 +0000

download this poster

An announcement for those of you in and around Boston:

On Friday April 17, Brad and I will be screening a preview cut (that is, not totally finished) at Harvard University's Asia Center.

It starts at 12:15pm in the CGIS South Building, seminar room 050, concourse level, and is followed by a Q&A.

If you're in or near Boston, this is great chance to get an early look at the film before the final narration, music and graphics go in. It's open to the public and admission is free.

Here's how to get there:

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