LIBRARY

1 May 2024

Federations, unions, workers and civil society groups across Phnom Penh celebrated International Labour Day on Wednesday.

Events were held outside the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, near Wat Phnom and the National Assembly in Phnom Penh.

Union leaders and workers spoke about the progress they have made in the labour movement but warned against the criminalisation of unions, persecution of labour activists, and the recent regression in the workers' rights, their right to advocate for their peers and fair wages and work conditions.

1 May 2024

We stand strong with workers in Cambodia and across the world, and join them in the fight for better working conditions, fair contracts and wages, and respect and dignity for all kinds of labour.

To mark International Labour Day 2024, LICADHO, partner civil society groups and unions are releasing a video to highlight the achievement and challenges faced by the workers’ rights movement in Cambodia, and to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of labour activists and unionists, such as Chea Vichea.

We stand together with Cambodian unions in the ongoing fight for justice and labour rights.

7 April 2024

Koet Saray, President of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), was today sent to pre-trial detention at Correctional Centre 1 prison by an investigating judge at the at Phnom Penh Capital Court following charges of “committing a misdemeanour after sentencing for a misdemeanour” and “incitement to commit a felony” under Articles 88, 494, and 495 of the Criminal Code. The charges relate to ongoing land conflicts in Preah Vihear province.

On 6 April at around 3:30pm, police officers confirmed that Saray had been transported to the Phnom Penh Capital Court from the Phnom Penh Police Commissariat, where he had been held overnight following his arrest on 5 April at around 4:00pm by approximately 10 mixed uniformed and plainclothes police officers outside of KSILA’s office in Phnom Penh. Saray’s arrest followed an order issued by the Office of the Prosecutor at Phnom Penh Capital Court on 5 April to bring Saray to Phnom Penh Capital Police for questioning on “incitement to cause serious chaos to social security”.

One monk and around a dozen individuals from various youth groups and civil society organisations had been present at the Phnom Penh Police Commissariat on 6 April to monitor the situation. A few plainclothes police officers had also been deployed nearby, where they took photographs and videos and prevented human rights defenders from bringing food to Saray.

12 March 2024

We, the undersigned, are disappointed by the actions of the Sangkat Nirouth Police Station in Khan Chbar Ampov, Phnom Penh, which ordered the owner of Champei Garden Restaurant to stop displaying photographs that were part of an exhibition by Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT). The authorities provided no reason or justification for their actions.

The topic of the photo exhibition was Housing and Life , and it had opened on 25 February 2024. It aimed to highlight the ongoing concerns and challenges facing Cambodia’s urban poor communities, with the purpose of finding solutions.

8 March 2024

Around 2,000 people gathered across Phnom Penh and multiple provinces including Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Kampong Speu, Kampot, Koh Kong, Kratie, Preah Vihear, Pursat, Svay Rieng, Stung Treng, and Tbong Khmum to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024. Between 3 March and 8 March, land and Indigenous community members, labour rights activists, youths, children, local authorities, INGOs and local NGOs joined events to give speeches, march together, join discussion forums, sing songs, and share solidarity meals.

27 February 2024

Samrong Tbong Community members this morning reported injuries stemming from an altercation with authorities over the filling-in of the Boeung Tamok lake area in Phnom Penh. The lake has been parcelled off by the state and given away to politically connected institutions and individuals over the past several years.

Members of Samrong Tbong Community gathered at the area yesterday and this morning to protest the state’s excavation of the community’s land. Community members are facing legal complaints in at least four cases that have been opened since 2022 due to their land activism.

27 February 2024

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court this morning upheld a lower court verdict finding Candlelight Vice President Thach Setha guilty of incitement, which imposed the maximum sentence of three years in prison as well as a fine of 4 million riel (about US$1,000). Setha was convicted on the basis of a speech he gave to supporters of the former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) during a visit to South Korea on 8 January 2023.

Setha was convicted by the Phnom Penh Capital Court on 18 October 2023 of incitement to commit a felony and incitement to discriminate under Articles 494, 495 and 496 of the Criminal Code. This is the second instance in which convictions against Setha were upheld by the Appeal Court in recent months. In January 2024, the Phnom Penh Appeal Court upheld the finding of guilt on a different charge of irregular financial payments, as well as the sentence of 18 months in prison plus fines and compensation. Setha has been in detention for 407 days, since his arrest in January 2023 regarding the charge of irregular financial payments.

22 February 2024

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court this morning upheld the 2021 decision of the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court convicting three Lor Peang Community members of “obstruction of public official” and “intentionally causing damage” as part of a long-running land conflict. The three community members are Nhem Nhuen (also known as Snguon Nhuen), Reach Seima and Pul Sorn.

