IRI Expresses Shock by Murder of
Cambodian Parliamentary Official, Om Radsady

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2003

Washington, D.C. --The International Republican Institute today expressed shock by the murder of His Excellency Om Radsady. "The murder of Om Radsady has had a chilling effect on the political climate in Cambodia." said IRI President George A. Folsom. "This is a tragic loss for the cause of democracy in Cambodia."

Folsom added that he has confidence that democratic leaders in Cambodia and the Cambodian people will reject political violence and will instead work toward fair and democratic elections, which are scheduled for July 23.

This murder, which took place in central Phnom Penh in broad daylight, has every appearance of a politically motivated crime, according democracy activists in Cambodia. On Wednesday, the International Republican Institute called on Cambodian authorities to conduct a full investigation and to bring to justice the people responsible for Radsady's death.

An advisor to National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Om Radsady served as a member of parliament from 1993 to 1998, from the royalist Funcinpec party and as chairman of the National Assembly Commission on Foreign Affairs.

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