LIBRARY

5 December 2014

Over a hundred monks and civilians are being blocked on National Road 2 in Takeo by a group of armed soldiers and police officers on the order of Takeo Provincial Governor Lay Vannak. Authorities have asserted that the group will not be allowed to go ahead with the peace march unless they obtain permission from the Interior Ministry.

Interference began yesterday when authorities locked the gates into Wat Saom, located in Takeo’s Kirivong district. As a result, monks and citizens were left with nowhere sheltered to sleep, having to settle on the land of nearby villagers.

Elsewhere in the country groups have begun the nationwide peace march for International Human Rights Day towards Phnom Penh on National Roads 1,3,4,5,6 and 7.

4 December 2014

This morning in Ochum district, Ratanakiri province, over 250 human rights activists, led by monks, launched this year’s nationwide peace march for International Human Rights Day (IHRD) 2014.

Activists and monks gathered in Ochum district at around 7am and are making their way to the provincial capital, Banlung. The march comes after a night of traditional dancing was performed by indigenous communities who also shared stories about land disputes, and other human rights issues, affecting their families.

Currently marchers are resting at Yeak Loum Lake where Venerable Loun Sovath is addressing the crowd as part of a public forum on IHRD.

2 December 2014

Over 600 human rights activists, led by monks, will march along six national roads towards Phnom Penh between December 5 and December 10, 2014, to celebrate the 66th International Human Rights Day (IHRD). Joining them will be participants from communities affected by land disputes, associations, networks, unions and NGOs, as well as villagers from rural and urban communities along the designated routes.

28 November 2014

At around 8.30am this morning, one volunteer from local NGO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) and one tuk tuk driver were arrested near the National Assembly before being detained for part of the morning by Chamkarmon district authorities at Wat Toul Tompong. The STT volunteer and tuk tuk driver had been attending a demonstration with over 250 land activists and monks who were calling for the release of recently arrested activists and monks, currently detained at Prey Sar’s CC1 and CC2 prisons. Authorities also confiscated one loudspeaker.

The land activists – from Boeung Kak lake, Borei Keila, Preah Vihear, and Lor Peang – and monks, had gathered in front of the Buddhist Institute before marching towards the National Assembly to submit the petition.

The peaceful protestors were met by over 100 security forces who threatened violence as they blocked off access to the National Assembly while Prime Minister Hun Sen was in attendance.

24 November 2014

Renowned human rights defender Venerable Loun Sovath will appear before the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in a flawed and protracted judicial process aiming to silence him. He has been charged with “incitement to commit a felony” for joining and supporting demonstrations by victims of land disputes throughout Cambodia.

23 November 2014

To mark the start of the global campaign, 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, LICADHO has published a report exploring how the lives of women campaigners are changed by their activism. It reveals the high price women pay, suffering not only serious economic and emotional impacts but also often domestic violence and family breakdown.

23 November 2014

This morning, over 300 people gathered outside Prey Sar prison to protest against recent politically motivated arrests for the second consecutive Sunday in a row.

Civil society organisations, monks, and communities protested outside CC1 and CC2 prisons at Prey Sar while US politician and elected representative for the state of Massachusetts, Morm Rady, addressed the crowd with relatives of those imprisoned.

Following the protests at the prison, the crowd moved to Phnom Penh Municipal Court for further demonstrations.

23 November 2014

We, the 16 endorsing non-governmental organizations, urge the Cambodian authorities to drop the charges against renowned human rights defender Venerable Luon Sovath. He is facing trial on 25 November 2014 in a flawed and protracted judicial process that clearly aims to silence him. Venerable Sovath is internationally known as the "multi-media monk," and his efforts to voice the human rights abuses against vulnerable communities and human rights defenders in Cambodia have been recognized globally.

21 November 2014

Sunday is International Day to End Impunity. ‘Freedom of Assembly in Cambodia’ is a 3.5 minute music video made up of footage from the past 14 months showing both state-sponsored abuses committed with impunity, and the resilience of Cambodian activists in the face of oppression.

20 November 2014

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). On October 15, 1992, the Cambodian government ratified the CRC, thus pledging to protect and promote four fundamental rights of children everywhere: “the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life”.

On this day, LICADHO releases a video of Seng Sokhim, a 16 year old girl who actively promotes and protects the rights of children in her community in Bak Keng commune, Phnom Penh. Sokhim is part of LICADHO's Child Protection Groups (CPGs) network that operates on the grassroots level to empower children, youths, and adults to be children's rights advocates.

