LIBRARY

3 June 2005

Civil society is deeply saddened to hear that the Government now claims it cannot contribute its $13.3 million share to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT) three-year budget. It declares that it can only give $1.5 million leaving a short fall of $11.8 million. It is interesting to note that the $4.4 million per year required from the Government to run the KRT amounts to only 0.5% of the Annual National budget of $792 million. This seems like a ridiculously small price to pay for the possible achievement of justice and reconciliation for victims of the Khmer Rouge regime and for Cambodia as a whole.

30 May 2005

A children’s art contest and a comedy stage show are among activities to be held by LICADHO on June 1 to mark International Children’s Day and highlight the need for greater action to protect the rights and improve the live’s of Cambodia’s children.

In celebrating International Children’s Day this year, LICADHO is promoting the theme of “Working Together to Combat Trafficking, Exploitation and Abuse of Children.” Day-long activities will be undertaken in Sihanoukville; Siem Reap; Chamkar Leu in Kompong Cham, Kien Svay and Muk Kampul in Kandal; Koh Kong; and Dangkao in Phnom Penh.

26 May 2005

A slideshow presentation on the situation of women in Cambodia.

26 April 2005

We welcome the Royal Government of Cambodia and the International Community’s determination to ensure the fairness, credibility, independence and impartiality of the Extraordinary Chambers (EC). In order to achieve this, CHRAC and other members of civil society have made multiple requests on the above topics, yet many of our questions remain unanswered. The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), ADHOC and LICADHO held a meeting and discussed these issues with members of civil society on 2 - 3 March 2005 and again reiterated these requests in a press release on 15 April. CHRAC respectfully requests again today, as the second training course for judges and prosecutors begins, that the Royal Cambodian Government (RGC) and International Community (including the United Nations), kindly respond to the concerns of civil society.

26 April 2005

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) will hold a media conference in Phnom Penh on April 28, 2005, on the occasion of the publication by the Observatory of its worldwide 2004 Annual Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders.

18 April 2005

On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the genocide in Cambodia, on 17 April 2005, FIDH and its two member organisations in Cambodia, ADHOC and LICADHO, make public recommendations concerning the Khmer Rouge Tribunal and the International Criminal Court.

The Cambodian people want the perpetrators of international crimes committed in their country between 1975 and 1979 to be tried. The Cambodian people have a right to truth and justice. The question is whether the KRT will be able to meet those expectations.

28 March 2005

The Cambodian Human Rights Actions Committee (CHRAC), a collation of 18 human rights NGOs, strongly condemns the means of enforcement of the Banteay Mean Chey Provincial Appeals Court’s decision in a controversial Poipet land case. Enforcement lead to violence against villagers that resulted in six deaths. As well, six others are seriously injured three, 3 people have disappeared, and 29 people were arrested and released the same day.

23 March 2005

The Cambodian Human Rights Actions Committee (CHRAC), a collation of 18 human rights NGOs, strongly condemns the means of enforcement of the Banteay Mean Chey Provincial Appeals Court’s decision in a controversial Poipet land case. Enforcement lead to violence against villagers that resulted in six deaths. As well, six others are seriously injured, three people have disappeared, and 29 people were arrested and released the same day.

22 March 2005

In celebration of International Women's Day, LICADHO Women's Rights office conducted activities focusing on Women's Rights as Human Rights highlighting legal and social challenges in Phnom Penh and the provinces.

20 March 2005

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 18 local NGOs working on human rights issues, expressed concern about reports that the Cambodian government is investigating and considering the closure of the Highlanders Association, an association of indigenous community people in Ratanakiri.

“We this is a threat to freedom of association, a fundamental right enshrined in the Cambodian constitution,” said Mr.Sok Sam Oeun, Chairman of CHRAC. “It’s disappointing to see pressure being put on a community-based organization, that advocates for indigenous minority rights.”

10 March 2005

Cambodian women and children are facing a rising tide of sex crimes and urgent action is needed to stop abuse, a rights group warned on Monday.

