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Presentation | The Best Interests of the Child in Cambodian Court Presentation
24 October 2006
"We demand a lot from children when we ask them to be participants in the court system, therefore, in a system designed for adults, we need to adapt practices to make them sensitive to children caught up, through no fault of their own, in the system."
A slideshow presentation on the best interest of the child in court.
Statement | 1000 Days in Prison -- Born Samnang & Sok Sam Oeun Must Be Released
23 October 2006
On the 1000-day anniversary of the arrests of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, LICADHO urges the Court of Appeal to promptly consider the two men's case and to release them.
Today, October 23, is the 1000th day that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun have spent in custody since their arrests on January 28, 2004 for allegedly killing prominent trade unionist Chea Vichea. They are currently serving 20-year prison sentences for the murder, despite extensive evidence of their innocence. Many individuals - including former King Norodom Sihanouk, Chea Vichea's family and the prime witness to the murder - have declared that they are innocent.
Statement | Staff of FM Radio Ta Prohm threatened and replaced after criticizing Prime Minister
23 October 2006
The Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) is deeply concerned about forceful removal of the General Manager Noranarith Anandayath and other staff of the radio station Ta Prohm FM 90.5 on October 19, 2006.
Noranarith Anandayath was formerly the Cabinet chief of Prince Norodom Ranariddh who had been ousted as Funcinpec President at an extraordinary party congress on Wednesday, October 18, which was staged by Funcinpec's Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chay in a coup-like manner. Already on Tuesday at 2:30pm, four armed body guards of Nhiek Bun Chay had taken control of the office of the radio station in Phnom Penh.
Statement | Stop Violent Crackdown on Workers' Strike at Bright Sky Garment Factory
17 October 2006
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 23 NGO members, strongly condemns the armed forces for cracking down on a peaceful strike made by garment factory workers while they were asserting their rights for better working conditions at Bright Sky Garment Factory, located along Veng Sreng Street, Dangkor District, Phnom Penh on October 16, 2006 at around 8.30pm.
At the scene, the armed forces violently cracked down on the strike, during which serious abdominal firearm injuries were sustained by a female employee from the factory named Muth Ravy, 24, while she was walking into Rainbow Factory, close to Bright Sky factory. Due to further action by the armed forces, two other workers named Neang Sovannaroth, 21 and his wife Nget Bora, 20, were physically beaten and arrested and brought to the Police station at Dangkor District Office.
Statement | Demand for abolishment of Article 62 UNTAC law on criminal disinformation
12 October 2006
The Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) demands for abolishing Article 62 of the UNTAC law on criminal disinformation. The network of 28 Cambodian civil society organizations holds that this legal provision contradicts the Cambodian Constitution and the international human rights law by imposing unjustifiable restrictions to the human right to Freedom of Expression. In the view of AFEC, there are other and much more adequate legal ways how to protect public peace than a law against disinformation. The AFEC is convinced that the mere publication of false statement of facts should not be criminalized at all.
In an open society there are many mechanisms that finally lead to the revelation of truth. The recent cases where high-ranking government officials brought criminal disinformation complaints against two journalists, a dismissed university teacher and three people who distributed a leaflet are demonstrating how Article 62 can be abused for silencing criticism. The fact that some of these persons are still arrested is a gross violation of Freedom of Expression.
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Article | Land grabbing in Cambodia leaves communities camping out on the government's footsteps waiting for justice
4 October 2006
In addition to the noticeable impact of Phnom Penh's evictions, land disputes have also become disturbingly problematic in the provinces. What Phnom Penh has been witnessing is the new phenomenon of increasing numbers of communities traveling into the city from their home provinces - some as far as Banteay Meanchey province 350km from Phnom Penh. The villagers, camped under the shade of a tree nearby the National Assembly, make the journey to Phnom Penh to lobby the government in the hope that they will address the land disputes in their home villages.
