LIBRARY

11 November 2014

Seven representatives from Boeung Kak Lake community have been sentenced to one year in prison along with the payment of a 2 million Cambodian Riel fine per person, following their arrest yesterday outside city hall.

All seven activists were charged with obstructing public traffic (Article 78 of the traffic law) and are currently being transported to Prey Sar CC2 Prison.

The seven convicted are Nget Khun, Tep Vanny, Song Sreyleap, Kong Chantha, and Phan Chhunreth, who were all previously arrested and convicted in 2012 for peaceful activism. Two other community representatives, Po Chorvy and Nong Sreng were also convicted today.

18 September 2014

Today, CLEC and LICADHO release a legal analysis of the latest draft of the Law on Unions of Enterprises (Trade Union Law) obtained at the end of May, this year. As unions yesterday began a nationwide campaign for a $177 per month minimum wage, the draft Trade Union Law underlines the government’s intent to interfere with and infringe upon union formation and activities.

30 August 2014

Today, on the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, we, the undersigned organizations, urge ASEAN member states to end acts of enforced disappearances in Southeast Asia.

Cases of enforced disappearances continue to occur in the region. Victims include human rights defenders as well as ordinary citizens. Enforced disappearances also continue to target vulnerable groups, such as children. Three new cases of enforced disappearance that took place over the past year clearly illustrate this worrying pattern.

29 August 2014

Today at around 4pm, five Lor Peang community members who were arrested and detained in the last month have been provisionally released by the Investigating Judge of Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court. Three of the villagers were arrested during a 60km-long peaceful march from Kampong Chhnang province to Phnom Penh. The march was undertaken to call for a resolution to a long-standing land dispute between the villagers and K.D.C Company, while also calling for the release of two community members, arrested weeks earlier.

All five members have been released under judicial supervision with three conditions: 1. That they appear before the court when summonsed; 2. That they do not change residence without informing the court; and 3. That they present themselves to their local police station every month.

The release follows repeated attempts by the Lor Peang community to submit petitions to various government institutions over their conflict with K.D.C Company.

12 August 2014

LICADHO condemns the violent dispersal of more than 50 villagers from Lor Peang community who had begun their 60km-long peaceful march from Kampong Chhnang province to Phnom Penh, calling for a resolution to their long-standing land dispute. Amid the violent dispersal, three villagers – including the husband of the main Lor Peang community representative Um Sophy – were arrested and sent to the provincial court.

7 August 2014

We, the undersigned organizations, condemn the flagrant abuse of the Cambodian legal system and the trumped up charges that have been used to manipulate the outcome of political negotiations between the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), following the latest arrests of three CNRP youth members, and urges all charges to be dropped.

18 July 2014

The Cambodian government must release all seven Members of Parliament (MPs) and one official of Cambodia’s main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), and immediately lift the ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people, FIDH and its member organizations the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) said today.

17 July 2014

We the undersigned civil society groups condemn the unfounded charges against seven Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) MPs-elect and one CNRP grassroots leader. We call for their immediate and unconditional release and for all charges to be dropped.

All eight were arrested in connection with the violence of July 15 in Freedom Park and charged under Cambodia’s Criminal Code articles 28 and 218 (instigating aggravated, intentional violence), 495 (inciting others to commit a felony) and 459 (leading an insurrectional movement). The latter charge carries a sentence of up to 30 years’ imprisonment.

16 July 2014

After violent clashes between security guards and Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) supporters at Freedom Park yesterday, 5 CNRP lawmakers-elect have been brought to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning. The court is heavily barricaded but CNRP supporters are gathering at the barricades. The CNRP are also holding a press conference this morning in response to yesterday’s events. Follow events as they unfold.

4 July 2014

Today the Constitutional Council declared that three new laws on the judiciary, the Law on the Organization of the Courts, the Law on the Organization and Functioning of the Supreme Council of Magistracy, and the Statute of Judges and Prosecutors, are consistent with the Cambodian constitution and can therefore be promulgated, following approval by the King.

In a statement released last month, LICADHO urged the Constitutional Council to reject the laws as they are currently drafted on the grounds that they do not comply with the constitution: whilst the constitution protects the independence of the judiciary, the three laws will improperly legitimize and entrench government control over the courts and judges.

The laws were approved earlier this year by the National Assembly and the Senate. No public consultations were carried out on the draft laws and as a result of the almost year-long boycott of the National Assembly by opposition party members, they have been subjected to no proper legislative scrutiny.

15 June 2014

On the anniversary of Cambodia’s Constitutional Council, LICADHO urges the Council to reject the three new laws affecting the judiciary in their current form. The Cambodian Constitution mandates that “Judicial power shall be an independent power,” and necessary implementing legislation has long been called for to strengthen the rule of law. However, passage of these laws in their current form will codify and indefinitely prolong the lack of independence currently undermining the Cambodian justice system.

30 May 2014

We the undersigned civil society groups welcome the decision this morning of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to suspend the sentences of the 23 men and two minors arrested on November 12 2013 and January 2 and 3 2014, thereby releasing the remaining 22 detainees. However, we express our extreme disappointment at the convictions of all 25 and the heavy fines imposed on some of them, following what was to all independent observers a deeply flawed trial process.

30 May 2014

This morning, the 25 arrested on January 2 and 3, and November 12, were convicted of a variety of charges with sentences of differing lengths but all sentences were suspended. Vorn Pao (President of Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association) was sentenced to 4.5 years, Theng Savoeun (Coordinator of Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community) 4 years, Chan Puthisak (community leader from Boeung Kak Lake) 4.5 years, and Sokun Sambath Piseth (staff member at Center for Labor Rights of Cambodia) 4.5 years. Lawyers are currently working to secure their release as soon as possible.

The trials at Phnom Penh Municipal Court started on April 25 and took place over five non-consecutive days with the case of the 10 men arrested at the Yak Jin factory finally coming to an end just after 8pm on May 22. On all the trial days supporters of the 25 were prevented from gathering in front of the court by roadblocks and a heavy police presence.

The 25 were all arrested during violent suppression of worker protests by the authorities. As of today, no member of the police or armed forces has been prosecuted for the use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians, which resulted in at least four deaths and the hospitalization of 38 on January 2-3 2014, and one death and the hospitalization of 9 on November 12, 2013.

22 May 2014

The trial of 23 workers and human rights activists continues today at the Phnom Penh Court. The trial has now reached its fifth day and proceedings are scheduled to start at 8am.

21 May 2014

The trial of 23 workers and human rights activists continues today at the Phnom Penh Court. The trial has now reached its fourth day and proceedings are scheduled to start at 8am.

19 May 2014

Tomorrow morning, the trial of 23 workers and human rights activists will resume at the Phnom Penh Court. The trial has now reached its third day and proceedings are scheduled to start at 8am.

9 May 2014

This morning, the Supreme Court announced that it will uphold the decision of the Court of Appeal on February 11, 2014 to deny bail requests for 21 of 23 human rights defenders and workers arrested in early January. None of the 21 defendants were transferred to court for the bail decision.

The Supreme Court provided two reasons for denying bail to the 21: first, the investigation into the cases has already been closed by the investigating judge; and second, the trials are already in progress so defendants should remain in detention to ensure their attendance.

Article 307 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, however, permits defendants to apply for bail release during their trial after investigations have already been closed by the investigating judge.

6 May 2014

The trial of 25 workers and human rights activists resumes today. The first day of the hearings on April 25 came to an abrupt end mid-afternoon when prison guards interrupted proceedings to transport those who had not been released on bail back to CC1 prison. The hearings are scheduled to resume at 8am.

2 May 2014

This morning the Supreme Court announced that it will not decide whether to release on bail 21 of the 23 rights defenders and workers arrested during labor protests in January until 8:00am on May 9.

On May 6, the trials of all 23 men arrested in January, along with two others arrested in November 2013, will resume at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court after judges abruptly delayed proceedings on April 25.

The 21 were previously denied bail by the Phnom Penh Appeal Court on February 11, 2014. Outside the court today, more than 60 monks, land activists, and NGOs gathered to show support. The 21 were not present for the hearing, and remain in CC1 prison.

24 April 2014

On 25 April 2014, the trials of the 23 men arrested during the government’s suppression of labor strikes in early January will take place at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The hearing of two further individuals, who were arrested during violent clashes between garment workers and armed forces on 12 November 2013 will also take place at the Municipal Court.

LICADHO will be livestreaming events as they happen from inside and outside the court.