We, the under-signed members of Cambodian NGOs and civil society, deeply regret the arrest and detention of Cambodian Center for Human Rights president Kem Sokha, Community Legal Education Center director Yeng Virak, and Cambodian Center for Human Rights deputy president Pa Nguon Teang, on charges of defamation.

The arrests relate to the celebrations held in Phnom Penh to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2005, which were attended by more than 10,000 people. This rare and important event was authorized by the government and organized by NGOs and other civil society organizations. The authorization and support for this mass gathering of people seemed to be a positive step to promote human rights in Cambodia.

Therefore, we are deeply disappointed by the subsequent arrests of Kem Sokha, Yeng Virak, and Pa Nguon Teang, which have created fear within civil society and the public, restricted freedom of expression, and set back human rights in Cambodia. The arrests were in connection with the displaying of a banner at the December 10 celebrations which contained hand-written comments by Cambodian citizens expressing their opinions. The free and public expression of opinions, including those which are critical of the government and its leaders, is a fundamental human right and an essential feature of any truly democratic country.

Although the government has publicly stated that it still respects freedom of expression, it has used criminal defamation complaints to prevent debate on a particular political issue. We are concerned that defamation charges may continue to be used to arrest individuals who dare to express their opinions, and that citizens will become increasingly afraid to exercise their freedom of expression.

Cambodian NGOs and associations appeal to the government to acknowledge the important role civil society organizations and citizens have in developing Cambodia into a modern progressive country. Furthermore, we urge the authorities to release and drop all charges against Kem Sokha, Yeng Virak, Pa Nguon Teang, Mam Sonando and Rong Chhun and to discontinue any plans for similar arrests and prosecutions of other activists.

We welcome the release on bail of Yeng Virak on January 11, and we hope that all charges will be dropped against him and the other four individuals.