Statement | Appeal Court hearing must bring justice to Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun
4 October 2006
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) a coalition of 21 NGO members, petitions the Appeal Court to release Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun in their upcoming Appeal Court hearing on October 6, 2006.
CHRAC has made investigations into the Chea Vichea assassination, which occurred on January 22, 2004 and continues to believe that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun have nothing to do with the assassination. CHRAC considers the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's verdict to have been politically motivated. Furthermore, its appears that the police investigation into the assassination involved several now disgraced police officers, some who have now been arrested for criminal activity.
Statement | NGOs warn UN Human Rights Council of grim rights situation in Cambodia
18 September 2006
The deteriorating human rights situation in Cambodia demands firmer action from the United Nations and the country's biggest foreign donors, according to three rights NGOs.
The Cambodian government's failure to meet its human rights obligations is highlighted by the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), in a submission to the highest UN rights body, the Human Rights Council. The Council is holding its second session in Geneva from 18 September till 6 October, 2006.
"Impunity and corruption continue to be rampant, thousands of poor Cambodians are losing their homes to land-grabbing, and free speech has deteriorated to the extent that Members of Parliament can face criminal charges for expressing their opinions," said Kek Galabru, President of LICADHO. "The human rights situation just seems to go from bad to worse."
Briefing | UNHRC: Ongoing Deterioration of Human Rights Situation in Cambodia 2006
18 September 2006
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), together with its member organizations, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), wish to draw the Human Rights Council's attention to the Cambodian government's severe lack of commitment to and fulfillment of its human rights obligations.
This paper covers warning signs of abuses prior to upcoming elections, repressive new laws and lack of meaningful legal and judicial reforms, forced evictions, and lack of transparency, independence and competence in the judicial system.
Briefing | NGO Laws & Crackdowns on Human Rights Defenders: International Lessons for Cambodia
14 September 2006
In the Cambodian context, any NGO law - regardless of its particular content - poses a threat to the work of human rights defenders and other NGOs. While human rights defenders are most at risk because of their role in criticizing government actions, the objectives of all NGOs and development agents - both foreign and domestic - can be compromised.
This paper highlights the experience of six Asian countries with laws similar to the proposed Cambodian NGO law is outlined below.
Article | Detained Sambok Chap villagers not forgotten at Prey Sar Prison
7 September 2006
Wednesday September 6, 2006 marked the three-month anniversary of the detention of two villagers - Chan Ra and Chhen Sovan - from Sambok Chab village and Hem Chhun, a journalist from Khmer newspaper Samrek Yuthetor (Scream for Justice). The three had been arrested and detained in connection to the Sambok Chab eviction which, on June 6 2006, culminated in an excessive display of force by the authorities to empty the village.
Assembling inside a pagoda nearby Phnom Penh's Prey Sar prison, family members of the three men, surrounded by over 200 supporters, spoke to the media and the crowd.
Statement | Activists release balloons, demand release of arrested Sambok Chap villagers
5 September 2006
Two of the villagers, Mr. Chhen Sovan, and Mr. Chan Ra, were arrested during the eviction of the residents of Sambok Chab, Sangkat Tonle Bassac, on June 6, by hundreds of armed policemen. The third person, Mr. Hem Chhun, who worked as a reporter for the newspaper Samrek Yuthetor, was arrested on July 7 close to the site in Dangkao District of Phnom Penh where the villagers were relocated. The three persons have been accused by the Phnom Penh authorities of having incited a riot at Sambok Chab Village on May 30 that lead to the destruction of private and public property. The authorities have accused the journalist of being the "mastermind" behind this violent event.
The AFEC rejects violence as a means of expressing opinions. However, the alliance points out that the riot was a spontaneous act by about 100 desperate villagers facing eviction and the destruction of their homes. The event took place after the dismantling of some of their houses had started and a girl had been wounded by falling debris. There is little indication of any kind of an organized plan or premeditation on the part of the villagers who participated in the riot.
