LIBRARY

13 December 2007

The independence of the legal profession faces a serious threat due to attempts by the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia to limit the freedom of Cambodian lawyers to work for non-government organizations (NGOs). At stake is the future of legal aid services in the country, and whether NGOs are free to employ lawyers to represent Cambodia's poorest and most vulnerable citizens in court cases.

Over past months, the Bar Association ("the Bar") has taken a position that lawyers cannot work as employees of an NGO unless that NGO has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bar.

The Bar's assertions have no basis in Cambodia law, which does not require any such MOUs.

6 December 2007

The Cambodian justice system has failed. Despite the UNTAC intervention and 15 years of aid to legal and judicial reform, in 2007 the primary functions of the courts continue to be to:1/ Persecute political opponents and other critics of the government, 2/ Perpetuate impunity for state actors and their associates, 3/ Protect the economic interests of the rich and powerful

This report examines the performance of the Cambodian judiciary since the Consultative Group (CG) donor meeting of 2-3 March 2006. It seeks to point out patterns in injustice and impunity, highlight the Cambodian government’s ongoing lack of tangible action to promote rule of law, and to urge the international community to revise its strategies in assistance to legal and judicial reform.

4 December 2007

LICADHO is deeply concerned by the ongoing provocative actions of the 7NG company toward the people of Dey Krahorm, whom it is trying to evict.

The most recent incident occurred last night when 7NG employees attempted to bring a large mechanical excavator into Dey Krahorm, which provoked an angry reaction from community residents who feared the earth-moving machine would be used to knock down their houses.

About 8pm, a large truck carrying the mechanical excavator stopped on the road outside the south entrance to Dey Krahorm. Local residents gathered along the roadside and asked the 7NG employees not to enter their community land with the excavator at night-time. Ignoring their requests, the truck driver began reversing the vehicle onto the Dey Krahorm land, clearly intending to unload the excavator there. As a crowd of people gathered round, another 7NG employee in the cab of the excavator began moving the machine's mechanical arm in the direction of the crowd - an extremely dangerous act which could have led to injuries.

29 November 2007

The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) deplores the violent dispersal by provincial and district police of a garment workers' strike on November 29, 2007 in Prek Khsev village, Rokar Khpous commune, Saang district, Kandal province.

This morning, around 9am, armed district and provincial police were sent to disperse the strike. Claiming the workers were causing traffic jams, the authorities forcefully cracked down on workers using tear gas. During the operation, at least one female worker, 20-year-old, was injured after being hit on her leg by a tear gas canister. The police also arrested and detained 4 workers who were later on during the day sent to the Kandal Provincial Police Commissioner.

25 November 2007

Discrimination in legislation can occur in a number of forms, such as through gender-specific legal terms which have a greater negative impact on women than men, or through onerous obligations on women or through omissions which make legal definitions and prosecutions difficult or which may result in the lack of protective measures.

This report was designed to analyze whether Cambodian laws related to violence against women contravene the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and, if so, to examine the affects that these contraventions have on women in Cambodia.

22 November 2007

The government and courts must take strong action to investigate and punish police and military personnel responsible for serious abuses - including the alleged execution of a woman in front of her children - during the November 15 land eviction in Preah Vihear province.

According to eyewitnesses, the two people shot dead during the eviction, Mr Oeun Eng, 31, and Mrs Toeun Chheng, 29, were unarmed and posing no threat to the authorities at the time of their shootings.

Mr Oeun Eng was shot in the chest, reportedly by a uniformed man hidden in bushes some distance away, and died almost immediately. Another man standing next to him was shot in the shoulder but survived. The two men were standing amidst a group of people, most of whom leapt to the ground by the authorities began shooting; they may have been shot simply because they were too slow to get to the ground. The fact that both men were shot in the upper body indicates the bullets were fired directly at them.

The death of Mrs Toeun Chheng is even more disturbing. According to further investigation by LICADHO, initial reports that she was shot while protesting the arrest of her husband were incorrect. In fact, according to multiple witnesses, she was shot in cold blood by police while she was alone with her four children at her house.

