One year after the murder of Kem Ley, we, the undersigned civil society groups, believe that justice has not yet been served for the late political analyst and the family, friends and colleagues he left behind.

The well-known political analyst and anti-corruption campaigner was shot dead at point blank range on 10 July 2016 while drinking coffee in a Phnom Penh petrol station. There has been no transparency in the murder investigation, and there are still many unanswered questions in the case.

Despite compelling evidence – including video footage – indicating potential accomplices, only one suspect was charged and convicted in a flawed trial which failed to fully cross examine witnesses or investigate serious doubts about the killer’s motive. Impunity for those not properly held to account for his murder will fuel distrust of the justice system.

We, the undersigned civil society groups, call for an independent inquiry into the silencing of Kem Ley. His murder led to a massive outpouring of emotion from hundreds of thousands of Cambodians who poured into the streets of the capital for his funeral procession. Along with Kem Ley’s family, colleagues and friends they also deserve to see justice served.

Immediately after the murder, a group of UN human rights experts called for “a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the crime […] conducted by an independent body with no ties to the government.” One year later we have seen that the criminal justice system has failed to protect its citizens’ right to life. With so many unanswered questions, an independent inquiry is the only credible way to seek justice for Kem Ley and his family and friends.

We, the undersigned civil society groups, have not forgotten Kem Ley’s murder and reiterate our previous demand for the investigation to be taken over by an independent inquiry made up of international experts with full access to evidence including CCTV footage from the crime scene. If not, public faith in the judiciary and police will continue to be eroded and the family and friends of Kem Ley will continue to be denied justice.

This joint statement is endorsed by:
1. Activity for Environment Community
2. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
3. Bak Rotaeh community
4. Banteay Srey Community
5. Boeung Chhouk Community
6. Boeung Kak Community (Kampong Chhnang)
7. Boeung Kak Lake Community (BKL)
8. Boeung Pram Community
9. Boeung Trabek Community
10. Borei Keila Community (BK)
11. Bos Snaor Community
12. Buddhism for Peace Organization (BPO)
13. Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
14. Building Community Voice (BCV)
15. CamASEAN Youth’s Future (CamASEAN)
16. Cambodia Development People Life Association (CDPLA)
17. Cambodia Youth and Monk Network (CMYN)
18. Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
19. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
20. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
21. Cambodian Domestic Worker Network (CDWN)
22. Cambodian Food and Service Worker Federation (CFSWF)
23. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
24. Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA)
25. Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA)
26. Cambodian Informal Economic Workers Association (CIWA)
27. Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC)
28. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
29. Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO- CEDAW)
30. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
31. Capacity Community Development Organization (CCD)
32. Center for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
33. Cham Kravean Community
34. Chambak Community (Kampong Speu)
35. Chambok community (Kampong Cham)
36. Cheko community
37. Chi Tron Community
38. Chikor Leu Land Community
39. CI5 Community
40. Coalition for Integrity & Social Accountability (CISA)
41. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Domestic Unions (C.CAWDU)
42. Coalition of Cambodia Farmer Community (CCFC)
43. Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW)
44. Community Network in Action (CAN)
45. Community Peace-Building Network (CPN)
46. Community Voice Development Organization
47. Da Commune Community
48. Equitable Cambodia (EC)
49. Farmers Association for Peace and Development (FAPD)
50. Forestry Community
51. Forestry Stoeung Khsach Sor community
52. Former Boeung Kak Women Network Community
53. Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC)
54. Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)
55. Green Vision Organization
56. Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF)
57. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
58. Independent Monk Network for Social Justice (IMNSJ)
59. Indigenous Youth at Brome Commune, Preah Vihear Province
60. Indigenous Youth for Community Ratanakiri (IYCR)
61. Indradevi Association (IDA)
62. Kampreus community
63. Khmer Youth Association (KYA)
64. Land Community, I Village, Preah Sihanouk Province
65. Lor Peang Land Community
66. Minor Indigenous Right Organization (MIRO)
67. Mother Nature
68. Phnom Bat Community
69. Phnom Krom Community
70. Phum 21 Community
71. Phum 23 Community
72. Phum Dei Chhnang Community
73. Phum Prasat Rang Land Community
74. Phum Samut Leu Community
75. Phum Sela Khmer Land Community
76. Phum Thmei Taing Samrong Community
77. Pong Rok Land Community
78. Ponlok Khmer
79. Prek Takung Community
80. Prek Tanou Community
81. Prey Chher Pich Sangva Laor Chhert Community
82. Prey Chher Romeas Hek Community
83. Raksmey Samaki Community
84. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
85. Samaki 4 Community
86. Samaki Meanchey Land Community
87. Sangkom Thmey Land Community
88. Sdey Krom Rohal Soung Fishery Community
89. Somros Koh Sdach Fishery Community
90. SOS International Airport Community
91. Spean Chhes Community
92. Srae Prang Community
93. Ta Nuon Land Community
94. Thmor Kol Community
95. Toul Rada Community
96. Toul Sangke B Community
97. Tourism Employee and Service Union of Grand Diamond City Company
98. Tourism Employee Union of Poipet Casino Resort Company
99. Trapaing Anhchanh Thmey Community
100. Tumnop II Community
101. Tunlong Community
102. Urban Poor Women Development (UPWD)
103. 185K Thida Chambok community
104. 23 Community
105. 24 Families Community
106. 297 Land Community
107. 92 Community

PDF: Download full statement in English - Download full statement in Khmer
MP3: Listen to audio version in Khmer