PHNOM PENH (AP) - The KR was not responsible for the Apr. 8 murders of a U.N. election
volunteer from Japan and his Cambodian interpreter, U.N. spokesman Eric Falt said
May 5.
Volunteer Atsuhito Nakata and the interpreter were driving to a meeting on security
for election workers when they were attacked north of the provincial capital of Kompong
Thom, about 140 kilometers (85 miles) north of Phnom Penh.
Falt said evidence suggested a sole gunman staged the attack.
While critically wounded, interpreter Lay Sok Phiep reported by radio that the two
men were being attacked by the Khmer Rouge.
However, Falt said it was uncharacteristic of the KR to carry out one-man attacks.
"There is no evidence to suggest that this was an ambush and no evidence to
prove that the gunman was part of a group," said Falt, who said he was summarizing
a written U.N. report which he would not give to reporters.
Disgruntled Cambodians who had not been hired as U.N. polling officers are on a list
of suspects, he added.
Nakata had received several death threats from Cambodians passed over in the hiring
of polling officers, he said.
