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Human Rights Defenders

Boeng Kak’s Petition to Demand Releases of Human Rights Defenders

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On 10th January 2017 shortly after the so-called rebirth of Cambodia on 7th January 1979, a group of Boeng Kak Lak community has rallied in front of the Ministry of Interior to submit a petition to Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng to intervene in Tep Vanny’s and other Adhoc human right defenders’ cases. Demanding an immediate release of those rights activists is the main purpose of their petition.

After a short while, more community victims of forced eviction such as Phnom Bart, Borei Keila, Tuol Sangke amounting to 50 people also joined hand with Boeng Kak community and called for the release of their human rights defenders and activists.

NGOs such as Sahmakum Teang Tnaut and Licadho also observed this calling for human rights release. Moreover, some journalists from VOA, SBN, Khmer Post, FRA, VOD, Phnom Penh Post were buzzing around with their interviews.

After the petition was accepted to the Ministry of Interior, the community headed to National Assembly by walking and Tuk Tuks.

Dey Kraham arrival: There were some police there, but there was no violence.

At 10:00 am, they finally arrived the National Assembly and waited in front of the Lower House. Three petitions were being submitted to the National Assembly.

Mrs. Bov Sophea said “We are submitting the petition to Samdach Heng Samrin so that he can see how people are suffering, and hope he would seek freedom and release for Mrs. Tep Vanny and other human rights defenders.”

“We won’t stop at this stage. We will ask for helps from other related institutions and ministries. On this 18th January, Mrs. Tep Vanny is going to have a hearing at the Supreme Court in order to temporarily stay out of detention.” Said Sophea.

“During the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng and Kem Sokha, we hope that they will make a deal on human rights release and lessen their political intensity.” said she.

Joint Statement: World Habitat Day Marred by Brutal Beatings of Human Rights Defenders

4 min read

Joint Statement

World Habitat Day Marred by Brutal Beatings of Human Rights Defenders

Phnom Penh, 10 October

We, the undersigned civil society groups, are outraged by this morning’s unjustified use of violence by district para-police officers during a march to peacefully celebrate World Habitat Day, and we strongly condemn this reprehensible attack.

At about 9.30 this morning, during an otherwise peaceful march through Phnom Penh to the city’s Freedom Park, para-police, also referred to as security guards – led by head of the Daun Penh parapolice Cheam Ratha – launched an unprovoked and violent attack on land activist Chan Puthisak, a Boeung Kak Lake community representative, after Puthisak peacefully attempted to prevent the forcible confiscation by para-police of a drum from the marchers. The para-police continued their violence with a similarly unprovoked attack against senior human rights worker Am Sam Ath, LICADHO’s Monitoring Manager, who attempted to peacefully de-escalate the situation and prevent further beatings. An observer, wearing a journalist card, was also injured amid the altercation. All three were left injured and in need of medical assistance.

The attack represents yet another example of the increasingly restrictive environment for the peaceful exercise of fundamental freedoms in Cambodia.1 The Cambodian government’s de-facto ban on assemblies that are deemed critical of RGC policy, combined with the arbitrary and regular excessive use of force, has created an environment that is not conducive to free and fair elections, and is representative of the overall shrinking of civil society space in Cambodia.

“The beating of an identified human rights monitor for simply doing his job in the face of violence is completely intolerable. Since the Black Monday gatherings began in May, persecution of human rights defenders through the justice system has become a regular occurrence, but having human rights defenders attacked on the streets is a new low,” said Chak Sopheap, Executive Director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR).

“This is just the latest example in a long line of para-police deployed to suppress peaceful protests through violence, a favored strategy for authorities terrified of citizens claiming their rights. It remains to be seen whether this case will also – like so many of the others – result in complete impunity for the perpetrators. It is long overdue for the courts to start prosecuting para-police officers involved in systematic and recurring acts of violence,” said Naly Pilorge, Deputy Director of Advocacy at LICADHO.

The otherwise peaceful march of about 500 people began at the former Dey Krahorm eviction site before the group made their way to the Royal Palace and Freedom Park. The march – which three days ago Phnom Penh municipal authorities arbitrarily announced it would not tolerate – was diverted from its original route by security forces including police and para police officers. Instead of marching towards the Ministry of Land Management as originally planned, the group was diverted to Freedom Park.

Following the assault, which took place about halfway through the peaceful march, the group continued to Freedom Park where they made speeches about land and housing rights and presented a petition to Ministry of Land Management officials. The theme of this years’ annual gathering was to once again protest against land grabbing and forced evictions.

“The authorities will not make these issues go away by attacking us. Continued violence and repression will not stop us demanding justice and demanding our housing rights,” said Song Sreyleap, Boeung Kak Lake community representative.

The beatings took place as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia begins her latest mission in the country. We urge the Special Rapporteur to address the Cambodian government’s long-standing pattern of violent repression of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly at the highest levels.

We reiterate our strong condemnation of the brutal attack and demand that those individuals responsible are held accountable for their use of violence against a peaceful gathering.

This statement is endorsed by:

  1. 92 Community
  2. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
  3. Banteay Srey Community
  4. Beung Pram Land Community
  5. Boeung Chhouk Community
  6. Boeung Kak Community
  7. Boeung Trabek Community
  8. Building and Wood Workers Trade Union (BWTUC)
  9. Building Community Voice (BCV)
  10. CamASEAN Youth
  11. Cambodia Development People Life Association (CDPLA)
  12. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
  13. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
  14. The Cambodian Committee for Women (CAMBOW)
  15. Cambodian Domestic Workers Network (CDWN)
  16. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
  17. Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC)
  18. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
  19. Cambodian Independent Civil-Servants Association (CICA)
  20. Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA)
  21. Cambodian Informal Economic Workers Association (CIWA)
  22. Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC)
  23. Cambodian League for the Promotion & Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
  24. Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation (CTSWF)
  25. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
  26. Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
  27. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
  28. Chiko Community
  29. Chey Chomnas Community
  30. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Domestic Unions (C.CAWDU)
  31. Coalition for Integrity & Social Accountability (CISA)
  32. Coalition of Cambodian farmer Community (CCFC)
  33. Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia (COMFREL)
  34. Community Peace-Building Network (CPN)
  35. Equitable Cambodia(EC)
  36. Farmer Association for Peace and Development (FAPD)
  37. Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)
  38. Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF)
  39. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
  40. Indigenous Youth at Brome Commune, Preah Vihear Province
  41. Khmer Youth Association (KYA)
  42. Land Community, I Village Preah Sihanouk Province
  43. Mother Nature (MN)
  44. Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
  45. Phnom Bat Community
  46. Phnom Oral Community
  47. Phnom Srouch Community
  48. Phum 23 Community
  49. Ponlok Khmer
  50. Prek Tanou Community
  51. Railway Community
  52. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
  53. SOS International Airport Community
  54. Strey Khmer
  55. Thmor Kol Community (TK)
  56. Toul Sangke B Community
  57. Trapaing Anhchanh Thmey Community
  58. Tumnop II Community
  59. Wat Than Monk Network
  60. Youth Resource Development Program