Pring Pov, the Kep policeman who has been unlawfully detained for more than one month by the Ministry of Interior, was sent by police to Monivong Hospital yesterday. The Cambodia Human Rights and Development Organization (ADHOC) and the Cambodian League for Defense and
Promotion of Human Rights (LICADHO) are deeply concerned for his health and once more call for his immediate release.

Pring Pov, a district police officer in Kep municipality, was arrested without court warrant on February 18, 2008, and has subsequently been detained in a cell by the Order Police at a Ministry of Interior compound in Phnom Penh. He has been beaten and kept in handcuffs for at least some of that time, according to credible information received by ADHOC and LICADHO.

Ministry of Interior officials have stated that the policeman is being detained on the orders of
National Police Chief Hok Lundy. They have said that he is being detained for "disciplinary reeducation"
for disobeying orders from his superior in regard to an ongoing land dispute in Kep involving Princess Marie Ranariddh. The provincial court , however, has told human rights investigators that it has received no complaint against Pring Pov and has not charged him with any crime.

“Cambodian law states no one can be detained in custody over 48 hours without being charged , but this man has now been detained for five weeks ”, says ADHOC Investigation Coordinator Ny Chariya. “Regardless of the land dispute and who should be considered the real owner of the land , this man is the victim of a completely unlawful detention and inhumane treatment by Cambodian police."

Yesterday, March 24, Pring Pov was transferred to Monivong hospital for medical reasons, under guard by 10 police officers. While his condition is reportedly stable, he suffers from respiratory problems and has difficulty walking due to his lengthy confinement. Previously, NGO doctors had been systematically denied access to the victim by the Order Police commander.

“His unexpected transfer to hospital after weeks of detention and allegations of torture is very worrying,” says LICADHO Director Naly Pilorge. "This man should be released from police custody immediately so that he receive full and proper medical care."

LICADHO and ADHOC calls for the immediate release of Pring Pov. Furthermore, we call for an independent investigation into his unlawful detention which has now entered its sixth week.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Naly Pilorge, LICADHO Director, 012 803 650
▪ Ny Chariya, ADHOC Investigation Coordinator, 011 274 959

PDF: Download full statement in English - Download full statement in Khmer