LIBRARY

5 September 2016

Six land activists detained in Dangkor district police station since yesterday were finally released this afternoon as groups marked the 18th week of the Black Monday campaign.

The six women – who include a 76-year old injured during their arrest – were held overnight in the police station following their arrest yesterday during a peaceful gathering to call for the release of incarcerated human rights defenders, including Boeung Kak Lake community representative Tep Vanny who was arrested during a Black Monday event on 15 August.

Earlier this morning, police and para-police shut down a separate Black Monday event held by Borei Keila community, ripping down and burning Black Monday posters and signs.

4 September 2016

Six women from Phnom Penh land communities and four balloon sellers are currently being held in Dangkor district police station after their arrest this morning during a gathering outside Prey Sar’s CC2 prison.

About 100 people from land communities and other groups had gathered outside the prison this morning to call for the release of detained human rights defenders, including Boeung Kak Lake community representative Tep Vanny. As the group attempted to gather outside CC2’s gate, police and para-police confiscated balloons. They arrested the ten people - Yeay Mamy from Boeung Kak Lake community; Phoung Sopheap, Meas Sreypao, Sok Raksmey, Kiev Sary and Cheav Sreynich from Thmor Kol community; and balloon seller Seng Thy along with his son, Theoun Phanha, and nephews Poa Vichea and Chum Sobinkeo - before taking them to the police station.

Tep Vanny has been incarcerated in CC2 prison since 17 August. She had been arrested during a Black Monday gathering two days prior, swiftly tried and convicted of ‘insulting a public official’ within a week. She remains in pre-trial detention facing charges of intentional violence relating to a protest in March 2013, as well as further charges of obstructing and insulting a public official relating to protests in 2011. These old cases were reactivated just last week.

22 August 2016

This morning, Boeung Kak Lake activists Tep Vanny and Bov Sophea were convicted of ‘insulting a public official’ relating to a peaceful Black Monday protest last week and sentenced to six days’ imprisonment. Tep Vanny, facing pre-trial detention under charges of intentional violence which were brought last week relating to a 2013 protest, will be returned to Prey Sar’s CC2 prison. Bov Sophea should be released later today.

After just 18 minutes of deliberation, following a ninety-minute trial, the trial judge Pech Vicheator unexpectedly altered their charge to ‘insult of a public official’ (Criminal Code Article 502) – announcing the change during the delivery of his verdict – and sentenced Tep Vanny and Bov Sophea to the maximum six days’ imprisonment. After presenting a defense against the original incitement offences, lawyers were given no opportunity to defend against the altered insult charges, in a violation of the rights for adequate time and resources to prepare a defense.

On Friday, Tep Vanny was brought from provisional detention in CC2 prison to Phnom Penh Municipal Court for interview in relation to a protest outside Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house in 2013 and subsequently charged with intentional violence. The protest in question ended in one of the most violent crackdowns against the community, leaving five citizens injured, including some with broken bones.

19 August 2016

This afternoon activist Tep Vanny, whose trial under incitement charges began two days ago, was brought to Phnom Penh Municipal Court for interview in relation to a protest outside Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house in 2013.

Pro-government media outlet Freshnews, referring to Tep Vanny with the politically-loaded label ‘colour revolutionary’, reported that the questioning related to a different case of international violence with aggravating circumstances. She was questioned by Judge Nou Veasna, who was one of the trial judges in last year’s CNRP ‘insurrection’ case, without the presence of her lawyers.

Tep Vanny was arrested on Monday alongside fellow land activist Bov Sophea during a gathering in their community in support of the Black Monday campaign in an apparently targeted arrest. The pair were charged and sent to immediate trial on Wednesday, which was then suspended until Monday 22 August. The two women have been in Prey Sar’s CC2 prison since then.

18 August 2016

We, the undersigned civil society groups, demand the immediate release of two Boeung Kak Lake activists – Ms. Tep Vanny and Ms. Bov Sophea – who were charged and sent to provisional detention in Prey Sar’s CC2 prison on 17 August 2016, in relation to their involvement in the “Black Monday” campaign. We also call on authorities to drop the spurious incitement charges against them, and allow for peaceful assemblies, such as those in support of the Black Monday campaign, as protected under Cambodian and international law.

17 August 2016

Two Boeung Kak Lake activists are currently being tried under incitement charges following their arrest on Monday evening during a peaceful demonstration in their community to mark the 15th week of the “Black Monday” campaign.

Tep Vanny and Bov Sophea, both long-time activists from Boueng Kak Lake community, spent two nights detained in Daun Penh police station after para-police broke up Monday evening’s peaceful event, held by the community to call for the release of five imprisoned human rights defenders and for justice for the recent murder of political analyst and Black Monday supporter Kem Ley. They were charged by prosecutor Keo Socheat with incitement under Article 495 of Cambodia’s Criminal Code this afternoon, after a day of interrogation at Phnom Penh’s Municipal Court, and immediately sent to trial.

The charges represent a major escalation in police response to peaceful Black Monday protests. Altogether, such protests have resulted in at least 36 arrests since they began in May. Today is the first time Black Monday protesters have been charged.

4 August 2016

Today 74 representatives of communities in Chi Kha Leu commune, Sre Ambel district, Koh Kong submitted five petitions at government, parliamentary and diplomatic offices in Phnom Penh calling for a resolution to their decade-old land conflict.

The protest is the latest in a series of actions by the communities protesting against land grabbing by sugar producers in Sre Ambel district. The dispute began in 2006 following the establishment of sugar Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) in Koh Kong.

The peaceful protest saw representatives carrying banners and flags deliver petitions to the Ministry of Land Management, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Commerce. Other petitions were delivered to the embassy of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia and the National Assembly.

3 August 2016

This morning, over 200 people from 18 communities engaged in land disputes in Sihanoukville province assembled outside the Sihanoukville governor’s office.

The group requested a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen, in the hopes that he might intervene and bring an end to their land conflict. The Prime Minister has been on a travel schedule visiting several provinces in the last few weeks.

17 community representatives and an ADHOC staffer have met with deputy governor Chhit Seng Nhuon and are currently waiting to meet with the Prime Minister.

20 July 2016

This morning, the Phnom Penh Appeal Court upheld CNRP activist Ouk Pich Samnang’s conviction, in a case relating to an October 2014 protest in which he had been injured by Daun Penh district security guards.

Samnang had been tried and convicted in September 2015 of intentional violence and obstructing authorities and sentenced to two years in prison, in a decision largely decried due to lack of evidence and contradictory witness testimony.

During the appeal hearing, held on June 30, 2016, Samnang repeatedly challenged the legitimacy of his conviction, denied having committed any violence and expressed skepticism that his appeal would be allowed. Witness testimony was once again contradictory and limited evidence was presented to justify the trial court’s decision.

25 March 2016

Today, about 300 people from four communes in Sre Ambel and Botom Sakor districts, Koh Kong, marched to submit petitions to their district governors protesting land grabbing by sugar producers.

The communities delivered the petitions to the district governors demanding their support in an ongoing land conflict with Thai company KSL, majority owner of Koh Kong Plantation Co and Koh Kong Sugar Co. The conflict with KSL relates to the land grabbing of over 900 hectares of land and the loss of livelihoods for local families after the company, at the time co-owned by CPP Senator Ly Yong Phat, were granted adjacent land concessions for the two subsidiary companies totaling almost 20,000 hectares.

The communities have been actively protesting the land grabs by the sugar company since the dispute began in 2006.

11 March 2016

This morning, two female land activists were charged under the land law and sent to pre-trial detention by Kampong Speu provincial court.

You Ron, 51, and Ith Rom, 56, were detained in Kampong Speu provincial prison after being charged alongside another female activist, Ith Mom, 47. All three face up to two years’ imprisonment. The charges relate to a land dispute which started in 2011 in Phnom Chhrouch district, Kampong Speu province, when soldiers from the military “ACO” armored vehicle unit encroached on the land of around 100 families. Many of the affected families had farmed the land since 1979. In 2011, one of the detained activists – You Ron – was beaten unconscious by soldiers as she attempted to stop them clearing the land.

In 2013, volunteer students sent to the area in the context of the government’s 2012 land titling scheme (Directive 01) failed to give land titles to the affected families. They instead issued titles to 83 families, some connected to military soldiers, who had not lived in that area previously. The land was later sold to companies. In 2015, representative of the 83 families filed a complaint against six community representatives, including the three women charged today.

3 March 2016

Forestry activist Vein Vorn – who had been an elected commune councillor prior to his arrest - was released from prison this afternoon after Koh Kong court sentenced him to one year's imprisonment, seven months of which will be suspended. He was convicted this morning of violating Article 98 of the Forestry Law.

Vein Vorn was at the forefront of a campaign to stop the controversial development of a hydroelectric dam by Chinese group Sinohydro in partnership with ruling party senator Lao Meng Kin of the Pheapimex group. He was arrested and charged on October 7, 2015 after supporting the construction of a small communal meeting space built by the Areng Valley community.

Three activists from environmental NGO Mother Nature, who were also active in protesting the hydrodam, have been in detention since August 17 for their role in an ongoing campaign to end alleged illegal sand dredging in Koh Kong.