Rape and indecent assault cases have risen steadily in recent years, and many of the victims are children, some as young as four years old, local human rights group Licadho said ahead of International Woman's Day on Tuesday.

10 February 2005

On February 3rd, the National Assembly stripped parliamentary immunity from three Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) Members of Parliament: Sam Rainsy, Chea Poch, and Cheam Channy. Rainsy and Poch fled the country, while Channy was arrested later that day by military police. He is currently being held in solitary confinement at Toul Sleng military prison. The arrest and detention are in breach of article 11 of the UNTAC law, which states that the military court only has jurisdiction over members of the military.

10 February 2005

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisations in Cambodia, ADHOC and LICADHO, express their deepest concern at the recent crackdown on main opposition leaders in Cambodia.

On February 3, the National Assembly of Cambodia lifted the parliamentary immunity of three MPs belonging to Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), the main opposition party, thereby allowing criminal suits against them.

7 February 2005

Civil Society Coalitions including COMFREL, CHRAC, YCC, NICFEC, Star Kampuchea, NGO Forum on Cambodia, and others such as CSD, CCHR, Open Forum of Cambodia, CLEC and Advocacy and Policy Program of Pact Cambodia strongly concern on the safety and the violation of parliamentary rights of H.E Cheam Channy regarding the arrest by the Military Court on Feb 04.

We note that the arrest is not based on a specific legal procedures and sufficient element of crime, the prosecutor immediately issued an order of arrest the MP just a few hours after his immunity was suspended. On the other hand, the case is not flagrante delicto that the arrest is instantly needed to be done.

3 February 2005

LICADHO has found that roughly a third of Cambodia's prisoners are pre-trial detainees, of whom some are incarcerated months or years beyond the statutory limit of six months. Due to challenges to the judicial system, as well as problems with completing investigations within the pre-trial detention period, pre-trial detainees often remain incarcerated months and even years beyond the statutory limit. According to statistics gathered by LICADHO in the 18 prisons it monitors, the number of persons held in pre-trial detention beyond the statutory limit varies however, it has been as high as 225 (September, 2001) and as low as 70 (November, 2003).

24 December 2004

According to CHRAC’s investigation, police from the Ministry of Interior’s Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department (DAHTJP) raided the Chai Hour II hotel on December 7, 2004. The police acted under the direction of Phnom Penh deputy chief prosecutor Mr Siem Sok Aun, who had issued a search warrant for the hotel following a complaint and a request made by the DAHTJP. After searching the premises, the deputy prosecutor and the police arrested and detained 7 suspects (5 men and 2 women), who were later released without approval from the deputy chief prosecutor.

CHRAC understands that the initial actions taken by the DAHTJP were correct and under the direction of the prosecutor Mr Siem Sok Aun. Therefore, CHRAC urges the Ministry of Interior to review whether the subsequent release of the 7 suspects complied with correct legal procedure.

16 December 2004

To commemorate the 56th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, NGOs, student groups, monks and a few of Cambodia’s UN agencies gathered on December 10 to read the Declaration and march to the palace where they were received by King Norodom Sihamoni.

15 December 2004

This report provides a general overview of the nature and extent of threats facing human rights defenders in Cambodia during 2004. It is based on investigations and information compiled by LICADHO, with particular help from the Cambodia Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

12 December 2004

Opening speech by Dr. Kek Galabru, chairperson of CHRAC, for the International Human Rights Day on December 10 in the presence of his Majesty the King of Cambodia meeting 10 individuals victim of human rights violations.

7 December 2004

More than 300 Cambodian NGO workers marched through Phnom Penh on Monday December 6 to demand an end to nearly two years of arbitrary restrictions by government authorities on marches, demonstrations and other public gatherings.

“Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, which are the foundation of all human rights and of a democratic society, are in serious peril in Cambodia,” said Kek Galabru, LICADHO president and chairperson of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), which organized the march. “The government must respect and protect those rights.”