The climate for human rights defenders (HRDs) in Cambodia has soured dramatically since 2009, creating the country’s worst human rights environment in more than a decade, according to a new report from LICADHO.

The report, “Attacks & Threats Against Human Rights Defenders in Cambodia 2010-2012,” is being released on Dec. 10, 2012, the same day that LICADHO will visit 18 prisons across the country to celebrate International Human Rights Day.

The report finds that violence against activists is on the rise, key HRDs have been killed with impunity, and the courts have dropped even the faintest semblance of impartiality. LICADHO documented 125 attacks and threats against HRDs from 2010-12, and has identified 13 HRDs who are still imprisoned as of today. LICADHO will visit all 13 imprisoned HRDs as part of celebrations marking International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

The imprisoned HRDs will receive care packages with food and supplies, such as soap, laundry detergent, rice and canned fish. LICADHO will also distribute fruit and drinks to approximately 13,750 other inmates in 18 prisons and organize entertainment events.

“Many people know Mam Sonando or Chut Wutty, but do they know Sim Mey, Kim Kheang, Nga Mork, or Pich Sophon?” said LICADHO Director Naly Pilorge. “These individuals are among hundreds of Cambodians who have faced threats, violence, intimidation, judicial harassment, imprisonment and even death because they stood up for their fundamental human rights.”

“It is important to document their stories as well. The sheer number of them speaks to magnitude of the human rights crisis in this country.”

Emerging Trends in 2010-12
Recent threats and attacks against HRDs have been overwhelmingly targeted at four main groups: community representatives entangled in land disputes; factory workers and union leaders; NGOs and NGO staff; and journalists. Based on data from the past three years, LICADHO identified three disturbing trends in the persecution of HRDs.

First, the judiciary remains firmly under the control of the executive branch of government, and continues to be misused as a weapon of choice against HRDs. An alarmingly high number of grassroots human rights defenders, union leaders, community representatives in land disputes, NGO workers and even monks have been arrested, prosecuted on false charges and improperly detained since 2010 – at times without access to legal representation or even without knowledge of the charges against them. In detention, some activists were forced to thumbprint declarations promising to stop their human rights work. Others were discouraged from continuing their human rights work through judicial harassment.

The courts rarely issue written verdicts or substantive official justifications for these convictions.

The second trend documented since 2010 is a disturbing increase in violence by armed government forces against peaceful protesters. Particularly in 2012, LICADHO’s investigations revealed an increasing readiness on the part of security and military forces to use lethal force against civilians.

Between November 2011 and May 2012 alone, the authorities opened fire at least eight times during peaceful protests, strikes or demonstrations. Most of these incidents happened in the context of land disputes where government armed forces were acting as security guards for private companies.

The savage and targeted physical assaults against land activist Suong Sophorn and union leader Rong Panha during peaceful protests raised serious concerns for the safety of human rights defenders. Sophorn was beaten twice, once by a coordinated mob of intervention “anti-riot” police. The documented killings of two human rights defenders between 2010 and 2012, Pich Sophon and Chut Wutty, and the numerous episodes of death threats further highlighted the danger faced by human rights defenders.

The third trend noted has been the authorities’ use of a variety of covert strategies to silence those who dare criticize government actions. NGOs and NGO workers have been intimidated in numerous ways between 2010 and 2012. Land rights trainings with communities embroiled in land disputes were interrupted by local authorities on dubious grounds, and the Ministry of Interior temporarily suspended the operations of Cambodian NGO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), which had publicly advocated for the rights of land grabbing victims in high-profile cases.

“By any standard, human rights in Cambodia have entered into a free fall, and there is no indication that the bottom will be hit anytime soon,” said LICADHO President Dr. Pung Chhiv Kek.

LICADHO’s HRD report is the eighth in a series of reports documenting threats and attacks against HRDs in Cambodia since 1997.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Dr. Pung Chhiv Kek, President of LICADHO Tel: (+855) 012-802-506 [English, French, Khmer]
▪ Mr. Am Sam Ath, Technical Supervisor Tel: (+855) 012-327-770 [Khmer]
▪ Ms. Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO Tel: (+855) 012-803-650 [English, French]

PDF: Download full statement in English - Download full statement in Khmer