LIBRARY

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.”

7 December 2004

Resume of a speech by Dr. Kek Galabru, chairman of CAMBOW, on December 1, 2004 about the 16 Days global campaign against gender violence campaign for women’s rights.

6 December 2004

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) is deeply concerned about arbitrary restrictions placed on freedom of assembly and expression in Cambodia, and also the level of violence against peaceful public marchers, demonstrators and labor strikers. In the interests of protecting these freedoms, in order to promote democratic public debate vital to good governance, CHRAC makes the following recommendations: ...

5 December 2004

Cambodian NGO workers will march 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 peaceful public gatherings.

2 December 2004

On December 1, 2004, the Queen of Cambodia, along with more than 700 others, attended a drama about domestic violence at the Chenla Theatre in the National Cultural Center. The performance was sold out and organizers had to turn away over 200 people.

The Queen stayed until the end of the drama and gave a generous donation of $5,000 to the 16 Days Campaign against Violence against Women. She made a speech strongly supporting women and children, appealed to end violence against women and children, and urged the government and people to support women and children in Cambodia.

30 November 2004

As part of the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence 2004, the Cambodian Committee of Women (CAMBOW), in cooperation with Ministry of Women’s Affairs, will organize an educational drama on domestic violence in Phnom Penh and produce a video case-study to be shown in all 24 Cambodian provinces in order to raise awareness of domestic violence and demonstrate the need for the adoption of the draft Law on Domestic Violence.

29 November 2004

On April 3, 2001 Montha Kuan (age 27) and Sai Kuan (35, mother of four children under the age of 18) were sentenced to death on drug charges in Thai courts. Despite concerns over the conduct of the arrest and prosecution, the appeals process for the Cambodian sisters has now been exhausted.

1 November 2004

Since January 2003 the Cambodian government has cracked down on gatherings and demonstrations in Phnom Penh, regardless of their peaceful nature, by repeatedly denying requests for such events. Those which have gone ahead unauthorized have faced police intimidation, violence, detention and arrests.

This briefing paper records some of the numerous occasions since January 2003 when gatherings and demonstrations have been blocked or suppressed by the Phnom Penh authorities, violating the fundamental right of Cambodian citizens to freedom of speech and assembly.