LIBRARY

17 May 2018

Last week, LICADHO staff discovered a strange phenomenon when trying to access the Phnom Penh Post website. When going to the site, a malicious code impersonating Google (misspelled Gooogle) attempted to trick users into granting full access to their Gmail inboxes to an unknown third party called GTransfers.

LICADHO analysed the code which was hidden within a legitimate script file (theme.js) hosted on the Phnom Penh Post website and forwarded its findings to partners in the region. The tampering with the website was independently confirmed by cyber security experts - including industry leader FireEye - in an ABC article.

16 May 2018

Two former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists charged with treason were brought to Phnom Penh Municipal Court today to decide whether their six months in pre-trial detention will be extended or if they will be released (update below).

Under Cambodian law, felony suspects can only be held in pre-trial detention for six months unless a judge rules that a further six month period is necessary for an ongoing investigation. No evidence substantiating the charges has been made public.

At a bail hearing in March, Presiding Judge Khim Pon said an investigation was still underway and that releasing the men could result in “serious damage”.

10 May 2018

This morning the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions of 11 CNRP officials and supporters convicted of insurrection offences related to a demonstration marred by clashes between para-police and demonstrators on 15 July 2014. The verdict, delivered in just three minutes, upheld prison sentences of between seven and 20 years.

The verdict followed a protracted appeal process that first began in 2016 and was concluded by three days of hearings between 23 and 25 April this year. During these hearings live testimony was extremely limited. The plaintiffs were unable to identify the defendants as perpetrators and admitted other individuals had in fact written at least some of the original complaints.

Additional and virtually identical statements from almost 40 absent members of the Daun Penh para-police were read on to the record, which prevented any cross-examination by defence lawyers.

9 May 2018

We, the undersigned civil society groups, condemn the latest blow to press freedom in Cambodia, with the opaque sale of The Phnom Penh Post, and the new owner’s immediate interference in the paper’s editorial independence, which compelled 13 senior staff and reporters to resign and led to the sacking of the paper’s Editor-in-Chief.

This is just the latest in a series of attacks which have devastated Cambodia’s media landscape since mid-2017. The Phnom Penh Post was Cambodia’s last remaining independent English-Khmer language daily, and its change of ownership raises serious questions about the paper’s continued independence.

2 May 2018

Close to a thousand workers and trades unionists celebrated International Labour Day around Cambodia on 1 May 2018 despite restrictions on public gatherings and a ban on the traditionally held march in the capital.

A large area around the National Assembly was cordoned by mixed police forces and the rally in the capital was closely monitored.

Other events in Cambodian provinces were also low key and closely watched by authorities.

1 May 2018

Workers and trade unions celebrated International Labour Day around Cambodia today despite restrictions on public gatherings and a ban on the traditionally held march in the capital. A large area around the National Assembly was cordoned off and guarded by mixed police forces.

A far smaller group than previous years rallied outside the Council for the Development of Cambodia under close surveillance from security forces. More than 600 workers, mainly from the garment and construction industry, held placards calling for workers rights, an end to harassment of trades unions and increased building site safety. Citing security concerns, Phnom Penh Municipality denied the organisers, the Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC) and their members, the right to march to the National Assembly.

Instead CLC union leaders delivered speeches on the theme of "Challenges of Trade Union Law Enforcement" calling for protection of workers’ rights and an end to union harassment. Several other smaller trades union groups delivered petitions to the Ministry of Labour and the National Assembly. Other events took place around the country in Ratanakiri, Kampot, Kampong Speu and Kampong Chhnang.

19 April 2018

The Appeal Court rejected a bail request appeal today by two former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin. It was the second bail application by the two men who have been held in pre-trial detention on treason charges since 18 November 2017. The court justified the rejection by claiming they could attempt to flee.

Sothearin and Chhin were arrested on 14 November 2017 and charged under Article 445 of the Criminal Code which covers providing information to foreign states or agents which can “undermine national defence”. No evidence to support the charges has been made public.

The reporters worked for RFA’s Khmer language service until the US-funded media outlet shut its Phnom Penh Bureau on 12 September 2017, citing government repression and the forced closure of its FM radio broadcasts.

12 April 2018

Phnom Penh municipal court postponed the trial today of Deborah Krisher-Steele, publisher of the now defunct Cambodia Daily newspaper, who is charged with “public defamation”.

The charge was brought by the General Department of Taxation following comments accusing the authority of disclosing confidential information about a massive tax bill. The newspaper closed its office in Cambodia and laid off staff on 4 September 2017, after receiving the disputed US$6.3 million bill.

Today's adjournment was the second since the trial opened. Judge Seng Leang said the latest delay was needed due to the complexity of the case and to consider a defense request to summon a Fresh News staffer as witness.

30 March 2018

Thousands of Cambodian children were adopted overseas between the late 1980s and 2009. During that time it emerged that many of the adopted children were not orphans but had parents who placed them in orphanages because of extreme poverty. Their parents placed them there on the understanding that they would return home at a later date. They did not consent to their children's adoption. Instead, orphanage directors, with the help of local authorities, created documents falsely stating that the children were orphans or had been abandoned.

When evidence of this came to light, many countries suspended the adoption of children from Cambodia and in 2009 Cambodia itself suspended them. The parents of the children adopted abroad were often illiterate and lacked awareness of their rights or of where to turn to for help and so were unable to find out what had happened to their children.

27 March 2018

About 50 villagers affected by land grabbing in Banteay Meanchey province protested today outside the provincial court to demand the release of their representative, Long Sokunthy, who was arrested yesterday.

Long Sokunthy was arrested and sent to Banteay Meanchey prison when authorities decided to enforce her 15 March conviction on charges of "infringement of private property" and "intentional damage" linked to the land dispute.

