Court of Appeal, yesterday, opened a hearing for urban land activist, Tep Vanny, who is being convicted of violence protest in 2011. The verdict will be released on 27 February this month by the Court. This conviction remains controversial because there is limited testified witness, the plaintiff was also absent.
In addition to that appeal, Mrs. Tep Vanny has also been charged with “intentional violence with aggravating circumstances” under Article 218 of the Cambodian Criminal Code during the 2013 protest activity in front of the Prime Minister’s house, where she demanded the release of human rights defender, Yorm Bopha. Up to now, Vanny has still been under pre-trial detention at CC2 prison for six months, and she was rejected to stay on bail though with a few request efforts.
“They rejected my bail because they worried that I would cause violence” said Vanny.
Her three human right defender fellows, Bo Chhorvy, Kong Chnatha, and Heng Mom are also facing arrests, waiting for the uncertain appeals result to be exhausted. It seems that the evidence carried out at the first trial and appeal hearing was hardly strong enough to prove the guilt of the four women.
Yesterday, the outcry of a female land activist captured national media during her walk into the police car, while many of her supporters were simultaneously crying for justice and a release for a lady and a mother, Tep Vanny.