22 November 2007

A collection of photos taken the first and second day passed the deadly eviction of 317 families in Preah Vihear

19 November 2007

As part of the 16 Days Campaign, CAMBOW will be broadcasting TV spots and radio spots, highlighting true stories of violence and the discrimination faced by Cambodian women. CAMBOW will also publish and distribute the report titled Violence Against Women: How Cambodian Laws Discriminate Against Women in print and audio formats.

The 16 Days campaign is conducted each year in many countries around the world between November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day. The 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including December 1, which is World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the anniversary of the 1989 Montreal Massacre where 14 women were murdered in a school shooting.

16 November 2007

Members of civil society, in the middle of a prayer session clashed with district authorities when their microphones were seized and electricity cut off during a peaceful Bon Phka (flower fundraising) festival held at the Phnom Den North pagoda. The Kirivong district authorities of Takeo province broke up the gathering claiming that it was politically motivated.

During the morning prayer session, a district authority representative in plain clothes interrupted the crowd by shouting at them to stop their prayers and accusing them of organizing a political rally. He warned the crowd not to talk about Monk Tim Sakhorn's case and soon afterwards, microphones were confiscated and electricity cut off by other individuals in plain clothes.

16 November 2007

LICADHO is gravely concerned by the killings of two people during a land eviction in Preah Vihear province and calls for the government to quickly launch a full investigation into the shootings.

An initial investigation by LICADHO indicates the excessive use of force by the authorities, and the unlawful participation of soldiers in the eviction. In addition, the eviction violated an agreement signed by local authorities stating that the villagers could remain temporarily on the land until a resolution to the dispute was found.

The shootings occurred on the morning of Thursday, November 15, when more than 150 police, military police, soldiers and Forestry Administration officers violently evicted a group of 317 families who had settled on land in Choam Ksan district of Preah Vihear. According to eyewitnesses interviewed by LICADHO, the authorities made no attempt to warn or negotiate with the people on the day of the eviction.

7 November 2007

At around 4am on November 2, 2007, more than 300 mixed police forces with two mechanical excavators - led by Russey Keo Governor Mr. Khleang Huot - came under the cover of darkness to demolish houses belonging to 132 families living in Chong Chruoy village, Chruoy Changva commune, Russey Keo district, Phnom Penh.

The mixed forces blocked access to the eviction site and prevented human rights workers as well as media from monitoring and reporting on the eviction. During the forced eviction, the authorities confiscated the camera of an observing Member of Parliament, H.E Nou Sarath from the Sam Rainsy Party and two cameras belonging to a staff member of the Housing Rights Task Force, a coalition of NGOs focusing on urban eviction issues.

3 November 2007

The Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF), Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) and The NGO Forum on Cambodia deeply regret the action taken by authorities of Khan Russey Keo to demolish houses and evict 132 families from Chong Chrouy village, Sangkath Chruoy Changva, Khan Russey Keo, Phnom Penh, on November 2, 2007.

Investigation of this event by civil society organizations disclosed that at approximately 5am, a mixed force of 300 men led by Khan Russey Keo Governor Khleang Huot blocked access to the eviction site to prevent human rights defenders as well as reporters from monitoring and reporting these actions. During this forced eviction, the authorities threatened and confiscated the camera of an observing member of national parliament. In addition, authorities hired workers to destroy people's houses and in doing this arbitrarily looted people's properties.

25 October 2007

The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) deplores the prison sentence given this week to a community representative involved in a long-running land dispute in Siem Reap.

Despite an overwhelmingly lack of evidence against her, 24-year-old So Socheat was convicted in the Siem Reap Provincial Court on October 22 of committing battery with injury and destruction of private property. Judge Kun Sokhal sentenced her to eight months in prison and a 500,000 riel (US$125) fine.

Although Socheat was accused of assaulting a police officer, the only evidence of battery with injury presented to the court was the opposite - that police officers had in fact beaten Socheat.

