The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 21 NGO members, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (CMFREL) and the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC) are very concerned about the ongoing politically motivated intimidations and arrests by using court system as a political tool, while the national elections to be held on 27 July 2008 nearly come.

On 18 March 2008 at around 9 am, Mr. Tuot Sarorn, Tuol Pong Ro Commune Chief, Baray district, Kampong Thom province was arrested by policemen forces led by Baray District Police Inspector nearby Tuol Kreul market of Baray district without an arrest warrant, the police officials affirmed that they arrested based on the arrest warrant of Kampong Thom provincial court. On 19 March 2008, Mr. Tout Sarorn was sent to Kampong Thom provincial police commissariat and to the court. Additionally, three other members of Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) namely; Mr. Thorn Rithy (Deputy Chief of SRP Kampong Thom provincial office), Mr. Men Vannak and Mr. Hour Sarak, have been searched for arrest as well.

The NGO coalitions noted that this case had been used by some politicians in order to gain their political interests. The arrest relating the allegation of illegal detention, the NGO coalitions has received complaints which had been submitted by both parties and then took immediate investigation into the case independently and impartially. For the allegation against Mr. Tuot Sarorn for the detention of Mrs. Tim Norn was not reasonable because the NGO coalitions have found that the trip of Mrs. Tim Norn from Kampong Thom to Phnom Penh by a car of Mr. Tuot Sarorn and accompanied by Mr. Hour Sarath and Mr. Men Vannak. During the trip, Mrs. Tim Norn’s telephone was not withdrawn by the three men and still she was able to communicate with Mr. Sok Pheng.

When Mrs. Tim Norn stayed one night at Mr. Thorn Rithy’s house, 2-night stay at a safety house of LICADHO and some days later at Mr. Sok Pheng’s house, she was warmly given lodging, boarding including medical attention like the normal guess by the houses’ owners without any detention or locking the door in the room or guarded by any armed group. This is to reveal that Mrs. Tim Norn did not lose any of her freedom in communication with her family as well as friends. Therefore, both trip by the car and her stays did not show that she was illegally detained by some body.

The NGO coalitions strongly urge the Royal Government of Cambodia, particularly the competent authority to conduct an investigation neutrally into this arrest and searching of arrest in the name of the government without in favor of any political parties in order to seek justice for the arrested and those are under the search of arrest. The NGOs coalitions also appeal to politicians of any political parties to mutually respect in dignity and have political maturity enabling the upcoming national elections go fairly without political intimidation.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Mr. Ny Chakriya Head of Monitoring Unit of ADHOC Tel: 011 27 49 59
▪ Mr. Sok Sam Oeun Executive Director of CDP Tel: 012 901 199
▪ Mr. Hang Puthea Executive Director of NICFEC Tel: 012 959 666
▪ Mr. Kul Panha Executive Director of COMFREL Tel: 012 942 017

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