18 November 2014

This morning some 150 community members and monks gathered in front of the Embassy of the United States in support of Venerable Luon Sovath, while demanding the release of more than a dozen activists and monks who were arrested and imprisoned last week.

Venerable Sovath is submitting letters of invitation to 13 embassies, calling on dignitaries to witness his trial on November 25 at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. He is being tried on alleged charges of incitement.

Additionally, community members and monks are submitting petitions at the same embassies to request the release of more than a dozen activists and monks who are being detained at CC1 and CC2 in Prey Sar Prison. Venerable Sovath and the 150 community members and monks, will march to a total of 13 embassies including Britain, Singapore, Russia, Thailand, China, Australia, Republic of Korea, the European Union, and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

16 November 2014

This morning around 200 monks, NGO representatives and land activists from Borei Keila, Boeung Kak, Thmor Kol and Lor Peang communities gathered outside Prey Sar CC1 and CC2 prisons to call for the release of 17 imprisoned activists. Demonstrators, including relatives of the land activists held speeches and released balloons before marching near the prisons.

Last week ten land activists, three newly-defrocked monks and two CNRP members were arrested and sent to prison for exercising their right to peacefully protest. Eleven of them have already been swiftly tried, convicted and sentenced to one year in prison. Two other CNRP members have been in prison since last month.

14 November 2014

This morning approximately 200 people including monks, community representatives, media and NGO staff gathered in front of the National Assembly to call for the release of activists recently arrested.

Earlier in the day protestors in two tuk tuks were temporarily prevented from reaching the site of the gathering.

Since Monday, 15 people including three newly-defrocked monks and two CNRP members have been arrested and sent to prison for exercising their right to peacefully protest.

13 November 2014

Earlier this morning, CNRP youth member Tep Narin was arrested by local authorities after failing to report at a local Phnom Penh police station. Narin was required to present himself before police once every two weeks while under judicial supervision.

Narin has been accused by case prosecutor Keo Socheat of taking part in the violence that occurred at Freedom Park on July 15, 2014.

He is currently being detained at the Phnom Penh police station.

12 November 2014

This evening, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced a further three land activists and a newly-defrocked monk to one year in prison and a fine of US $500 after convicting them of the offence of obstructing a public official with aggravating circumstances (Article 504 of the Criminal Code).

The four were arrested yesterday while taking part in a peaceful gathering in front of the court to call for the release of seven detained Boeung Kak Lake activists. The seven women had been detained on Monday and were also convicted and sentenced to one year in prison, for the offence of obstructing traffic, in a little over 24 hours.

12 November 2014

The trial of three land activists and one monk (defrocked following his arrest) is now underway. All four were arrested yesterday morning as supporters gathered outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court to protest the arrest of seven Boeung Kak Lake (BKL) activists. Some 100 riot police and security guards violently broke up the peaceful protest in front of the court.

The three land activists – Heng Pich (BKL), Im Srey Touch (former BKL), Phoung Sopheap (Thmor Kol) – and monk, named Venerable Seung Hai, are currently being tried in a single court room for two separate cases at Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

The trial comes after two monks were arrested and detained earlier today as they made their way to support a land community from Preah Vihear.

12 November 2014

On the morning of Tuesday, November 11, approximately 50 representatives from several land communities gathered outside the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to protest the detention of seven Boeung Kak Lake activists who had been arrested the day before while protesting outside Phnom Penh City Hall against the alleged failure of city authorities to deal with the issue of flooding around the site of the former lake.

Over 100 riot police and security guards violently broke up the protest in front of the court and arrested three additional land activists and one monk.

12 November 2014

We, the undersigned civil society groups, condemn the arrest, detention, and conviction of the seven Boeung Kak Lake community representatives following protests outside Phnom Penh City Hall on the morning of November 10, 2014.

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.

11 November 2014

CNRP official Meach Sovannara has been detained at Prey Sar CC1 Prison this afternoon, following his arrest this morning in Phnom Penh in relation to the violence that occurred at Freedom Park on July 15 this year.

Investigating Judge Keo Mony has charged Sovannara under articles: 28 and 218 (instigating aggravated, intentional violence); 495 (inciting others to commit a felony); and 459 (leading an insurrectional movement) of the criminal code. Article 459 carries a potential sentence of 30 years' imprisonment.

In total, 14 CNRP officials and activists have been arrested over the violence at Freedom Park on July 15. Of those, three are currently in detention: Ouk Pich Samnang; CNRP Chbar Ampov elected district council member Sum Puthy; and CNRP official Meach Sovannara.