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The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) sent a letter to
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen today requesting he "personally"
ensure "all Cambodian police, military and intelligence resources" are
investigating the unexplained disappearance on February 14 of Dave
Walker, a Canadian journalist and film-maker.
The letter is from "the professional membership" of the FCCT, FCCT a club that was established in Bangkok, Thailand, more than 50 years ago.
-- Dominic Faulder, Past President & Chair, FCCT Professional Committee -- signed the letter to Hun Sen.
-------------------
(Editors note: H.E. is His Excellency. Samdech is an honorific in Cambodia). Here below is the letter's text:
FCCT Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
H.E. Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Phnom Penh
Kingdom of Cambodia
25 February 2014
Dear Samdech Hun Sen,
The professional membership of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand is extremely disturbed by the unexplained recent disappearance in Siem Reap of Dave Walker, a Canadian journalist and film-maker.
Mr. Walker lived and worked for many years in Thailand. He is well known in the journalistic community in Southeast Asia and further afield.
Without wishing to prejudice official investigations, concerns have been raised that Mr. Walker's disappearance may be connected to investigative work he was doing on Khmer Rouge remnants.
Another possibility is that Mr. Walker has been abducted for ransom -- a criminal activity that often affects Cambodians and to a lesser degree foreigners resident in the kingdom.
Although both scenarios remain speculative more than a week after Mr. Walker's disappearance, neither would reflect well on Cambodia as it seeks to get beyond the legacy of Khmer Rouge rule in the 1970s, promote open media practices, develop Siem Reap as a safe tourism destination and attract foreign investment.
We recognize that as prime minister you have many other matters to concern you. We would, however, request that you take a few moments to satisfy yourself personally that all Cambodian police, military and intelligence resources are being adequately mobilized to take this investigation forward, and also that every effort has been made to tap outside assistance that might be helpful in resolving the case.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic Faulder
Past President & Chair, FCCT Professional Committee
Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand
Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building,
518/5 Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand
The letter is from "the professional membership" of the FCCT, FCCT a club that was established in Bangkok, Thailand, more than 50 years ago.
-- Dominic Faulder, Past President & Chair, FCCT Professional Committee -- signed the letter to Hun Sen.
-------------------
(Editors note: H.E. is His Excellency. Samdech is an honorific in Cambodia). Here below is the letter's text:
FCCT Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
H.E. Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Phnom Penh
Kingdom of Cambodia
25 February 2014
Dear Samdech Hun Sen,
The professional membership of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand is extremely disturbed by the unexplained recent disappearance in Siem Reap of Dave Walker, a Canadian journalist and film-maker.
Mr. Walker lived and worked for many years in Thailand. He is well known in the journalistic community in Southeast Asia and further afield.
Without wishing to prejudice official investigations, concerns have been raised that Mr. Walker's disappearance may be connected to investigative work he was doing on Khmer Rouge remnants.
Another possibility is that Mr. Walker has been abducted for ransom -- a criminal activity that often affects Cambodians and to a lesser degree foreigners resident in the kingdom.
Although both scenarios remain speculative more than a week after Mr. Walker's disappearance, neither would reflect well on Cambodia as it seeks to get beyond the legacy of Khmer Rouge rule in the 1970s, promote open media practices, develop Siem Reap as a safe tourism destination and attract foreign investment.
We recognize that as prime minister you have many other matters to concern you. We would, however, request that you take a few moments to satisfy yourself personally that all Cambodian police, military and intelligence resources are being adequately mobilized to take this investigation forward, and also that every effort has been made to tap outside assistance that might be helpful in resolving the case.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic Faulder
Past President & Chair, FCCT Professional Committee
Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand
Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building,
518/5 Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand