LIBRARY

21 February 2007

The lease contract signed by the Municipality of Phnom Penh and Shukaku Inc. on February 6, 2007 is illegal and raises grave concerns for all residents of Phnom Penh, the Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF) and Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) said today.

"This contract, which threatens to displace at least 4252 families, was negotiated in a shroud of secrecy without even the pretense of participation from the tens of thousands of people who will be directly affected," said the Housing Rights Task Force. "If these families are forcibly removed from their homes, following recent precedents by the Municipality and the poor track record of Shukaku's director Lao Meng Khin, this would mark the largest single displacement of people in Cambodia since the privatization of land in 1989."

15 February 2007

LICADHO condemns the decision of the Battambang provincial court this week to convict and sentence five community activists involved in a land dispute in Bavel district.

On February 13, the court convicted the five villagers, including a 78-year-old man, of using violence to infringe against the private property of others. No evidence was presented at the trial that the defendants had in fact used violence against anyone.

"This case is a sad example of how the law is misused to unfairly punish poor villagers who desperately need land, while the interests of rich or powerful people are protected," said LICADHO president Kek Galabru.

29 January 2007

Nearly 500 children are currently detained in Cambodia's prisons. For these children, the prisons they call "home" are overcrowded, unhygienic and lacking in basic facilities. Many are detained with adults, are regularly held in pre-trial detention that exceeds the legal time limit, and many are sentenced to prison time without any regard to their age. They suffer the same poor living conditions, food rations and health provisions as the detained adults and have limited access to education, training and legal representation.

The Securing Children's Rights project is co-funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by LICADHO, Legal Aid of Cambodia (LAC) and DanChurchAid (DCA). The project operates in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Battambang, Siem Reap, Kandal and Kampot provinces. The overall aim of the programme is that children and minors should be properly protected in legal and labour institutions. Children should be protected against dangerous work, e.g. prostitution and unregulated industrial work; they should have access to legal representation and their interests should be protected by government and authorities at all levels.

28 January 2007

On the three-year anniversary of the arrests of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, Cambodian NGOs and trade unions are today launching a continuous public campaign for their release from prison.

"The injustice suffered by these two men has gone on far too long. The courts must set them free, so that they can return to their families and their normal lives," said Thun Saray, President of ADHOC.

Despite extensive evidence of their innocence, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun are serving 20-year prison sentences for the murder of prominent trade unionist Chea Vichea. Many individuals - including former King Norodom Sihanouk, Chea Vichea's family and the main eyewitness to the murder - have declared that they are innocent. The two men have been waiting for 18 months for the Court of Appeal to review their case.

24 January 2007

Over the past few days, Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 23 member NGOs, has learned from a source who wishes to remain anonymous that there have been disturbing developments in the progress of the rules committee and the future of the ECCC - including the possible pull-out of international senior officials should the Internal Rules not meet minimum international standards.

The lack of public information about this potential impasse underscores the need for more transparency in the rules drafting process, including NGO monitoring of committee meetings. At the very least, regular, detailed press briefings are necessary to keep the Cambodian people up-to-date on the cause of the latest delay in the court process. People are losing faith as the delays continue without explanation.

23 January 2007

CHRAC, NGOF, CFI, CLEC, LAC and ILO-ITP express their full support for the reclamation of the indigenous land in Kong Yu and Kong Thom villages, Pateh commune, O'yadao district, Ratanakiri, who today are filing a lawsuit to reclaim land illegally taken from them by H.E. Keat Kolney, sister of Senior Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance Keat Chhon. The NGOs hope that the case of Kong Yu will show that even the most vulnerable members of society are entitled to protection under Cambodian law.

Kong Yu and Kong Thom villages are located in a remote area in Ratanakiri. As with many indigenous groups, these families speak their own language, practice swidden agriculture, and maintain animist beliefs and traditional ceremonies. The surrounding environment and landscape play a critical role in indigenous life. In spring 2004, villagers endured a series of coercive tactics by authorities designed to force them to sell their lands.

28 December 2006

The Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) calls on the Cambodian Government to investigate into the suspicious accident that left a journalist of Radio Free Asia, Mr. Sok Serei, in a very critical health condition. On December 14th, 2006, at around 4:45 pm, Mr. Sok Serei was involved in an accident after picking up his daughter from school. The accident knocked Mr. Serei unconscious when his head hit the road hard.

