LIBRARY

21 June 2022

Recently elected Candlelight commune chief Nhem Sarom was arrested this afternoon and detained in Kampong Thom province for an alleged robbery committed twenty years ago. He is one of four opposition party commune chiefs nationwide who were elected in Cambodia’s commune elections earlier this month.

The alleged robbery occurred in 2002 and Sarom was charged five years later in 2007 under Article 6 of the Law on Aggravating Circumstances of Crimes. An arrest warrant was later issued in 2012. Sarom was convicted in absentia in 2014 alongside three others for allegedly stealing a generator and sentenced to 5 years in prison. The plaintiff had withdrawn her complaint prior to the conviction.

Sarom was elected less than a month ago to become the chief of the Chamna Leu commune council in Stung district, Kampong Thom province and was set to take the position following certification of the election results on 26 June. He previously served as a commune councillor in that commune in 2017 with the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) prior to the party’s dissolution, after which his seat was handed to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

3 June 2022

Cambodia’s 2022 Commune Elections on 5 June are held to select commune councilors across the country's 1,652 communes. The vote is taking place amidst a yearslong crackdown on political freedoms and civil society. Join us to follow key human rights updates and events as they happen.

3 June 2017

On 4 June, Cambodia is going to the polls. After two weeks of election campaigning, twelve political parties are competing for council seats in 1,646 communes across the country. Join us to follow the key events of the 2017 commune elections.

5 March 2017

We, the undersigned international and Cambodian civil society organizations, strongly condemn the brazen attacks carried out against Cambodian human rights defenders over recent weeks, in what appears to be a deliberate strategy by the Cambodian authorities to punish and deter any expression of dissent ahead of the upcoming commune and national elections, scheduled for June 2017 and July 2018 respectively.

25 November 2016

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are outraged by actions taken by authorities to disrupt, prevent and halt voter registration education and dissemination activities undertaken by youth volunteers in Phnom Penh and the provinces during Water Festival, an annual Cambodian celebration (13, 14, 15 November 2016). Over 60 youth volunteers, including from PEP-Center, YRDP, KYSD, NICFEC, CPWP and SEPY, faced numerous challenges during the three days’ activities.

18 August 2016

We, the undersigned international, regional, and Cambodian non-governmental organizations, urge your delegation to support the adoption of a resolution addressing Cambodia's gravely deteriorating human rights situation at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council.

This resolution should highlight and condemn the ongoing and systematic human rights violations in the country and impunity for their perpetrators; build on the concerns expressed by a number of States at the Council's 32nd session; and urge the Cambodian Government to urgently take corrective action to preserve the legacy of the Paris Peace Agreements, ahead of their 25th anniversary and of key municipal and general elections.

27 October 2015

ADHOC, CCHR, CCIM, CLEC, STT and LICADHO strongly condemn yesterday’s violence outside the National Assembly and at the gate of an opposition leader that left two opposition CNRP MPs injured and bloodied, and call for an immediate independent and transparent investigation into the orchestrated violence. We further express deep concerns over the lack of police action to control a related gathering in front of Kem Sokha’s house, which was surrounded this afternoon by several hundred individuals, some of who threw rocks at the front gates while others were heard calling for even further violence.

24 February 2015

The trial of 11 Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) members and supporters was due to be held yesterday at 8 am at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Last Thursday, and at very short notice, lawyers for the 11 were informed that the hearing had been postponed. All have been charged with offences they are alleged to have committed during violence which took place at Freedom Park on July 15, 2014. This is the third time there has been a delay in hearing the criminal case against them. Five of the 11 - Meach Sovannara, Sum Puthy, Tep Narin, Ouk Pich Samnang, and Ke Khim - are among the group of ‘Free the 19’ detainees currently imprisoned in Prey Sar’s Correctional Center 1 and Correctional Center 2 .

14 January 2015

This morning, three alleged members of the Khmer People’s Power Movement (KPPM), Serei Bunlong, Seng Sokmeng and Um Phirun, were convicted of offenses stemming from their activities shortly before the July 2013 National Election. Bunlong and Sokmeng were sentenced to six years in prison and fined $1,250 while Phirun was sentenced to 5 years in prison and received the same fine. All three have had their right to vote rescinded indefinitely.

The three were arrested and detained in Banteay Meanchey Province a month before the July 2013 National Election, following the distribution of watches, radios, DVDs, and t-shirts bearing the KPPM logo and calling for people not to vote in unfair elections. They have been convicted under Criminal Law Article 453 that criminalizes plotting an attack liable to endanger the institutions of the Kingdom of Cambodia or violate the integrity of the national territory, and Law on Election of Members of the National Assembly’s Article 124 that criminalizes the use of force or violence to deter eligible voters from voting.

The KPPM is led by Sourn Serey Ratha, who was also convicted today in absentia. Serey Ratha is a controversial figure in Cambodia who has been labeled a terrorist by the government. This accusation has been used to groundlessly arrest and convict - without evidence and often on the basis of demonstrably false comments made by Ratha - critics of the government, such as radio owner Mam Sonando.

22 December 2014

Eleven officials and supporters of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) have recently been summonsed to appear for trial at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on December 25, 2014, to answer charges of either leading or participating in an “insurrectionary movement.” LICADHO strongly condemns the continued criminal proceedings on these politically motivated allegations and takes this opportunity to release a detailed timeline of events since July 15, 2014, showing the course of criminal proceedings against opposition party members and supporters alongside political negotiations between the ruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) and the opposition CNRP.