Sokunthy is a representative of 310 families seeking resolution of a conflict with tycoon Sam Phannarith, over 2,076 hectares of land located in Thnal Bat Village in Ou Chrov district, which dates back to 2004.

22 March 2018

Kampong Speu Provincial Court confirmed the conviction today of Sam Sokha on charges of “insult” and “incitement to discriminate” for posting a video to Facebook in which she throws a sandal at a Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) billboard.

Sokha was convicted in absentia and then deported from Thailand last month despite having registered there with the United Nations refugee agency. Her case was retried on 15 March 2018.

The video clip, posted in April 2017 – just two months before local elections – includes colourful language and criticism of Prime Minister Hun Sen. In the video she is seen throwing a sandal at photos of the prime minister and of Heng Samrin, Honorary President of the CPP and President of the National Assembly.

22 March 2018

Phnom Penh municipal court considered today a charge of “public defamation” brought against Deborah Krisher-Steel, publisher of the now defunct Cambodia Daily newspaper, but after a short hearing adjourned the case until a later date.

The charges were brought by the General Department of Taxation (GDT) following comments accusing the authority of disclosing confidential information about a massive tax bill levelled at the publication.

The newspaper closed its office in Cambodia and laid off staff on 4 September 2017, after receiving a disputed US$6.3 million tax bill.

16 March 2018

Former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin were denied bail at the Supreme Court today. Upholding an Appeal Court decision to continue their pre-trial detention, Presiding Judge Khim Pon claimed an investigation was still underway and that releasing the men could result in “serious damage”.

Sothearin and Chhin were arrested on 14 November 2017 and charged on suspicion of treason. They have spent 118 days in Phnom Penh’s overcrowded CC1 prison.

The men worked for RFA’s Khmer language service until the US-funded media outlet shut its Phnom Penh Bureau on 12 September 2017, citing government repression and the forced closure of its FM radio broadcasts.

12 March 2018

Close to 300 farmers from four provinces affected by longstanding land disputes marched and delivered petitions to government institutions in Phnom Penh today.

Farmers from Tbong Khmum, Svay Rieng, Sihanoukville and Kandal went to the Council of Ministers, National Assembly and the Ministry of Land Management. They called for intervention to resolve decade-long conflicts affecting the land of thousands of families which they say was grabbed by powerful individuals and corporate interests.

In a statement, they said that authorities at all levels had so-far failed to resolve the disputes which have had a devastating impact on their livelihoods. They added that community representatives have been threatened, intimidated and accused of incitement, simply for advocating on their behalf.

8 March 2018

International Women’s Day events are taking place around Cambodia today to raise awareness of gender inequality and the impact of land grabbing, violence and other violations of women’s rights.

More than 7,000 members of communities, trade unions and grassroots groups are holding events in at least four provinces and several locations in the capital Phnom Penh. The biggest was a public forum, organised by a trade union confederation, on women workers’ rights at a garment factory in Kampong Speu.

IWD is celebrated around the world every year on 8 March to celebrate the women’s rights movement.

6 March 2018

More than 100 villagers from communities affected by land grabbing in Koh Kong’s Sre Ambel district demonstrated today outside a factory owned by Koh Kong Sugar Industry Co. Ltd.

The protestors, from Chi Kha Leu, Chi Kha Kraom and Dang Peng communes, were met by about 50 police and military police outside the factory.

The communities have fought for compensation since 2006 when hundreds of families were dispossessed by economic land concessions granted to sugar companies, one of which was partly owned by ruling party Senator Ly Yong Phat.

21 February 2018

We, the undersigned organizations and communities, express our grave concern regarding the Royal Government of Cambodia's proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as well as the proposed introduction of a lèse-majesté offense to Cambodia’s Criminal Code. These proposed amendments constitute a severe threat to human rights and fundamental freedoms, and are clearly designed to further criminalize any individual or entity that dares to express legitimate dissent. We are deeply concerned by this cynical attempt to deny the Cambodian people the fundamental freedoms to which they are entitled, and call for the outright rejection of these proposed amendments.

7 February 2018

The conviction of land rights activist Tep Vanny over her participation in a peaceful protest was upheld by the Supreme Court this morning as supporters gathered outside.

No plaintiffs or prosecution witnesses were present at the hearing, preventing cross-examination as was the case at the first instance trial and Appeal Court hearings. Witnesses for the defence, who were present in the courtroom, were not permitted to testify.

At a protest in Phnom Penh on 13 March 2013 – over the jailing of another activist – para-police beat and injured several members of the Boeung Kak Lake community. Nonetheless, Tep Vanny was convicted by Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 23 February 2017 for “intentional violence with aggravating circumstances”, despite a lack of credible evidence.

30 January 2018

We, the undersigned civil society organizations (CSOs), call for the charges against three of Cambodia’s most prominent civil society leaders – Mr. Pa Nguon Teang, Venerable But Buntenh, and Mr. Moeun Tola – to be immediately dropped. These baseless charges are clearly a form of intimidation and harassment, aimed at further silencing Cambodian civil society and human rights defenders.

26 January 2018

Koh Kong provincial court convicted two Mother Nature activists today on the charge of violating privacy and incitement and sentenced both to one year in prison with seven months suspended. They were also fined 1,000,000 riels each (US$250).

Dem Kundy and Hun Vannak were convicted under article 302 (unauthorised recording of a person’s image) and article 495 (incitement to commit a felony) of the Criminal Code.

The sentences, announced by Judge Keo Sokha, came just a day after their trial where the defence argued that there was insufficient evidence to convict them of incitement or invading the privacy of the LYP Group which brought the complaint.