Police has indicated that they now know the identity of the owner of the vehicle but no formal investigation is underway at this moment. AFEC is deeply concerned that this incident might be a premeditated hit and run crime instead of an accident. It might be due to the work on corruption that Mr. Serei had been exposing in the last months or his works revealing illegal forest concession in Koh Kong. One recent case reported by Serei involves high ranking official in the Ministry of Rural Development. Serei was also reporting on many activities of the civil society that are critical of the government.

22 December 2006

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a Cambodian coalition of 23 NGO members, the Collective for Khmer Rouge Victims (CKRV) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) express their concern about the failure of the plenary session of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) to adopt their Internal Rules. Those Rules are required to start investigating and prosecuting those who bear the greatest responsibility in the Khmer Rouge crimes.

On 25 November 2006, after a one-week session, the national and international judicial officers of the Extraordinary Chambers announced that they did not reach an agreement on the Internal Rules, or even part of them, which would have allowed to start the investigation phase of the proceedings. They acknowledged, however, the importance of such rules, required to start investigations and prosecution.

9 December 2006

Thousands of Cambodians from around the country, including community activists, trade unionists, students and NGO workers, will gather at Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium on Sunday (December 10) to commemorate International Human Rights Day.

Jointly organized by more than 70 organizations under the theme "We Are All Human Rights Defenders", the day-long event aims to acknowledge and promote the valuable roles that Cambodians from all walks of life play in protecting human rights. It will celebrate the achievements made in human rights in Cambodia, but also focus on critical issues still facing the country's citizens - including the theft and exploitation of land and natural resources; restrictions to the freedoms of expression, association and assembly; and violations of labor rights.

8 December 2006

The occasion of International Human Rights Day, December 10th, 2006
is the 58th anniversary of the universal declaration on Human Rights that was passed on December 10th, 1948. The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 23 NGO members, extends its appreciation for the efforts of the Royal government for making a number of progresses for the respects for human rights. However, we have noticed a great deal of impediments in the application of principles of human rights, democracy and policy for reduction of poverty such as:

I. Land Issues: The Action Committee noted that land disputes which lead to human rights violation remain as a critical issue and as one of the reasons that affect seriously the livelihood of people such as right to life, right to appropriate shelter, and right to adequate food etc. The eviction of people from their households so as to claim land for powerful, private company and businesspersons without appropriate compensation for people made people become poor, in addition, they have lost their job or occupation in making income generation.

21 November 2006

Domestic violence in Cambodia is an insidious problem that physically, mentally and emotionally scars its victims. Cambodian society holds many moral and traditional cultural codes that enforce the belief that women should keep their family problems private. As a consequence, Cambodian women suffering from domestic violence will normally not discuss their problems with outside parties, believing that problems within the marriage should stay private.

The endemic problem of domestic violence in Cambodia will be the focus of the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence 2006. The campaign will be launched at a press conference organized by the Cambodian Committee of Women (CAMBOW). The press conference will be held at the offices of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), on Friday, 24 November 2006, at 10:00am.

23 October 2006

On the 1000-day anniversary of the arrests of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, LICADHO urges the Court of Appeal to promptly consider the two men's case and to release them.

Today, October 23, is the 1000th day that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun have spent in custody since their arrests on January 28, 2004 for allegedly killing prominent trade unionist Chea Vichea. They are currently serving 20-year prison sentences for the murder, despite extensive evidence of their innocence. Many individuals - including former King Norodom Sihanouk, Chea Vichea's family and the prime witness to the murder - have declared that they are innocent.

23 October 2006

The Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) is deeply concerned about forceful removal of the General Manager Noranarith Anandayath and other staff of the radio station Ta Prohm FM 90.5 on October 19, 2006.

Noranarith Anandayath was formerly the Cabinet chief of Prince Norodom Ranariddh who had been ousted as Funcinpec President at an extraordinary party congress on Wednesday, October 18, which was staged by Funcinpec's Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chay in a coup-like manner. Already on Tuesday at 2:30pm, four armed body guards of Nhiek Bun Chay had taken control of the office of the radio station in Phnom Penh.

17 October 2006

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 23 NGO members, strongly condemns the armed forces for cracking down on a peaceful strike made by garment factory workers while they were asserting their rights for better working conditions at Bright Sky Garment Factory, located along Veng Sreng Street, Dangkor District, Phnom Penh on October 16, 2006 at around 8.30pm.

