LIBRARY

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.

11 November 2014

CNRP official Meach Sovannara was arrested by authorities this morning in Phnom Penh in relation to the violence that occurred at Freedom Park on July 15 this year. He is presently detained at Phnom Penh High Crime Police Station.

Sovannara was previously summonsed by Investigating Judge Keo Mony to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on September 1 over the Freedom Park violence. However, Sovannara was abroad at the time and could not appear before the court.

In total, 14 CNRP officials and activists have been arrested over the violence at Freedom Park on July 15.

11 November 2014

Seven representatives from Boeung Kak Lake community, who were arrested and detained yesterday after protesting outside city hall, appeared before Prosecutor Mr. Seang Sok at Phnom Penh Court of the First Instance this morning.

The seven women all appeared before the court, after authorities accused them yesterday of obstructing public traffic (Article 78 of the Traffic Law) and insulting public officials (Article 502 of the Penal Code). 50 supporters gathered outside the court in support.

Areas near the site of the former lake have been flooded for a number of days due to alleged deliberate drainage problems under the control of city hall authorities.

10 November 2014

This morning at around 9:30am, seven female representatives from Boeung Kak Lake community were arrested as they protested outside city hall against defective water drainage facilities in the city.

Areas near the site of the former lake have been flooded for the past three days due to alleged deliberate drainage problems under the control of city hall authorities.

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

23 October 2014

This morning over 1,000 peaceful protestors and monks gathered in Phnom Penh to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements.

In recognition of France’s role as host and co-president of the peace talks, the protesters began the morning with a forum outside the French embassy during which they asked signatories of the treaty for support. The protesters marched to the embassies of the USA and UK to deliver petitions as a reminder of the Paris Peace Agreements, criticizing Cambodian elections and on-going land disputes in Cambodia, calling for the establishment of a committee to investigate and review the implementation of the Paris Peace Agreements.

The protesters continued to the Australian and Russian embassies before making their way to the National Assembly. This afternoon the march will proceed to the UN offices, Japanese, Indonesian and Chinese embassies.

21 October 2014

On October 20, 2014, security guards in Phnom Penh were once again captured senselessly beating peaceful land protesters. About 80 villagers from Preah Vihear province had come to Phnom Penh to ask for assistance from national institutions, to help resolve their land dispute which has affected over 200 families. However, shortly after noon, the villagers were violently dispersed by the guards while military police and police officers stood by near the Prime Minister's home.

The violence left a total of 18 people injured. Several of them, including an 18 year-old boy, suffered head wounds.

20 October 2014

Following the violent dispersal of protestors nearby Prime Minister Hun Sen’s home earlier today, LICADHO is now treating 17 patients. At least 4 of them (one woman and three men) have moderate injuries from beatings sustained by security guards. One of the injured is an 18 year old boy who was beaten on the head. He is currently being observed and may be admitted to hospital later.

The protestors from Kantuot commune, Choan Ksan district, Preah Vihear province, included men, women, and young children who were protesting in Phnom Penh to request assistance in ongoing land conflicts that have affected over 200 families.

They intended to march to the Chinese, Russian, and Australian embassies, before submitting a petition to the home of Prime Minister Hun Sen. However, the protestors were blocked on their way to the Prime Minister’s house, where they were severely beaten.

20 October 2014

Earlier this morning, four people were injured after security guards at Independence Monument beat protestors from Kantuot commune, Choan Ksan district, Preah Vihear province, while military police stood by.

The group of protestors included men, women, and young children. They had come to Phnom Penh to request assistance in ongoing land conflicts that have affected over 200 families.

They intended to march to the Chinese, Russian, and Australian embassies, before submitting a petition to the home of Prime Minister Hun Sen. However, the protestors were blocked on their way to the Prime Minister’s house at Wat Botum, where they were severely beaten.

16 October 2014

We, the undersigned civil society groups, condemn the actions of the Oddar Meanchey authorities who have, since September 2014, been engaged in the obstruction, harassment, intimidation, and assault of rights workers. Most recently, a four-person team from Equitable Cambodia (“EC”) was in the province to conduct field research on the impacts of forced evictions resulting from economic land concessions granted for the development of sugarcane plantations. The plantations are owned by the Mitr Phol Group, one of Coca-Cola’s top three global suppliers. Research data collected will be provided to the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (“NHRCT”), which is investigating Mitr Phol’s operations in Cambodia.

12 October 2014

This morning around 1000 garment workers from six unions – CUMW, NIFTUC, WFUF, NTUC, TUFW & IDYTU – gathered at Freedom Park to call for an increase in the minimum wage. Despite warnings from government authorities not to leave the Freedom Park area, the protestors peacefully marched to the National Assembly, US and EU embassies, to submit petitions.

Around 50 riot police stood by at Wat Phnom as the protestors marched, while a large group of military police and riot police were present in front of the EU embassy.

Today's protest takes place in addition to last month’s launch of a labor campaign calling for the minimum wage to be increased to $177.

11 October 2014

This afternoon, police in Oddar Meanchey beat a staff member from Equitable Cambodia after they refused to allow officers to search their car without a warrant and gain access to a camera.

Police stopped the car as it was transporting villagers back to their community, following interviews with Equitable Cambodia staff at an office belonging to ADHOC.

Following the illegal search and beating of the staff, police confiscated the car and deleted a number of photos from the camera. The staff from Equitable Cambodia are now in Oddar Meanchey Provincial Police Station negotiating with police but are not currently detained.

9 October 2014

This morning 250 villagers from three villages, Trapaing Kandorl, Chi Khor, and Chhouk, marched to deliver a petition to Chi Kha Leu commune hall and Sre Ambel district office to petition authorities over a long running land dispute regarding an overlapping economic land concession, that involved Oknha Ly Yong Phat and is used to produce sugar for Thai sugar-manufacturer, Khon Kaen Sugar (KSL).

The district governor and commune leader for Chi Kha Leu received their petitions after which the villagers then marched to Koh Kong Sugar, where a representative for the company accepted their petition as well.

The villagers plan to deliver another petition to the provincial hall if there is no resolution between district authorities and Koh Kong Sugar following today's activities.

6 October 2014

Today as communities all over the world stand in solidarity for World Habitat Day, some 600 community members gathered at the National Assembly to demand 'development for all' and an end to forced evictions across Cambodia. This video highlights the ongoing land dispute between the Borei Keila community in Phnom Penh and local development company, Phanimex.

29 September 2014

Earlier today, CNRP Chbar Ampov elected district council member Sum Puthy was arrested in relation to the violence that took place on July 15 at Freedom Park. He was last seen this morning by his wife after going to the local market. Photos have emerged through government media sources, placing Puthy at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. He is to be sent to CC1 at Prey Sar Prison for pre-trial detention.

Sum Puthy is the twelfth CNRP official arrested in relation to the Freedom Park violence.

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.