22 December 2014

The violence that erupted at Freedom Park on July 15, 2014, led to a series of politically orchestrated events at the hand of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). The arrests of various officials from the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), including elected Members of Parliament (MPs), alongside ongoing political negotiations offers clear evidence that the judiciary is firmly within the hands of the CPP, once again raising serious concerns about the legitimacy and independence of Cambodia’s legal system.

22 August 2014

At 9.30am this morning, the three CNRP youth leaders arrested and imprisoned at CC1 on August 2 were released on bail for a total deposit amount of $1,000. Khin Chamreun, San Kimheng and Neang Sokhun will be granted provisional release under judicial supervision. Lawyers are processing court papers to release them this evening.

Chamreun was originally named in the court documents filed by case prosecutor Keo Socheat on July 16 in which he was formally accused, along with the other eight CNRP officials, of inciting and instigating violence, and leading an insurrectional movement. Kimheng and Sokhun are accused of acts of violence, obstructing public officials and taking part in an insurrectional movement.

An additional summons is still standing for five other CNRP members who are scheduled to appear for questioning before Phnom Penh Municipal Court in the coming weeks.

7 August 2014

We, the undersigned organizations, condemn the flagrant abuse of the Cambodian legal system and the trumped up charges that have been used to manipulate the outcome of political negotiations between the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), following the latest arrests of three CNRP youth members, and urges all charges to be dropped.

7 August 2014

On the morning of August 7, 2014, Investigating Judge Keo Mony decided to refuse a bail request regarding the three CNRP Youth Leaders detained at CC1 in Prey Sar Prison.

The three CNRP youth leaders, Khin Chamreun, San Kimheng, Neang Sokhun were all arrested on Saturday August 2, 2014. Their arrests occurred while constitutional amendments were being debated upon by both parties, during which time the eight released CNRP officials, as well as CNRP Vice-President Kem Sokha, have been summonsed for further questioning on August 8-13.

2 August 2014

Shortly after noon today, police arrested two additional CNRP youth members in Phnom Penh: Tuol Kork district youth leader San Kimheng and Chbar Ampov district youth member Neang Sokhun. This follows the arrest of CNRP Phnom Penh youth leader Khin Chamreun earlier this morning. Chamreun was transferred from Phnom Penh Municipal Police Station to Phnom Penh Municipal Court before finally being detained at Prey Sar's CC1 prison at 12.10pm.

These arrests are taking place at a time of ongoing negotiation over constitutional amendments between the CPP and CNRP. The negotiations follow the parties’ agreement of July 22 which secured the release of eight CNRP activists who were detained at the time and aimed to bring to an end the year-long political deadlock between the parties.

2 August 2014

At 7.30am this morning, Khin Chamreun the Chief of Phnom Penh CNRP Youths was arrested at a restaurant in Takhmao town, south of Phnom Penh, and transported to Phnom Penh Municipal Police Station. Chamreun was formally accused alongside the other eight CNRP officials who were detained for one week at CC1 and CC2 prisons over the violence at Freedom Park on July 15th.

The arrest of Chamreun comes at a sensitive time as the CNRP continue to negotiate over constitutional amendments with the CPP. Additionally, the other eight CNRP officials who were released as part of a political deal on July 22 are still facing charges. The eight officials have been summonsed along with CNRP Vice-President Kem Sokha by investigating judge Keo Mony, to appear for questioning at Phnom Penh Municipal Court in the coming weeks.

22 July 2014

All eight members from the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) were released today at around 4.45pm following their detainment at Prey Sar Prison (CC1 and CC2) over the violence that occurred at Freedom Park on July 15.

The provisional release comes shortly after the CNRP agreed to take up its seats in the National Assembly, following a summit meeting at the Senate between leading members of the CNRP and Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). Party officials met to discuss reforms regarding a National Electoral Commission (NEC), election dates, and National Assembly.

Around 350 supporters gathered at Prey Sar Prison as CNRP Members of Parliament-elect (MPs), Real Camerin, Keo Phirum, Nuth Rumduol, Long Ry, Mu Sochua, Men Sothavarin and Ho Vann were all released, along with CNRP grassroots activist Ouern Narith.

18 July 2014

Tomorrow morning at 9 am, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) President, Sam Rainsy is scheduled to arrive at Phnom Penh airport after a short trip to France. During the last week, seven CNRP MPs elect and one grassroots activist have been charged with a number of offences and sent to pre-trial detention following violent clashes between district security guards and CNRP supporters that took place at Freedom Park on July 15. The CNRP has asked its supporters to attend the airport to meet the party President. Follow LICADHO’s Livestream as events unfold.

18 July 2014

The Cambodian government must release all seven Members of Parliament (MPs) and one official of Cambodia’s main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), and immediately lift the ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people, FIDH and its member organizations the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) said today.

17 July 2014

We the undersigned civil society groups condemn the unfounded charges against seven Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) MPs-elect and one CNRP grassroots leader. We call for their immediate and unconditional release and for all charges to be dropped.

All eight were arrested in connection with the violence of July 15 in Freedom Park and charged under Cambodia’s Criminal Code articles 28 and 218 (instigating aggravated, intentional violence), 495 (inciting others to commit a felony) and 459 (leading an insurrectional movement). The latter charge carries a sentence of up to 30 years’ imprisonment.