Lor Peang Community has resisted community members’ land being encroached by KDC International, a company owned by Chea Kheng, the wife of former Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem. The charges stem from an incident in 2013, when KDC International began establishing borders over the disputed land in Kampong Chhnang province. Members of Lor Peang Community arrived at the site to protest, during which a temporary security guard hut was destroyed.

Almost eight years later, the provincial court convicted the three Lor Peang Community members under Articles 503 and 410 of the Criminal Code. All received suspended sentences of 2 years and 6 months and were ordered to pay compensation of 2.8 million riel (approximately US$700), a decision that was today upheld by the Appeal Court.

16 February 2024

The Tbong Khmum Appeal Court yesterday suspended a two-year prison sentence given to four Srae Prang Community members, who were accused of intentional damage for blocking a private company from clearing their land.

The four community members are part of group of nine defendants who are alleged to have blocked machinery belonging to Harmony Win Investment Co. Ltd. from clearing their land in 2017 and 2020. They were convicted of intentional damage and sentenced to two years in prison in 2021 by a provincial court. The Tbong Khmum Appeal Court upheld the verdict in 2022, but the Supreme Court sent the case back to the appeal court in August 2023.

On Thursday 15 February 2024, the appeal court upheld the sentences of the four community members and suspended their two-year prison sentences. The community members are Chhork Chhey, Khem Sokcheang, Pum Pich and Veun Ver.

15 February 2024

The Battambang Appeal Court today upheld the three-year prison sentence of social activist Kong Saron, who was arrested in July 2023 for political opinions he expressed during a Facebook livestream.

Saron was first taken into custody on 2 July 2023 for comments he published in a video on Facebook during the 2023 National Election campaign period. Saron was released shortly after issuing an apology. However, he was convicted by the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court on 22 November for incitement to commit a felony, public insult and insulting the king and sentenced to three years. He was arrested on 25 November and imprisoned.

The Battambang Appeal Court upheld Saron’s conviction on Thursday, and he will remain in prison to serve his sentence pending his last appeal.

7 February 2024

On 7 February 2024, provincial courts convicted two well-known activists in separate cases, continuing the trend of judicial harassment against human rights advocates in Cambodia.

The Ratanakiri Provincial Court earlier today announced its verdict convicting environmental activist Chhorn Phalla of defamation, insult and incitement to commit a felony under Articles 305, 502 and 495 of the Cambodian Criminal Code. The court sentenced Phalla to one year in prison and imposed a 10 million riel (around US$2,500) fine.

Phalla is an outspoken environmental activist who has been repeatedly prosecuted for his advocacy for the protection of natural resources and monitoring of deforestation. Phalla had been imprisoned since September 2021 for criminal charges arising from two other separate cases. Both cases were also based on his activism. Phalla was finally released from prison in October 2023 after his convictions in the other two cases were overturned, only to be again convicted today.

16 January 2024

The acting head of Candlelight Party’s Phnom Penh operations was arrested on Monday and sent to court today after being accused of allegedly forging election-related documents by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Khem Chanvannak was arrested by police on Monday while at his home with his family and held by police overnight. The municipal police released a statement on Tuesday saying he was being questioned for allegedly forging election documents on November 7, 2023.

Three plaintiffs allege that Chanvannak forged documents, thumbprints and signatures to add their names to Daun Penh district’s Phsar Thmei 3 commune candidate list without their consent. Political parties are expected to keep their candidate lists complete and can update them during the five years of a mandate.

15 January 2024

Hundreds of Siem Reap residents marched to the provincial hall this morning to submit a petition asking for intervention from the national government and UNESCO to stop newly enforced restrictions on buildings and repairs implemented by the APSARA Authority, the government agency which oversees the Angkor Archaeological Park.

Around 500 people from Puok district’s Khnat commune and Siem Reap city’s Tuek Vil commune marched with banners to Siem Reap Provincial Hall to submit a petition asking Prime Minister Hun Manet, former Prime Minister Hun Sen, and the United Nations agency UNESCO to stop APSARA from causing fear and preventing any new construction or renovations in Khnat commune, which the petition says is very far from the Angkor structure.

The residents were temporarily blocked by around 20 military police and Puok district governor Sin Chanthol, who wanted only 4 to 5 people to submit the petition, but villagers refused and continued their march to the provincial hall, reaching the hall’s main entrance with their banners. One of the banners held by a community member said, “We must not allow the Apsara Authority to continue to oppress our community.”

7 January 2024

Around 12 youth and environmental activists and a foreign national were taken into custody and questioned for several hours by local Phnom Penh and immigration authorities after peacefully advocating for the preservation of a coastal island in Koh Kong province.

The activists were exercising, holding banners and taking photographs on Phnom Penh riverside this morning while being monitored by non-uniformed security personnel. As they were leaving the area, Daun Penh district security guards forced them onto a truck and took them to the district office for questioning.

6 January 2024

Outspoken social commentator Ny Nak was sent to pre-trial detention by a Phnom Penh court this morning after being questioned on charges of incitement to discriminate and defamation on Friday.