17 October 2007

On October 16, shortly before 7pm, approximately 80 police and military police - some armed with pistols - surrounded a group of about 200 Svay Rieng villagers camped in the park outside Wat Botum near the former National Assembly. The villagers, who had only arrived at the park a few hours earlier, were forced into vehicles including two buses and sent back to Svay Rieng.

According to witnesses, some of the villagers were beaten during the raid on the park, and two persons were later taken to hospital unconscious. NGO workers were blocked by authorities from entering the area, but heard cries coming from the villagers.

17 October 2007

LICADHO strongly condemns last night's violent abduction and deportation by authorities in Phnom Penh of land protesters who had come to the capital from Svay Rieng province. This action was unacceptable and a blatant violation of Cambodians' Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Shortly before 7pm, approximately 80 police and military police - some armed with pistols - surrounded the group of about 200 Svay Rieng villagers camped in the park outside Wat Botum near the National Assembly. The villagers, who had only arrived at the park a few hours earlier, were forced into vehicles including two buses and sent back to Svay Rieng. According to witnesses, some of the villagers were beaten during the raid on the park, and two persons were later taken to hospital unconscious. NGO workers were blocked by authorities from entering the area, but heard cries coming from the villagers.

8 October 2007

The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) is appalled by the weak prison sentence given today by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) colonel Chhor Dara. Arrested for attempted murder, the court's ruling in effect allows Chhor Dara to walk free from jail.

On the night of March 14th, 2007, the victim Chem Sopheap accompanied Pen Roathet, Chhor Dara's estranged wife, to a restaurant with a group of friends including one man. The next day, a jealous Chhor Dara attacked Chem Sopheap, accusing her of bringing his wife to see another man. He beat her and allegedly fired a gunshot which grazed her head during the attack.

4 October 2007

On September 27, 2007 the Dey Krahorm community, in Phnom Penh organized a peaceful media conference which was attended by 200 villagers and 20 7NG security guards. The media conference was meant to bring attention to the situation of the Dey Krahorm community who are at risk of being evicted from their homes by 7NG. During the conference, community representative, Touch Raotha was involved in a scuffle with a 7NG security guard. Police are alleging that Touch Raotha damaged the security guard's camera phone when he attempted to take a photo of her.

30 September 2007

We are writing to you on behalf of the undersigned human rights organisations. We have followed recent developments in Burma/Myanmar with horror. You will of course be well aware of the brutal manner in which the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has responded to demonstrators who have been doing no more than peacefully exercising their internationally recognised human rights. We pay tribute to the courage and determination of the peoples of Burma, and stand alongside them as they struggle for democracy and human rights.

We therefore warmly welcome the decision of the Human Rights Council to convene a Special Session on the situation of human rights in Myanmar on 2 and 3 October in Geneva. If the Council is truly to establish itself as a credible and positive force for the protection of human rights, it is essential that it is able to respond in a decisive manner to gross and systematic human rights violations of this nature.

27 September 2007

LICADHO is concerned that Phnom Penh police may seek to arrest a representative of the Dey Krahorm community on unjustified allegations of stealing or damaging a mobile phone.

The community representative, a woman, was involved in an incident with a 7NG company security guard during a news media conference by the Dey Krahorm community this morning. The security guard approached the woman, who was standing several meters away from the media conference, and attempted to photograph her with his mobile phone. The woman brushed the security guard's hand away, trying to prevent him from photographing her, and the phone fell to the floor. The security guard then left the area, without picking up his telephone, and made a complaint to local police that the woman had stolen his phone. The phone was later given to the police by Dey Krahorm community members.

21 September 2007

From September 15 to 17, 2007, an art-exhibition entitled "Experience and Dreams, Drawings by Children in Prison", was hosted at the Cambodian National Cultural Centre in Phnom Penh. The exhibition put on display a collection of expressive drawings by children detained in prison that illustrated prison conditions, their personal impressions of the justice system and their thoughts and future dreams.