At the scene, the armed forces violently cracked down on the strike, during which serious abdominal firearm injuries were sustained by a female employee from the factory named Muth Ravy, 24, while she was walking into Rainbow Factory, close to Bright Sky factory. Due to further action by the armed forces, two other workers named Neang Sovannaroth, 21 and his wife Nget Bora, 20, were physically beaten and arrested and brought to the Police station at Dangkor District Office.

12 October 2006

The Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) demands for abolishing Article 62 of the UNTAC law on criminal disinformation. The network of 28 Cambodian civil society organizations holds that this legal provision contradicts the Cambodian Constitution and the international human rights law by imposing unjustifiable restrictions to the human right to Freedom of Expression. In the view of AFEC, there are other and much more adequate legal ways how to protect public peace than a law against disinformation. The AFEC is convinced that the mere publication of false statement of facts should not be criminalized at all.

In an open society there are many mechanisms that finally lead to the revelation of truth. The recent cases where high-ranking government officials brought criminal disinformation complaints against two journalists, a dismissed university teacher and three people who distributed a leaflet are demonstrating how Article 62 can be abused for silencing criticism. The fact that some of these persons are still arrested is a gross violation of Freedom of Expression.

4 October 2006

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) a coalition of 21 NGO members, petitions the Appeal Court to release Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun in their upcoming Appeal Court hearing on October 6, 2006.

CHRAC has made investigations into the Chea Vichea assassination, which occurred on January 22, 2004 and continues to believe that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun have nothing to do with the assassination. CHRAC considers the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's verdict to have been politically motivated. Furthermore, its appears that the police investigation into the assassination involved several now disgraced police officers, some who have now been arrested for criminal activity.

18 September 2006

The deteriorating human rights situation in Cambodia demands firmer action from the United Nations and the country's biggest foreign donors, according to three rights NGOs.

The Cambodian government's failure to meet its human rights obligations is highlighted by the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), in a submission to the highest UN rights body, the Human Rights Council. The Council is holding its second session in Geneva from 18 September till 6 October, 2006.

"Impunity and corruption continue to be rampant, thousands of poor Cambodians are losing their homes to land-grabbing, and free speech has deteriorated to the extent that Members of Parliament can face criminal charges for expressing their opinions," said Kek Galabru, President of LICADHO. "The human rights situation just seems to go from bad to worse."

5 September 2006

Two of the villagers, Mr. Chhen Sovan, and Mr. Chan Ra, were arrested during the eviction of the residents of Sambok Chab, Sangkat Tonle Bassac, on June 6, by hundreds of armed policemen. The third person, Mr. Hem Chhun, who worked as a reporter for the newspaper Samrek Yuthetor, was arrested on July 7 close to the site in Dangkao District of Phnom Penh where the villagers were relocated. The three persons have been accused by the Phnom Penh authorities of having incited a riot at Sambok Chab Village on May 30 that lead to the destruction of private and public property. The authorities have accused the journalist of being the "mastermind" behind this violent event.

The AFEC rejects violence as a means of expressing opinions. However, the alliance points out that the riot was a spontaneous act by about 100 desperate villagers facing eviction and the destruction of their homes. The event took place after the dismantling of some of their houses had started and a girl had been wounded by falling debris. There is little indication of any kind of an organized plan or premeditation on the part of the villagers who participated in the riot.

4 August 2006

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 21 NGO members, regrets the decision made by Kandal Provincial Court to charge and detain three garment factory workers; Lach Sambo, Sal Kimsan and Yin Khun who have been working for Genuine garment factory since 4 July 2006.

From 23 to 29 June 2006, 1000 workers at the Genuine garment factory, located in Kantok commune, Angsnuol district, Kandal province, held a strike to demand for the factory boss to withdraw complaints and allow to return union leader Lach Sambo and other two workers; Sal Kimsan and Yin Khun. All three were terminated by the boss in relation to a non-existent criminal case.

2 August 2006

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 21 NGO members, calls for the prompt release from prison of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, who were one year ago yesterday convicted -- despite a severe lack of evidence -- of murdering trade unionist Chea Vichea.

On August 1, 2005, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of murder and sentenced to 20 years. CHRAC continues to believe that the trial verdict was grossly unfair due to the lack of forensic evidence presented against the men. CHRAC also notes that numerous organizations and individuals, including Former King Norodom Sihanouk as well as the family of Chea Vichea, have publicly declared the innocence of Born Samnang and Sok SamOeun.