Nak claimed the charges were filed due to a Facebook post in which he questioned the government’s decision to give away 91 hectares of land in Kampot province to an individual named Heng Sour. A local newspaper identified the land recipient as the current Minister of Labour Heng Sour, but that was later denied by the government. Nak is being held at Phnom Penh’s Correctional Center 1.

Nak said his arrest was due to a complaint filed by Sour over at least one of Nak’s social media posts, made on 17 December 2023, which asked, “What achievements has Heng Sour done for the Khmer nation, that the government gave him forest land as his personal property? RIP Khmer forests.”

3 January 2024

Around 100 people gathered at Solidarity House in Phnom Penh this afternoon to mark 10 years since the fatal violence that took place at the capital’s Veng Sreng Boulevard, when mixed government forces opened fire on striking workers, killing at least four and wounding 38. Khem Sophath, a child at the time, was shot and remains missing to this day.

The remembrance was attended by union, association and NGO leaders and members, and began with prayers by monks. Vorn Pao, president of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), who was beaten and arrested in 2014 while observing a strike in front of the Yak Jin factory the day before the shootings, spoke at the event.

“The second of January was a tragic day… Before the police arrested us, they did not tell us about the charges and we could not meet with a lawyer. We were protesting for increasing the salary for the worker,” Pao said.

19 October 2023

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court today upheld the convictions of eight current and former unionists from the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU).

Nine activists, including union President Chhim Sithar, were convicted of incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in May 2023. Eight of the activists appealed the verdict. They included Sithar, who received the maximum sentence of two years in prison; Chhim Sokhorn, Hay Sopheap, Kleang Soben, Sun Srey Pich and Touch Sereymeas, who were sentenced to 18 months in prison; and Sok Narith and Ry Sovandy, who received one-year suspended sentences.

The Appeal Court trial started this morning. The court announced its verdict upholding the lower court’s judgment in full this afternoon after deliberating for 30 minutes. Sok Kongkea, who was also convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and received a suspended sentence, did not appeal the lower court’s verdict.

18 October 2023

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court today announced its guilty verdict for Thach Setha, Vice-President of the opposition Candlelight Party, on charges of incitement to commit a felony and incitement to discriminate. Setha was convicted for a speech that he made to supporters of the former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) early this year.

The court found Setha guilty under Articles 494, 495 and 496 of the Criminal Code, and imposed the maximum prison sentence of three years as well as a fine of 4 million riel (about US$1,000).

The charges were in relation to a speech that Setha gave on 8 January 2023 during a visit to South Korea. The speech criticised the celebration of 7 January, an official holiday marking the toppling of the Khmer Rouge regime, and which the opposition often critically refers to when speaking of the Vietnamese government’s presence in Cambodia throughout the 1980s. Setha also referred to connections between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Khmer Rouge. Setha’s speech was videotaped and posted on YouTube by an unknown source. Setha was subsequently ordered to be held in pre-trial detention.

10 October 2023

We are the undersigned association, unions, civil society organization, active youths, are deeply concern after receiving information about Angkor Plywood Co. Ltd's request for a five-year extension of timber exports from 2022 to 2026. Based on reported by RFA, on July 7, 2023, titled “Angkor Plywood Company Continues to Export Rare Timber for Sale Abroad,” the Office of the Council of Ministers granted permission to postpone the export of timber until the end of 2023 in response to the company's request to export timber for five years.

To maintain sustainable natural resources in Cambodia, we, as associations, NGOs, unions, local communities, and youth groups, call on the Cambodian government to take serious action. Specifically, we urge the authorities to revoke Angkor Plywood Co. Ltd's timber export license and investigate their illegal export of rare timber species abroad. Such actions are in violation of Cambodian law and pose a significant threat to the country's valuable natural resources.

5 October 2023

More than 100 people from unions and organisations including the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) today gathered at Freedom Park in Phnom Penh to celebrate World Teachers’ Day. The event was monitored by around 20 uniformed and plainclothes authorities, who prevented participants from marching. Participants instead remained at Freedom Park, and a representative from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport received their petition.

Many attendees held banners calling for the elimination of corruption in Cambodia’s education system, freedom of association for teachers, and an increase of teachers’ salaries and benefits. Other signs called for the release of prisoners such as the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU) President Chhim Sithar and prominent activist Seng Theary.

Participants included representatives from CITA, LRSU, the Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC) and other activists. Eight speakers delivered speeches including Ouk Chhayavy, President of CITA; Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU) and Vice-President of the Candlelight Party; Long Rim, CITA board member; Ath Thun, President of CLC; Mom Sovandin, LRSU member; Thon Chantha, Candlelight Party youth leader; Heng Choeurn, President of the Cambodian Agricultural Workers Federation (CAWF) and CLC member; and political activist Prum Chantha.