This joint statement is endorsed by:
1. Action Research on AIDS and Mobility (CARAM Cambodia)
2. Cambodian Association for Informal Economy Development (CAID)
3. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
4. Cambodian Center for the Protection of Children's Rights (CCPCR)
5. Cambodian Committee of Women (CAMBOW)
6. Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP)
7. Cambodian Health and Human Rights Alliance (CHHRA)
8. Cambodian Independent Of Civil Servants Association (CICA)
9. Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association (CITA)
10. Cambodian Labor Organization (CLO)
11. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
12. Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation (CTSWF)
13. Cambodian Women's Crisis Center (CWCC)
14. Center for Social Development (CSD)
15. Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU)
16. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
17. Community Legal Education Center (CLEC)
18. Democratic Independent Solidarity Union Federation (DISUF)
19. Disability Action Council (DAC)
20. Human Rights and Community Outreach Projects (OUTREACH)
21. Indradevi Association (IDA)
22. Informal Development Economic Association (IDEA)
23. Khmer Kampuchea Krom Coordination Committee (KKKCC)
24. Khmer Kampuchea Krom for Human Rights and Development Association (KKKHRDA)
25. Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization (KKKHRO)
26. Khmer Student Association (KSA)
27. Khmer Youth Association (KYA)
28. Legal Aid of Cambodia (LAC)
29. Mission of Generous Cambodian Alliance (GENEROUS)
30. Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia (NICFEC)
31. Open Forum of Cambodia
32. Star Kampuchea
33. Strey Khmer
34. Student's Movement for Democracy (SMD)
35. The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
36. The Cambodian Human Rights Task Force (CHRTF)
37. VIGILANCE
38. Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC)
39. Action Aid International (AAI)
40. American Center for Internatiional Labor Solidarity (ACILS)
41. Care International in Cambodia (Care)
42. Caritas Cambodia
43. Concern Worldwide (CONCERN)
44. Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC)
45. Dan Church Aid (DCA)
46. Development and Partnership In Action (DPA)
47. Diakonia
48. East West Management Institute-Program on Rights and Justice (EWMI-PRAJ)
49. Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ)
50. Federation Internationale des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)
51. FORUM-ASIA
52. Forum Syd
53. German Agro Action (GAA)
54. Global Witness (GW)
55. Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF)
56. Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC)
57. Inter Church Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO)
58. International Institute of the IOGT-NTO Movement
59. International Republican Institute (IRI)
60. Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
61. National Democratic Institute (NDI)
62. NGO Forum on Cambodia
63. Norwegian People's Aid (NPA)
64. Oxfam America
65. Oxfam Australia
66. Oxfam Belgium
67. Oxfam GB
68. Oxfam Netherlands (NOVIB)
69. PACT Cambodia
70. Servants to Asia's Urban Poor (SERVANTS)
71. Taksvarkki
72. The Asia Foundation (TAF)
73. Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
74. Wild Aid
75. World Hope International (WHI)
76. World Vision Cambodia (WVC)
77. Am Sam Ath 54 Keat Bophal 107 Rin Sareth
78. Ang Chanthy 55 Keo Bunthoeun 108 Sam Sophal
79. Ath Sothea 56 Khiev Chan 109 Samreth Chantha
80. Barber Jason 57 Khim Sakhen 110 Sao Chanhorm
81. Bernard Crenn 58 Kim Praphea 111 Sao Phearak
82. Bong Sopheak 59 Kong Chanmony 112 Sar Bopha
83. Bou Chantha 60 Kong Chanroatha 113 Sar Vannara
84. Bou Vireak 61 Kouy Kakada 114 Sath Thida
85. Boun Narith 62 Kum Unique 115 Say Sophann
86. Buntuon Settheary 63 Lam Sovathara 116 Sem Socheata
87. Bul Porn 64 Leang Sokly 117 Sen Sophal
88. Chan Bunnara 65 Leng Yen 118 Seth Vannak
89. Chan Soveth 66 Lim Soknga 119 Sin Chenda
90. Chann Socheat 67 Lim Y 120 Sin Vannsin
91. Chao Leakvanna 68 Long Borin 121 Sin Visam
92. Chea Chey Sovanna 69 Long Lun 122 Sngoun Akhara
93. Chea Nara 70 Long Sokha 123 Soeung Sarann
94. Chea Sothea 71 Lor Saheur 124 Sok Kim Tith
95. Cheav Kim Ieng 72 Man Sotheara 125 Son Khen
96. Cheav Socheat 73 Mathieu Pellerin 126 Soun Ngoun Y
97. Chheav Hourlay 74 Mey Sovannara 127 Soung Khun Vireakboth
98. Chheng Sokaly 75 Moeun Tola 128 Soy Chinda
99. Chhim Channeang 76 Mom Lida 129 Srey Senkosal
100. Chhim Ratana 77 Mon Yekea 130 Sun Kongsith
101. Chhoeung Sin 78 Muth Piseth 131 Sun Tek
102. Chhoeuy Roth 79 Neang Pannha 132 Suth Se
103. Chhor Sokly 80 Ngeng Teng 133 Suy Cham Nan
104. Chhoum Run 81 Ngeth Soseng 134 Svay Kunthea
105. Chhum Seng 82 Nhean Sarin 135 Svay Thy
106. Chin Lyda 83 Nhoung Samoeun 136 Tep Naroth
107. Chom Chet 84 Nhov Simean 137 Thav Kim San
108. Chor Chandara 85 Nong Sarin 138 Theng Meng
109. Choup Veasna 86 Nou Puthyk 139 Thlok Landy
110. Chrea Sreang 87 Oeng Jeudy 140 Thong Kosal
111. Delapree Pascal 88 Om Chhorvath 141 Tieng Chansopheak
112. Ear Nhar 89 On Sakan 142 Tim Sisoda
113. Eng Chhunhan 90 O'Shea Deirdre 143 Tol Sambo
114. Forbes Bill 91 Ouch Chandareth 144 Touch Settha
115. Galabru Kek 92 Ouch Leng 145 Tuy Saran
116. Hai Didardypeng 93 Ounsted Josh 146 Un Thanann
117. Hang Chandara 94 Pal Rotanak 147 Ung Bunthan
118. Heang Sophea 95 Pang Sivutha 148 Ung Somith
119. Heng Bong 96 Path Vannaran 149 Vann Sophath
120. Heng Say Hong 97 Pe Vannak 150 Ven Lonn
121. Hiep Sokly 98 Pean Rothamanith 151 Vong Kosal
122. Hong Eng 99 Phan Rothanak 152 Vong Saroeun
123. Horng Lairapo 100 Pheng Horn 153 Yat Kamsant
124. Hun Seang Hak 101 Pilorge Naly 154 Yim Kawa
125. Hut Sopheak 102 Po Neang 155 Yim Yean
126. Ieng Pich 156 Yin Hakley
127. Im Norin 104 Put Sarothromchang 157 Yun Phally
128. Im Phanna 105 Rann Vannchorn
129. Kann Sopheak 106 Ret Channeav

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