11 Union Leaders and Community Activists Arrested During Gathering for Releasing the 23

On January 21, 2014, at about 8:30 am, over 250 community activists and civil society organization gathered together in front of US embassy at aiming to submit the petition to US embassy for releasing the 23 unions, including union leaders who were arrested on January 2-3, 2014.

During the gathering of community activists and civil society organizations in front of US embassy, Mr. Rong Chhun, president of Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) and one of his colleague, Ms. Long Kimheang, Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF) staff, Mr.s Thida from CATU as well as Mrs. Tep Vanny from the Boeng Kak community were arrested at the same time. Meanwhile, all protesters were expelled by the security guards of city hall.

During going on sending the petition to the other embassies, other seven union members and community activists were arrested while they were walking on the way (Monivong Boulevard) to Embassy of the United Kingdom later.

Finally, 11 union leaders and community activists had been released at about 1:45 pm. Nevertheless, we did not seen any kind of riot polices and/or military polices, were deployed. Media, human right observer and media were onsite.

The human right situation is becoming progressively worse, especially related to freedom of expression. The government recently banned the right to free assembly for more than 10 people, and have used this as an excuse to arrest activists.

What do you think about the freedom of expression and demonstration laws in Cambodia?

Protest activist were arrested_21012014_4 Protest activists arrested_21012014 Protest activists_21012014 Protest activities_21012014 (2) Protest activities_21012014 Protest activities_21012014_1 Protest activities_21012014_2