20 January 2016

Today over 300 protesters from four communes, Kandoul, Chi Kha Leu, Chi Kha Kraom and Dang Peng delivered petitions to their respective commune offices to protest land grabbing by sugar producers in Sre Ambel district. The protest is the latest in a series of actions by the communities since the dispute began in 2006.

The communities delivered the petition to their commune chiefs demanding their support for the return of land and compensation for 753 families after a decade-long dispute with the Thai sugar company KSL. The conflict with the sugar company concerns the land grabbing of over 900 hectares of land and the loss of livelihoods for local families after the companies, at the time co-owned by CPP Senator Ly Yong Phat, were granted adjacent land concessions totaling almost 20,000 hectares.

After delivering the petition to all four commune offices the protesters returned to their homes after setting a two week deadline for the authorities to provide a resolution.

11 January 2016

Today, communities gathered in three provinces across Cambodia to protest forced evictions and call for an end to their land conflicts.

In Kampong Speu, communities from Oral district gathered outside HLH Agriculture Co. on the first of a planned multi-day protest against land grabs perpetrated by the company since 2009. The group, of about 100 community members, plans to continue their demonstration for three more days.

In a separate land protest, about 40 people from Ochheuteal beach community, Spean Chhes community and Kampenh Chas community in Sihanoukville gathered outside the provincial government office to demand a resolution to their land conflicts.

17 December 2015

To celebrate International Human Rights Day (IHRD), about 10,000 people from rural and urban communities participated in 20 marches and events across the country from December 6 to December 10. These were organized by the informal network Friends of December 10th, which includes youth, land communities, associations, farmers, monks, and NGOs.

On December 10, groups peacefully marched from various locations in Phnom Penh toward the Ministry of Justice to demand that the government resolve Cambodia’s land conflict epidemic; reform the judicial system and release human rights defenders and activists; raise the minimum wage and respect labour rights; end state-sponsored violence; and respect freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly. This year’s IHRD theme was ‘Justice’.

4 December 2015

Thousands of Cambodians in 16 provinces will gather to celebrate the 67th International Human Rights Day (IHRD), culminating in a joint celebration in Phnom Penh on December 10.

From December 6 onward, grassroots groups such as communities affected by land conflicts, youth networks, associations, and monks as well as unions and NGOs across the country will hold a series of celebrations under an overall theme of ‘Justice’.

2 December 2015

This afternoon, three community representatives were sentenced to two years in prison by Ratanakiri court as over 100 supporters gathered outside the courtroom to protest the proceedings.

The community representatives were first summonsed in May 2015 as an intimidation tactic in the midst of a land conflict which started in 2012, when workers hired by Phnom Penh businessman Heang Socheat – and with the support of armed police – began clearing hundreds of hectares of land which had supported the livelihoods of 100 families living in Borkeo district.

Sout Soeun, Em Chan, and Chreuk Touck were convicted of charges relating to infringement of ownership under Articles 247, 248 and 253 of the Land Law. Only Article 253 carries a prison sentence, and is defined as ‘violence against a possessor of immovable property’. Despite a complete lack of any evidence of violence, all​ three received maximum prison sentences and were immediately sent to Ratanakiri prison following their sentencing. After the verdict was announced, supporters were pushed away from the entrance of the courthouse by armed military police.

20 November 2015

Today marks the 26th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The Cambodian government ratified the CRC on October 15, 1992, thus guaranteeing the protection and promotion of the four main baskets of rights of children in Cambodia: “the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life.”

In the spirit of the CRC, the Child Protection Group (CPG) network, with support from LICADHO, is releasing a storybook video: “The Last Day of Lang Reng.” This fictional work voices the concerns of young Cambodians regarding the rapid deforestation and environmental destruction they see taking place across their country.

7 October 2015

This morning, Areng Valley community representative and CPP commune councillor Vein Vorn was arrested on charges relating to his activism and sent to Koh Kong provincial prison.

He has been at the forefront of Areng Valley community’s campaign to stop the controversial development of a hydroelectric dam by the Pheapimex group – headed by ruling party senator Lao Meng King – and their Chinese partner Sinohydro. He now faces charges under Article 98 of the Forestry Law and 533 of the Criminal Code for leading the construction of a small communal meeting space built by the Areng Valley community to support their activism. About 40 community members are currently outside the court protesting his arrest.

Three activists from NGO Mother Nature, who were also active in protesting the hydrodam, have been in detention since August 17 for their role in an ongoing campaign to end alleged illegal sand dredging in Koh Kong.

5 October 2015

This morning, over 1,400 community members, monks and grassroots groups from across Cambodia gathered in Phnom Penh to celebrate the 30th World Habitat Day and to call on authorities to respect Cambodian people’s right to housing.