Presentation | Human Rights in Cambodia Presentation 2006
11 August 2006
A slideshow presentation on Human Rights situation in Cambodia 2006.
Statement | Call for charges to be dropped against 3 garment factory workers detained in Kandal court's prison
4 August 2006
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 21 NGO members, regrets
the decision made by Kandal Provincial Court to charge and detain three garment factory workers; Lach Sambo, Sal Kimsan and Yin Khun who have been working for Genuine garment factory since 4 July 2006.
From 23 to 29 June 2006, 1000 workers at the Genuine garment factory, located in Kantok commune,
Angsnuol district, Kandal province, held a strike to demand for the factory boss to withdraw complaints
and allow to return union leader Lach Sambo and other two workers; Sal Kimsan and Yin Khun. All three
were terminated by the boss in relation to a non-existent criminal case.
Statement | Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun must be released
2 August 2006
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 21 NGO members, calls for the prompt release from prison of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, who were one year ago yesterday convicted -- despite a severe lack of evidence -- of murdering trade unionist Chea Vichea.
On August 1, 2005, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of murder and sentenced to 20 years. CHRAC continues to believe that the trial verdict was grossly unfair due to the lack of forensic evidence presented against the men. CHRAC also notes that numerous organizations and individuals, including Former King Norodom Sihanouk as well as the family of Chea Vichea, have publicly declared the innocence of Born Samnang and Sok SamOeun.
Article | Supporters Demand Freedom for Scapegoats convicted of Chea Vichea's murder
1 August 2006
On August 1, 2006 at 11:00am approximately 80 family members, friends, monks, union workers and NGO workers, gathered in front of the Police Judicial (PJ) Prison to call for the release of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun. August 1 marks the one year anniversary of their conviction at what was widely considered a show trial for the assassination of union leader Chea Vichea.
Article | More prosecutions needed to eradicate torture in Cambodia
26 July 2006
On Friday, July 21, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted six police officers of voluntary manslaughter for the death of Duong Sopheap, who died after being detained at the Phnom Penh Municipal Police's Minor Crimes Office in June 2005. All six, who were arrested by Ministry of Interior officers six months after Duong Sopheap's death, were sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Following the unprecedented sentences given last week to the six police officers for their roles in the torture and death of a woman in police custody, LICADHO urges greater action to investigate and prosecute other similar cases of torture in Cambodia.
Statement | More prosecutions needed to eradicate torture
25 July 2006
Following the unprecedented 12-year prison sentences given last week to six Phnom Penh police officers for their roles in the torture and death of a woman in police custody, LICADHO urges greater action to investigate and prosecute other similar cases of torture.
"For the first time in years, if not decades, police officers have been convicted and sentenced to long prison terms for their involvement in torture," said Kek Galabru, LICADHO's president. "But one prosecution alone does not indicate a meaningful change in the official attitude toward the use of torture - the authorities must also prosecute other similar cases if they are serious about eliminating torture in Cambodia."
Statement | Concerns over use of Disinformation Article under UNTAC law to silence journalists
11 July 2006
The Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) is very worried about the fact that persons from within or close to the Cambodian government are using Article 62 of the UNTAC law on "disinformation" against journalists who criticized them. The recent complaint against two Cambodian journalists have been filed only a few weeks after that the National Assembly has taken the prison terms out of Article 63 of the UNTAC law on criminal defamation recently. The AFEC is afraid that there was no change of attitude behind this minor legal reform.
Article | Sparrows Released During Vigil at Prey Sar Prison near Phnom Penh
10 July 2006
On July 6, 2006, more than 250 family members, villagers from Sambok Chab, NGOs workers and union workers gathered in front of Prey Sar prison to demand the immediate and unconditional release of three detainees. The three had been arrested and detained in relation to the Sambok Chap village eviction which ended on June 6, 2006 in an excessive display of force by the authorities. The event was organized by several NGOs and was initiated by the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC).