Statement

April 6, 2021 – We, the undersigned groups, are calling on the government to direct all microfinance institutions (MFIs) and banks in the country to suspend all loan repayments and interest accrual for at least three months in order to give borrowers the opportunity to stay home and stay safe during the current COVID-19 outbreak without needing to fear losing their land or homes if they cannot repay their debt.

The garment, tourism, entertainment and construction sectors have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. These sectors employ hundreds of thousands of women, and women also hold 75% of microfinance loans, meaning in many cases this pandemic has hit women borrowers especially hard. Farmers, migrant workers, poor communities, informal workers, traders, small business people and street vendors have also seen incomes plummet. Very few people have been spared the economic effects of COVID-19. The government has already taken measures to ease some of the suffering caused by more than a year of economic turmoil. The cash transfers to many IDPoor individuals and the subsidy of garment worker wages have provided an important source of income for hundreds of thousands of people who needed help. Without these essential policies, the economic fallout of the global pandemic would have been much worse.

But the government did not take similarly swift action to offer relief to microfinance borrowers. The government’s request last year for MFIs and banks to implement relief for only certain sectors, without clear guidelines for which borrower qualifies or what type of relief to offer, effectively allowed the financial sector to set its own rules for restructuring loans. This means that in nearly all cases we have witnessed, banks and MFIs are suspending principal payments but continue to collect interest payments, and to calculate interest on these loans. This has resulted in record profits for some microloan providers as household incomes continue to fall as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and larger debt burdens for borrowers after their restructuring ends. This is not real relief.

With Cambodia now facing widespread community transmission and deaths due to COVID-19, widely implemented relief is needed. Incomplete restructuring for about 10% of microloans, as reported by the sector, is nowhere near enough to deal with the scale of this crisis. We renew our call, first made almost one year ago, for a suspension on all repayments, both principal and interest as well as interest accrual, for at least three months.

The ongoing outbreak has lasted more than a month now and continues to wreak havoc on many people’s livelihoods. Reports of debt-driven suicides are becoming more and more common. Similarly, reports of domestic violence – including murder – are also occurring within the context of mounting debt and financial stress. This stress has been accompanied by increasingly urgent calls from a variety of people and groups for debt relief and action from the government. Six youths were recently arrested and detained overnight after circulating a petition calling for a suspension of bank and MFI repayments, as well as other economic relief measures. With so many people afraid of losing their land or house due to repaying late, a case-by-case restructuring programme is simply not enough.

The pressure of microfinance and bank microloans, and the ways that pressure hurts both public health and land tenure security, have become open secrets. The minister of information recently posted and later deleted a message on Facebook that if you want to decrease the spread of COVID, the first thing that needs to happen is that banks need to suspend repayments. More recently, the spokesman for the General Department of Prisons urged people not to be jealous of prisoners, who don’t have to fear MFIs and banks seizing their homes. This comment both ignores the immense threats faced by prisoners during this crisis and reveals how commonplace it has become for borrowers to lose their land due to debt.

We are asking the government to help millions of people by ordering the profitable financial sector to help carry some of the economic burden. Borrowers are losing their land, foregoing medical care, and risking their health and safety during the pandemic to repay these debts. A three-month suspension, with the possibility of further extension, will help borrowers’ stay home, stay safe, and improve the overall situation in the country.

Signed,

1. 197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
2. Am Leang Community (Kampong Speu)
3. Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA)
4. Andong Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
5. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
6. Activities for Environment Community (AEC)
7. Areng Indigenous Community (Koh Kong)
8. Asean Tourism Employee Union of Raffles Le Royal Hotel (AEURLH)
9. Boeung Pram Community (Battambang)
10. Building Community Voices (BCV)
11. Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
12. Buddhism for Peace Organization (BPO)
13. Bos Snor Community (Tbong Khmum)
14. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
15. Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC)
16. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
17. Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition (CHRAC)
18. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
19. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
20. Cambodia Development People Life Association (CDPLA)
21. Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
22. Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA)
23. Cambodia Informal Economy Reinforcements Association (CIERA)
24. Cambodian Informal Economy Workers Association (CIWA)
25. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
26. Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation (CTSWF)
27. Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF)
28. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
29. CamASEAN Youth’s Future (CamASEAN)
30. Cambodia Youth and Monk Network (CYMN)
31. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
32. Chi Kha Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
33. Chi Kha Leu Land Community (Koh Kong)
34. Chray Indigenous Community (Ratanakiri)
35. Choam Kravien Community (Tboung Khmum)
36. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C. CAWDU)
37. Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability (CISA)
38. Coalition Free Trade Union of the Women Textile (CFTUWT)
39. Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
40. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
41. Community Peace-Building Network (CPN)
42. Community to Protect Nature (Pursat)
43. Dak Por Community (Kampong Speu)
44. Democratic Union of Worker of Angkor Beer Company
45. Equitable Cambodia (EC)
46. Federation of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC)
47. Free Independent Trade Union Federation (FUFI)
48. Farmers Association for Peace and Development (FAPD)
49. Gender and Development Cambodia (GADC)
50. H.C.C Employees Union
51. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
52. Independent Monk Network for Social Justice (IMNSJ)
53. Independent Trade Union Federation (INTUFE)
54. Indigenous Community in Prame Commune (Preah Vihear)
55. Khmer Kampuchea Krom For Human Rights and Development Association (KKKHRDA)
56. Kleang Toek 78 Community (Siemreap)
57. Koh Sralao Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
58. Kouy Indigenous Community (Preah Vihear)
59. Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
60. Land Community (Pailin)
61. Lor Peang Land Community (Kampong Chhnang)
62. Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
63. Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC)
64. National Independent Federation Textile Union of Cambodia (NIFTUC)
65. Ou Ampil Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
66. Ou Damdaek Community (Kampong Thom)
67. Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
68. Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
69. People Center for Development and Peace (PDP)
70. Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
71. Phum Phsar Kandal Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
72. Phnom Krom Community (Siemreap)
73. Prek Ksach Land Community (Koh Kong)
74. Prey Lang Community (Kampong Thom)
75. Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN)
76. Prey Peay Fishery Community (Kampot)
77. Prey Chher Pech Changvar Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chhnang)
78. Rattanak Rokha Forestry Community (Oddar Meanchey )
79. Reaksmei Sameakki Community (Kampong Speu)
80. Rural Cambodia Technological Support Organisation (RCTSO)
81. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
82. Samaki Chek Meas Community (Svay Rieng)
83. Samaki Romeas Haek Community (Svay Rieng)
84. Samaki Sangkae Pi Mean Rith (Preah Vihear)
85. Siem Reap Airport H.C.C Company Tourism Employees Union
86. Sofitel Phokeethra Hotel Independent Solidarity Union
87. Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chhnang)
88. Sre Prang Community (Tboung Khmum)
89. Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource (Kampong Chhnang)
90. Ta Ni Land Community (Siemreap)
91. Ta Noun Land Community (Koh Kong)
92. The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
93. Tonlung Community (Tboung Khmum)
94. Trapeang Chour Community (Kampong Speu)
95. Transparency International Cambodia (TI)
96. Tourism Employees Union of Les Jardin Du Bassac
97. Tourism Employees Union of Cintri (Cambodia)
98. Tourism Employees Union of GSI
99. Union of Food and Service of Cambodia Beverage Company LTD
100. Union Service Workers of CHEVRON COMPANY (CAMBODIA) LIMITED SIEMREAP (USWCSR)
101. Union Service Workers of ALASKA Massage Center (USWAMC)
102. Workers’ Solidarity Strengthen Independent Union (WSSIU)
103. Youth Resources Development Program (YRDP)

Phnom Penh, 10 December 2020 – On Human Rights Day, we the 69 undersigned civil society organizations, call on the Royal Government of Cambodia (“RGC”) to respect the democratic principles and human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“UDHR”) and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia (“the Constitution”), and fulfil its human rights obligations. We further call on the RGC to immediately end the targeting of activists, human rights defenders, journalists, political opposition supporters, and other critical voices that has tarnished 2020, and unconditionally release all of those arbitrarily detained.

This year marks the first time in 27 years Human Rights Day – which is celebrated across the world to commemorate the adoption of the UDHR – is not a public holiday in Cambodia. The removal of this public holiday is symbolic of the RGC’s unwillingness to promote human rights, and coincides with the increasing repression of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy in Cambodia.

Concerning legislative developments throughout the year have sought to dwindle individual freedoms, whether exercised online or offline. These include the Law on the Management of the Nation in the State of Emergency, promulgated in April, which grants the RGC powers to restrict the exercise of fundamental freedoms by the public without limit during a state of emergency. In addition, the January amendments to the Law on Trade Unions did not address the laws shortcomings, and as such the law continues to unduly restrict workers’ abilities to join and form trade unions. Further, three draft laws and sub-decrees threaten to further undermine human rights in Cambodia, namely the draft Law on Public Order, the draft Sub-Decree on the Establishment of the National Internet Gateway, and the draft Law on Cybercrime. If passed, these laws would criminalize everyday activities of the public both online and offline; permit the policing of clothing choices; and authorize mass surveillance and online censorship in a diminishment of fundamental freedoms.

In addition to these legislative developments, 2020 has also borne witness to significant assaults on the fundamental freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and Cambodia has garnered global attention due to a government crackdown on activists, human rights defenders and public-facing dissenting voices for exercising their fundamental freedoms. Over 120 individuals have been arrested so far this year for exercising their fundamental freedoms.

2020 witnessed an increase in the exercise of the freedom of peaceful assembly by the public. As the economic stress of COVID-19 hit the country, factory workers have increasingly taken to the streets. Communities affected by land disputes have continued to gather to seek redress from authorities, and environmental groups have protested the selling-off of Phnom Penh’s last remaining lakes. Further, groups have advocated for the release of individuals detained on perceived political charges. Concerningly, this increase in assemblies was met with interference and restrictions of assemblies by authorities and arrests of peaceful protestors. On 31 July, union leader Rong Chhun was arrested, and over 10 people were subsequently imprisoned for taking part in protests calling for his release. Further, there has been a surge in the use of force by the authorities against peaceful protestors, which was reported in at least 15 instances in 2020, almost double the number recorded last year. Unfortunately, youth activists and women human rights defenders bore the brunt of this.

Freedom of expression has also taken a serious hit in 2020, which has been characterized by an attack on online expression. A slew of individuals have been arrested and jailed for their various online activities, including factory worker and unionist Soy Sros who shared her labor rights concerns via Facebook, and rappers Kea Sokun and Long Puthera for their songs on social issues. Press freedom has also declined, with a detrimental trend of journalists being arrested and media outlets silenced. Three journalists, Sovann Rithy, Sok Oudom, and Ros Sokhet, were arrested this year and charged with incitement under Article 495 of the Criminal Code. Ros Sokhet and Sok Oudom remain in detention, and the announcement of Sok Oudom’s verdict has been postponed indefinitely. The RGC also revoked four licenses of media outlets, three of which belonged to those arrested.

Finally, freedom of association has also been targeted over the year. Environmental groups, such as the Prey Lang Community Network and the Mother Nature movement, as well as youth activist groups, including Khmer Thavrak, were frequently interfered with and several of their members were subject to arbitrary arrest and judicial harassment at the hands of authorities. These three groups were deemed illegal by the RGC for not complying with mandatory registration requirements of the   Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations, which contravenes the right to freedom of association. Further, in 2020, trade unions had thousands of their members faced unemployment, with many reports of employers using COVID-19 as a guise to cull union members from their businesses. Unionists have been subject to harassment, and Mr. Touch Kosal, the president of Cambodia Tourism Workers Trade Union Federation received multiple warning letters threatening deregistration of the union from the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training because of its support for worker’s strikes.  Moreover, 16 November 2020 marked three years since the dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (“CNRP”), which signaled a significant deterioration of democracy in Cambodia. Former members and supporters continue to face harassment, intimidation and violence. 2020 witnessed a mass summonsing of 139 former CNRP members to attend a trial hearing on 26 November 2020 over an alleged CNRP attempt to overthrow the government, and a series of violent attacks on CNRP members by third parties that remain largely uninvestigated.

Disappointingly, these human rights abuses are not unique, but rather have been an alarming pattern over the last few years. This has had a detrimental impact on Cambodian society, deterring individuals from public participation and fostering a culture of fear, political disillusionment and self-censorship. For a peaceful and thriving society, it is crucial that everyone, by virtue of their humanity, can exercise the fundamental freedoms they are entitled to and participate in public life and democracy.

The RGC committed to upholding the human rights  and democratic values enshrined in the UDHR and the core human rights conventions, and the importance of these documents is reflected by their place in the Constitution. On Human Rights Day, we call on the RGC to respect their human rights commitments by immediately ceasing the ongoing attack against all voices of dissent in the country, and releasing those arbitrarily detained for legitimately exercising their fundamental freedoms. We urge the RGC to ensure all existing and new laws are compatible with international human rights standards and to fulfil the commitments made during Cambodia’s third Universal Periodic Review.

This statement is endorsed by:

– END –

You can download the reports as PDF files here! Khmer – English

9 September 2020

We, the undersigned civil society groups, condemn the arrests of seven young activists over the past few days, and call for all charges against those imprisoned to be dropped immediately. We urge the government to end its campaign of fear and repression against peaceful youth and environmental human rights defenders, and ensure the rights of the Cambodian people to peacefully advocate for themselves, their families and their communities are respected.

On Monday September 7 Khmer Thavrak youth group member Tha Lavy, 19, was arrested while Read More

August 18, 2020 – We, the undersigned civil society groups, strongly condemn the Cambodian authorities’ use of violence against peaceful demonstrators and the recent arrests of more than a dozen activists.

Over the past few weeks, authorities have waged an increasingly brutal crackdown on peaceful protests that began after the arrest and imprisonment of union leader Rong Chhun at the start of August. Since Chhun’s arrest, six more individuals have been sent to pre-trial detention after advocating for his release. Authorities have also beaten and arrested relatives, most of whom are women, of former members of the dissolved opposition party who were protesting against their family members’ arrests.

It is not a crime to call for your family to be released from prison. It is not a crime to speak out against your friends’ arrest. It is not a crime to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with people in your community and demand justice. All Cambodians have the right to peacefully protest without being shoved, beaten or dragged off by police. We call on the government to immediately release those arrested, drop charges against them and fully respect the Cambodian people’s rights to free expression and assembly.

Chhun was arrested at his home during the night and remains in detention in response to comments he made about communities along the Vietnam border. Just days before his arrest he had joined a demonstration with hundreds of garment workers following the factory’s closure due to COVID-19.

On Thursday evening, six activists were arrested in Phnom Penh after repeatedly calling for the union leader’s release. Youth activist Chhoeun Daravy, who has a long history of social justice work and environmental activism, was dragged into a van by her hair after her belongings were forcibly seized by district security forces during the peaceful protest. Environmental activist Hun Vannak was later arrested by plainclothes officers mid-livestream while walking home from the demonstration.

Both activists were charged with “incitement to commit a felony” under articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code, which is punishable by up to two years in prison. Vannak is detained in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 1 (CC1), whilst Daravy is in Correctional Centre 2 (CC2). The other four activists were released from custody after being pressured into signing contracts pledging not to take part in similar demonstrations.

The week before, four other activists linked to the forcibly dissolved opposition party were arrested in the capital after joining protests calling for Rong Chhun’s freedom. Two of them, Chhuo Peng and Chum Puthy, were also charged with incitement and detained at CC1. Eight Buddhist monks who had travelled from Battambang to join the demonstration were stopped by police and forced to return to their pagoda. Another activist, Sar Kanika, was arrested after joining protests for Rong Chhun’s release on 7 August and also charged with incitement before being detained in CC2.

Last Friday, Khmer Win Party leader Soung Sophorn was arrested and charged with incitement. He is currently detained in CC1. Sophorn has publicly called for the release of Rong Chhun, and was arrested shortly after visiting the same posts on the Vietnam border that Chhun viewed prior to his arrest.

This is the third time Hun Vannak has been arrested for his activism in recent years. He spent five months behind bars between 2017 and 2018 for documenting suspected illicit sand-dredging. Earlier this year, in May, he was held in custody for several hours after protesting for debt-relief from banks and microfinance institutions amid the global pandemic.

While this wave of arrests was sparked by Rong Chhun’s jailing, police and security forces have been increasingly violent in their suppression of peaceful assemblies. In the past several weeks, relatives of a number of imprisoned former opposition party members who have publicly called for their family members’ release have been shoved, kicked and dragged across the pavement by armed security.

Authorities have also drawn upon an increasingly wide range of excuses to keep protestors off the streets. On 3 August, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice issued a statement attempting to silence any protests which express an opinion about cases before the courts. The statement threatened legal action against protestors calling for the union leader’s release, labeling their peaceful protests an act of unlawful coercion of judicial authorities, which is punishable under article 522 of the Criminal Code by up to six months in prison. The same day, the Municipality of Phnom Penh issued an instruction declaring that the demonstrations had been contrary to measures to contain COVID-19, in seemingly a further effort to disrupt protests.

We call on Cambodian authorities to immediately release those who have been imprisoned for exercising their constitutional rights, drop charges against them and stop all violence against protesters.

Signed,
1. 197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
2. Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA)
3. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
4. Activities for Environment Community (AEC)
5. Am Leang Community (Kampong Speu)
6. Andong Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
7. Boeung Pram Community (Battambang)
8. Building Community Voices (BCV)
9. Buddhism for Peace Organization (BPO)
10. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
11. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
12. Cambodia Institute of Democracy (CID)
13. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
14. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
15. Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
16. Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability (CISA)
17. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C. CAWDU)
18. Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC)
19. Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA)
20. Cambodian Informal Economy Workers Association (CIWA)
21. Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC)
22. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
23. Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation (CTSWF)
24. Cambodia Youth and Monk Network (CYMN)
25. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
26. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
27. Chek Meas Land Community (Svay Rieng)
28. Chi Kha Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
29. Chi Kha Leu Land Community (Koh Kong)
30. Choam Kravien Community (Tbong Khmum)
31. Chray Indigenous Community (Ratanakiri)
32. Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
33. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
34. Community to Protect Nature (Pursat)
35. Dak Por Community (Kampong Speu)
36. Equitable Cambodia (EC)
37. Gender and Development Cambodia (GADC)
38. Haong Samnam Community (Kampong Speu)
39. Indigenous Youth for Community Ratanakiri
40. Indigenous Community in Prame Commune (Preah Vihear)
41. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
42. Independent Monk Network for Social Justice (IMNSJ)
43. Indradevi Association (IDA)
44. Kouy Indigenous Community (Preah Vihear)
45. Khmer Kampuchea Krom For Human Rights and Development Association (KKKHRDA)
46. Klaing Toek 78 Community (Siem Reap)
47. Koh Sralao Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
48. Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
49. Land Community (Pailin)
50. Lor Peang Land Community (Kampong Chhnang)
51. Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
52. Minority Rights Organization (MIRO)
53. Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC)
54. Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC)
55. Not 1 More (N1M)
56. Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
57. Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
58. Phnom Krom Community (Siem Reap)
59. Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
60. Phum Phsar Kandal Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
61. Ponlok Khmer (PKH)
62. Prey Lang Community (Kampong Thom)
63. Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN)
64. Prey Peay Fishery Community (Kampot)
65. Prey Chher Pich Sangva Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chnang)
66. Raksmey Samaki Community (Kampong Speu)
67. Rattanak Rokha Forestry Community (Oddar Meanchey)
68. Rural Cambodia Technological Support Organisation (RCTSO)
69. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
70. SAMKY Organization
71. Samaki Romeas Haek Community (Svay Rieng)
72. Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chnang)
73. Sre Prang Community (Tbong Khmum)
74. Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource Community (Kampong Chnang)
75. Ta Noun Land Community (Koh Kong)
76. The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
77. Trapeang Chour Community (Kampong Speu)
78. Transparency International Cambodia (TI)
79. Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP)

PDF format: Download full statement in English – Download full statement in Khmer

August 3, 2020

We, the undersigned civil society groups, strongly condemn the nighttime arrest of Rong Chhun and call on the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to immediately drop all charges against the union leader and release him from pre-trial detention.

Cambodian Confederation of Unions president Rong Chhun was arrested by police at his home late on Friday night after the government’s Cambodia Border Affairs Committee publicly called on authorities to take action against the unionist for his comments following a visit to the Cambodia-Vietnam border on July 20. Chhun – a member of the non-governmental Cambodia Watchdog Council – had given a radio interview just hours before his arrest denying that he had been spreading false information about alleged community land loss along the border in a public statement the week before.

Chhun was taken to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Saturday morning and charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” under articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code before being sent to pre-trial detention in Phnom Penh’s notoriously overcrowded Correctional Centre 1. Dozens of supporters gathered outside the court all through the weekend to call for the unionist’s release despite security forces ordering them to disperse.

This charge – which could see Rong Chhun sentenced to up to two years in prison – is a clear violation of the unionist’s right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Cambodia’s constitution.

Rong Chhun has been an outspoken advocate for workers’ rights in Cambodia for decades, having previously worked as president of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association before becoming a member of the country’s National Election Committee.

On Wednesday, the union leader joined a group of more than 200 garment workers who gathered to submit a petition outside the home of Prime Minister Hun Sen to ask for his help following their factory’s closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is not the first time that Rong Chhun has been arrested for his activism. In October 2005, the unionist spent three months in prison on charges of defamation and incitement after being arrested for comments he had made about a Vietnam-Cambodia border agreement.

In January 2014, he was arrested again alongside ten other human rights defenders while publicly calling for the release of almost two dozen demonstrators arrested during the widespread protests that followed the 2013 national election.

After more than a decade of harassment by authorities, this latest arrest of a respected union leader is a direct threat to every Cambodian who exercises their constitutional right to freely express their beliefs without having to fear a midnight visit by police and years lost in prison. We call on the government and the court to uphold their obligations to guarantee freedom of expression under the constitution and international law and immediately drop all charges and release Rong Chhun.

Signed,

1. 92 Community (Phnom Penh)
2. 197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
3. 297 Land Community (Koh Kong)
4. 766 Land Community (Koh Kong)
5. 843 Land Community (Koh Kong)
6. 185K Tita Chambak Thom Community (Kampong Chnang)
7. Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA) CAMBODIA
8. Activities for Environment Community (AEC)
9. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
10. Am Leang Community (Kampong Speu)
11. Andong Thmar Community (Preah Sihanouk)
12. Andong Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
13. Banteay Srey Community (Phnom Penh)
14. Bat Khteah Community (Preah Sihanouk)
15. Boeung Kak Community (Kampong Chhnang)
16. Boeung Chuk Community (Phnom Penh)
17. Borei Keila Community (Phnom Penh)
18. Buddhism for Peace Organization (BPO)
19. Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
20. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
21. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
22. Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
23. Cambodia Institute of Democracy (CID)
24. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
25. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
26. Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC)
27. Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
28. Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability (CISA)
29. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C. CAWDU)
30. Coalition of Free Trade Union of The Women’s Textile (CFTUWT)
31. Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA)
32. Cambodia Informal Economy Reinforce Association (CIERA)
33. Cambodian Informal Economy Workers Association (CIWA)
34. Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC)
35. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
36. Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF)
37. Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation (CTSWF)
38. Cambodia Youth and Monk Network (CYMN)
39. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
40. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
41. Chak Krey land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
42. Chambak Trang Community (Kampong Speu)
43. Chek Meas Land Community (Svay Rieng)
44. Choeung Prey Community (Kampong Cham)
45. Chi Kha Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
46. Choam Kravien Community (Tbong Khmum)
47. Chray Indigenous Community (Ratanakiri)
48. C I 5 Community (Preah Sihanouk)
49. Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
50. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
51. Community Peace-Building Network (CPN)
52. Community to Protect Nature (Pursat)
53. Dak Por Community (Kampong Speu)
54. Dambae Community (Tbong Khmum)
55. Democratic Union of Worker of Angkor Beer Company
56. Equitable Cambodia (EC)
57. Free Independent Trade Union Federation (FUFI)
58. Free Trade Union of Workers of Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC)
59. Gender and Development Cambodia (GADC)
60. Haong Samnam Community (Kampong Speu)
61. Indigenous Youth for Community Ratanakiri
62. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
63. Independent Trade Union Federation (INTUFE)
64. Independent Monk Network for Social Justice (IMNSJ)
65. Indradevi Association (IDA)
66. Kem Ley Foundation Association (KLFA)
67. Kean Tuek Land Community (Koh Kong)
68. Khmum Srakar Thlok Russey Community (Kampong Thom)
69. Khmer Kampuchea Krom For Human Rights and Development Association (KKKHRDA)
70. Khmer Thavrak
71. Khum Seda Community (Tbong Khmum)
72. Klaing Toek 78 Community (Siem Reap)
73. Koh Sralao Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
74. Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
75. Land Community (Pailin)
76. Lor Peang Land Community (Kampong Chhnang)
77. Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
78. Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC)
79. Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC)
80. Not 1 More (N1M)
81. Ochheuteal Community (Preah Sihanouk)
82. Ou Ampil Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
83. Ou Tracheak Chet Community (Preah Sihanouk)
84. Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
85. Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
86. Peam Ros Community (Kampong Speu)
87. People Center for Development and Peace (PDP)
88. Phnom Krom Community (Siem Reap)
89. Phnom Tor Toeung Community (Kampot)
90. Phnom Tnaut Community (Kampot)
91. Phum 22 Community (Phnom Penh)
92. Phum 23 Community (Phnom Penh)
93. Phum Dei Chhnang Community (Kampong Speu)
94. Phum Khva Community (Phnom Penh
95. Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
96. Phum Phsar Kandal Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
97. Phum Prasat Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
98. Prek Ksach Land Community (Koh Kong)
99. Phnom Sleuk Community (Battambang)
100. Ponlok Khmer (PKH)
101. Prek Tanou Community (Phnom Penh)
102. Prek Takong Community (Phnom Penh)
103. Prek Trae Community (Preah Sihanouk)
104. Prey Cheou Ou Domdek Community (Kampong Thom)
105. Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN)
106. Prey Peay Fishery Community (Kampot)
107. Prey Chher Pich Sangva Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chnang)
108. Promote for Human Right and Land Right Community (Kandal)
109. Tunlong Community (Tboung Khmum)
110. Railway Community (Phnom Penh)
111. Raksmey Samaki Community (Kampong Speu)
112. Rattanak Rokha Forestry Community (Oddar Meanchey)
113. Rural Cambodia Technological Support Organisation (RCTSO)
114. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
115. Samaki 4 Community (Phnom Penh)
116. Samaki Romeas Haek Community (Svay Rieng)
117. Sambok Chab Community (Phnom Penh)
118. Setrey Klaing Sang Community (Phnom Penh)
119. Samros Koh Sdach Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
120. Sdey Krom Fishery Community (Battambang)
121. SILAKA
122. Skun Land Community (Siem Reap)
123. SOS International Airport Community (Phnom Penh)
124. Spean Chhes Community (Preah Sihanouk)
125. Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chnang)
126. Sre Prang Community (Tbong Khmum)
127. Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource Community (Kampong Chnang)
128. Stung Bot Land community (Banteay Meanchey)
129. Tani Land Community (Siem Reap)
130. Ta Noun Land Community (Koh Kong)
131. The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
132. Thnong Land Community (Koh Kong)
133. Thmar Da Community (Pursat)
134. Thmar Thom Community (Preah Sihanouk)
135. Toul Rada Community (Phnom Penh)
136. Trapeang Chour Community (Kampong Speu)
137. Trapeang Ropov Community (Kampot)
138. Transparency International Cambodia (TI)
139. Union Service Workers of ALASKA Massage Center (USWAMC)
140. Union Service Workers of CHEVRON COMPANY (CAMBODIA) LIMITED SIEMREAP (USWCSR)
141. Union of Food and Service of Cambodia Beverage Company LTD
142. Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP)

PDF format: Download full statement in English – Download full statement in Khmer

Municipality of Phnom Penh, in cooperation with local authorities, has relocated Banteay Sleuk community, located in Village 4, Sangkat Tumnup Teuk, Khan Boeung Keng Kang, Phnom Penh (behind Sovanna Shopping Mall). 87 households were moved to a  relocation site  in the 7NG development area, about 30 kilometres away from their old homes. This eviction and relocation was implemented on the morning of Saturday July 11, 2020.

Before the eviction and relocation, the administration of Mulnicipality of Phnom Penh, in cooperation with Boeung Keng Kang District, invited all 87 families for a meeting on the morning of July 8, 2020, for allocating relocation plots of land. The families recieved a plot of land with a width of 4 meters and a length of 15 meters (4m x 15m). The authorities offered only three days for people to prepare to move from their old location, which was not discussed during the meeting on July 8.

In response to the authorities’ action, the community has asked all relevant authorities to delay the demolition of their houses on the grounds that this is a time when almost all residents are facing many problems, especially loss of revenue due to the problem of the Covid-19 epidemic and now is the onset of the raining season. One community member said,

“If we relocate now, there will not be enough money to build a new house at the new location, because we only received compensation for land and $100 from Municipality of Phnom Penh.”

According to some of the communities that STT has interviewed, the fact that community residents are not protesting directly against their eviction and relocation is not evidence that they agree to be relocated or that their human rights are being respected.

Therefore, in relation to the process of relocating this poor community and as a civil society organization working directly with the urban poor, STT would like to request the Phnom Penh Municipality and all authorities respect the rights of the people to adequate housing. The United Nations “Guidelines on Evictions and Resettlement” should be implemented effectively and ensure that it is a participatory solution that involves the community. In addition, we ask the authorities resolve these issues by providing fair and equitable compensation to the remaining families and continue to support the families who have been relocated by providing public services such as water, electricity, roads, as well as employment opportunities or additional compensation if they are not able to find work.

May 18, 2020 – We, the undersigned civil society groups, urgently call on the government to drop all charges against imprisoned journalists Sok Oudom and Sovann Rithy and to halt all harassment of other journalists in Cambodia facing prosecution for their critical reporting. We also urge the government to immediately restore the broadcasting licenses of all media outlets revoked before and during this latest assault on press freedom.

Police arrested local radio station owner Sok Oudom in Kampong Chhnang province on Wednesday on charges of “incitement to commit a felony”. Oudom regularly reported on longstanding land disputes between local farming communities and powerful district officials. The day before Oudom’s arrest, the Ministry of Information revoked the media license of his Rithysen Radio Station and its website, despite the fact that Oudom had yet to be charged with any crime. He remains in pre-trial detention.

The incarceration of Sok Oudom and the abrupt silencing of his media outlet follows the arrest of popular journalist Sovann Rithy in early April for accurately quoting Prime Minister Hun Sen’s own words from a public speech on the government’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing the nation, the Prime Minister publicly and repeatedly stated that the government did not have enough money to support informal workers such as motorcycle taxi drivers through the COVID-19 economic crisis, and advised bankrupt taxi drivers to sell their vehicles in order to survive.

When Rithy reposted the Prime Minister’s remarks on his personal Facebook page, he was arrested that night and charged two days later – again with of “incitement to commit a felony”. Rithy’s news outlet TV FB stripped of its broadcasting license the day after his arrest. Rithy remains in pre-trial detention, having missed the birth of his child while in prison. Both Oudom and Rithy face up to two years in prison if convicted.

By arresting and charging a journalist for publicly quoting the Prime Minister’s own words about the pandemic, the government is sending a clear message that any discussion of the government’s response to the outbreak can and will be punished by imprisonment – a violation of the rights of all Cambodians.

Since the start of the year, at least a dozen journalists have been summoned and questioned by police and judicial authorities as a result of their reporting. The ongoing arrest, detention and judicial harassment of journalists for critical reporting is a serious violation of the Cambodian people’s right to information.

We strongly object to the arbitrary arrest and persecution of any journalist in Cambodia targeted over their reporting. Faced with an unprecedented public health crisis, it is now more important than ever that the government guarantees the right to a free press and freedom of expression. Without journalists who are free to honestly and accurately report on the reality of life in Cambodia during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the public are denied the right to make informed decisions to keep themselves and their families safe.

We call on the government to drop all charges against these journalists and to immediately halt this latest crackdown on press freedom in Cambodia.

Signed,
1. 92 Community (Phnom Penh)
2. 185K Tita Chambak Thom Community (Kampong Chnang)
3. 197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
4. 297 Land Community (Koh Kong)
5. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
6. Angdoung Thmor Community (Preah Sihanouk)
7. Angdoung Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
8. Areng Indigenous Community (Koh Kong)
9. Bat Khteah Community (Preah Sihanouk)
10. Boeng Chhuk Community (Phnom Penh)
11. Boeung Kak Community (Kampong Chhnang)
12. Boeung Pram Community (Battambang)
13. Borei Keila Community (Phnom Penh)
14. Bos Sa Am Community (Battambang)
15. Buddhism for Peace Organization (BPO)
16. Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
17. Building Community Voice (BCV)
18. CamASEAN Youth’s Future (CamASEAN)
19. Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
20. Cambodia Indigineous Youth Association (CIYA) (Ratanakiri)
21. Cambodia Youth and Monk Network (CYMN)
22. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
23. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
24. Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
25. Cambodian Domestic Workers Network (CDWN)
26. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
27. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
28. Cambodian Informal Economy Workers Association (CIWA)
29. Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA)
30. Cambodian Journalists Alliance (CamboJA)
31. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
32. Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation (CTSWF)
33. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
34. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
35. Chek Meas Land Community (Svay Rieng)
36. Chikor Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
37. Chikor Leu Land Community (Koh Kong)
38. Choeung Prey Community (Kampong Cham)
39. Chorm Kravean Community (Kampong Cham)
40. Chray Indigenous Community (Ratanakiri)
41. Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability (CISA)
42. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C. CAWDU)
43. Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
44. Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW)
45. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
46. Community for Nature Protection (Pursat)
47. Da Commune Community (Kampong Cham)
48. Dok Por Community (Kampong Speu)
49. Equitable Cambodia (EC)
50. Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
51. Forestry and Natural Resource Community (Pursat)
52. Free Trade Union of Workers of Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC)
53. Horng Samnom Community (Kampong Speu)
54. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
55. Independent Monk Network for Social Justice (IMNSJ)
56. Indradevi Association (IDA)
57. Kbal Tahean Forestry Community (Pursat)
58. Kean Teuk Land Community (Koh Kong)
59. Khmer Thavrak
60. Khmum Srakar Thlok Risey Community (Kampong Thom)
61. Klaing Teuk 78 Community (Siem Reap)
62. Koh Sdech Land Community (Koh Kong)
63. Koh Sralao Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
64. Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
65. Land Community (Pailin)
66. Lor Peang Land Community (Kampong Chhnang)
67. Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC)
68. Network for Prey Lang Protection in Mean Rith Commune (Kampong Thom)
69. Not 1 More (N1M)
70. Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC)
71. Orm Laing Community (Kampong Spue)
72. Ou Ampil Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
73. Ou Chheu Teal Community (Preah Sihanouk)
74. Ou Tracheak Chet Community (Preah Sihanouk)
75. Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
76. Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
77. Peam Reus Community (Kampong Speu)
78. Phnom Bat Community (Phnom Penh)
79. Phnom Thnort Community (Kampot)
80. Phsar Kandal Village Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
81. Phnom Kram Community (Siem Reap)
82. Phnom Sleuk Community (Battambang)
83. Phnom Torteong Community (Kampot)
84. Phum 22 Community (Phnom Penh)
85. Phum Dei Chhnang Community (Kampong Speu)
86. Phum Khva Community (Phnom Penh)
87. Phum Samut Kram Community (Ratanakiri)
88. Phum Ou Svay Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
89. Phum Prasat Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
90. Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
91. Ponlok Khmer (PKH)
92. Prek Ksach Land Community (Koh Kong)
93. Prek Takung Community (Phnom Penh)
94. Prek Tanou Community (Phnom Penh)
95. Prek Trae Community (Preah Sihanouk)
96. Prey Chher Pich Sangva Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chhnang)
97. Prey Lang Community (Kampong Thom)
98. Prey Cheou Ou Domdek Community (Kampong Thom)
99. Prey Norin Community (Battambang)
100. Prey Peay Land Community (Kampot)
101. Railway Community (Phnom Penh)
102. Raksmey Samaki Community (Kampong Speu)
103. Rattanak Rokha Forestry Community (Oddar Meanchey)
104. Rum Cheik Land Community (Siem Reap)
105. Russey Sras Community (PP)
106. Samaki 4 Community (Phnom Penh)
107. Samaki Rung Roeung Community (Phnom Penh)
108. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
109. Sambok Chab Community (Phnom Penh)
110. Sdey Krom Fishery Community (Battambang)
111. Skun Land Community (Siem Reap)
112. Somros Koh Sdech Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
113. SOS International Airport Community (Phnom Penh)
114. Spean Chhes Community (Preah Sihanouk)
115. Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chnang)
116. Sre Prang Community (Tbong Khmum)
117. Steung Bort village Land community (Banteay Meanchey)
118. Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource (Kampong Chhnang)
119. Steung Meanchey Community (Phnom Penh)
120. Strey Klaing Sang Community (Phnom Penh)
121. Tani Land Community (Siem Reap)
122. Ta Noun Land Community (Koh Kong)
123. Ta Pen Community (Siem Reap)
124. The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
125. Thnong Land Community (Koh Kong)
126. Trapaing Chor Community (Kampong Speu)
127. Trapaing Krasaing Land Community (Siem Reap)
128. Thmor Da Community (Pursat)
129. Thmor Thom Community (Preah Sihanouk)
130. Toul Rada Community (Phnom Penh)
131. Toul Sangke A Community (PP)
132. Tunlong Community (Kampong Cham)

You can download the reports as PDF files here! Khmer – English

Phnom Penh, 13 May 2020 – Without urgent and substantial amendment, the new Law on the Management of the Nation in State of Emergency (“State of Emergency Law”) grants the Royal Government of Cambodia (“RGC”) powers to restrict the fundamental freedoms of the Cambodian people without limit. The recently promulgated State of Emergency Law was impulsively drafted without adequate consultation to protect and promote human rights. While we acknowledge that the RGC has stated that their goal in drafting this law was to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, we, the undersigned civil society organizations (“CSOs”) and communities, are very concerned that this law grants the RGC excessive powers to restrict fundamental freedoms and therefore poses a serious threat to human rights. We call on the RGC to undertake immediate and meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (“OHCHR”), and substantially amend the State of Emergency Law to ensure its compliance with Cambodia’s human rights obligations.

The State of Emergency Law was hastily passed in the context of a years-long government campaign to suppress and silence dissenting voices among the Cambodian public, civil society and independent media. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, civil society has witnessed increased restrictions by the RGC on the Cambodian people’s right to freedom of expression as guaranteed in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia (the “Constitution”). These measures have included the arrests of 40 people accused of sharing ‘fake news’ about the virus, as reported by the national police, the arrest of prominent reporter Sovann Rithy and the revocation of TVFB’s broadcasting license as well as public threats to arrest human rights defenders who have commented on the government’s response to the pandemic. We are legitimately concerned that this campaign of silencing the Cambodian people could be exacerbated through implementation of the State of Emergency Law.

A declaration of a state of public emergency is not a free-for-all on human rights. Under domestic and international law, Cambodia may introduce legislation to govern states of emergency to ensure public emergencies are managed in accordance with the law, and many states globally have already enacted such legislation. Cambodia’s introduction of a State of Emergency Law is in line with Article 22 of the Constitution and Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“ICCPR”). However, in its current form, the State of Emergency Law presents an alarming risk to human rights in Cambodia. The law provides the RGC with extensive powers to implement measures restricting human rights with few limitations in place to ensure they are enforced in compliance with the law.

Under international law, if a measure departs from the RGC’s human rights obligations in an emergency, it must be strictly necessary and objectively proportionate to the situation. This means the RGC must ensure the nature and scope of powers are tailored to the severity and type of each particular emergency. In addition, it must comply with other international laws, and must not discriminate based upon race, color, sex, language, religion or social origin. These legal requirements, taken from the ICCPR, are given constitutional status in Cambodia and are directly applicable in domestic law. Although the RGC indicated in its recent letter to the OHCHR that this law would be implemented cautiously based on the principles in the ICCPR, these limitations must be written into the law to prevent misapplication or abuse. A number of the provisions in the State of Emergency Law do not comply with these standards. Our concerns include:

1. Article 5:  The powers granted to the government under Article 5 are particularly alarming. The law prescribes vague, sweeping and unfettered powers to the government to implement measures during states of emergency, including restricting or prohibiting movement, free speech and business activities, closing public and private spaces, surveilling communication as well as monitoring and controlling social media. If a state of emergency was declared, these measures are likely to severely constrain a range of fundamental freedoms including freedom of association, assembly, information, movement, as well as the right to work and the right to ownership of property. There are no limitations written into Article 5 restraining these measures in compliance with human rights law, meaning the law could easily be wielded without respect for human rights and to inappropriately target individuals, CSOs or the free media. Article 5 must be amended to include strictly defined limitations and conditions to the powers granted to mandate respect for human rights while responding to emergencies and ensure the law is not used to further silence or intimidate dissenting voices.
2. The criminal offenses in Articles 7, 8 and 9: the potential for using the law to target human rights defenders, civil society, the media, as well as members of the public, is exacerbated by the imprecise criminal offenses created by the law which mandate severe penalties for not complying with emergency measures for both individuals and organizations. The RGC must revisit the ambiguous wording of Articles 7, 8 and 9 to ensure they uphold the principles of legality and proportionality and to protect the law from manipulation to target civic space, free media, and dissenting voices.
3. The lack of government accountability: despite granting extensive powers to the RGC, the State of Emergency Law includes very little in terms of checks and balances. Article 3 mandates that a decision by the National Assembly or Senate to terminate a State of Emergency must be made by Royal Decree at the request of the Prime Minister.  This clause illegitimately transfers oversight power to end a State of Emergency from the National Assembly and Senate to the Prime Minister and is a clear violation of Article 86 and 102 of the Cambodian Constitution. Article 6, which is intended to provide a degree of oversight and accountability, is a hollow provision that is insufficient to safeguard the law’s implementation. While we recognize the RGC has stated in its letter to the OHCHR that they intend to implement the provisions in compliance with human rights law and are “committed to its obligations in accordance with Article 4 of the ICCPR”, there are no provisions in the law itself enforcing this. This is not sufficient, and the law must be revised to introduce an adequate and independent oversight mechanism to prevent abuse and misapplication. Without government culpability, the executive powers are limitless.

During times of crisis and public emergencies, it is more important than ever for the RGC to respect their human rights obligations, and this respect needs to be embedded into legislative responses. While we recognize the prioritization of protecting the right to health during the COVID-19 crisis, this must be balanced with respect for all human rights.

We call on the government to undertake inclusive and legitimate consultation with stakeholders with a vision to amend the law. These amendments must include limitations on the exercise of power by the RGC to ensure the law is not susceptible to abuse and to bring the law into compliance with Cambodia’s human rights obligations.

This statement is endorsed by:

—END—

You can download the reports as PDF files here! Khmer – English

May 04, 2020 – We the undersigned groups decry the harassment of community representatives
from across Cambodia on Tuesday, April 28. These community representatives were arbitrarily
detained for seven hours and interrogated while trying to submit a petition asking for additional
government assistance to vulnerable communities during the Covid-19 crisis.

More than 30 community representatives from across Cambodia gathered in Phnom Penh to submit
the petition, which has life-saving requests such as asking the government to distribute medical
supplies to vulnerable communities; suspend debts from microfinance institutions (MFIs) and
private money lenders; and provide direct economic assistance, including suspending rental fees for
poor and informal workers and providing stay-at-home payments.

During this process, community representatives were repeatedly asked by authorities, including
police officers, what organisations were “behind” this petition, who authored the petition, and were
questioned about whether they really faced the problems listed. Many questions focused on the
community members’ microfinance debt, and some representatives were asked about their personal
financial situation and were required to provide proof of debts to MFIs to district authorities. At least
two community representatives were additionally summonsed and harassed after they returned
home to their communities by local authorities.

These interrogations are insulting and appear predicated on the mistrust of vocal communities who
actively exercise their right to freely express themselves. They ignore the reality that independent
communities across Cambodia have advocated for their rights for decades, in particular around
crucial issues such as land rights. This harassment is unjustified and should never have taken place,
particularly when the Interior Ministry has repeatedly claimed that grassroots communities have the
right to conduct activities free from disturbance and in accordance with the law.

On the morning of April 28, community representatives gathered in Phnom Penh but were denied
permission to submit the petition to the Council of Ministers. They were instead directed by
authorities to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cabinet, but officials there declined to accept the petition
because it was addressed to the Council of Ministers. Copies were successfully delivered to the
Ministry of Health and Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The petition was signed by 141 communities across the country and seeks to address the health and
economic impacts of the Covid-19 virus, which disproportionately affect vulnerable communities in
rural areas as well as Phnom Penh. It notes that government schemes such as ID Poor are not yet
comprehensive or fully effective, and encourages the government to take a more holistic approach to
fighting the economic impact of the virus. It also includes a call for an immediate halt on all evictions
during the Covid-19 crisis in order to protect community members and authorities from the virus.

After meeting with authorities and police officers at Hun Sen’s Cabinet, nine community members
were asked by officials to discuss the petition further at the Daun Penh district office at around 3:00
p.m. They were detained in the district office for more than 7 hours, denied permission to leave and
were never provided legal justification for their detention. During their detention, they faced
interrogation from authorities until after 10:00 p.m. Some representatives were deliberately singled
out and questioned individually, and then had answers compared to other representatives –
interrogation techniques more commonly used on criminals, not peaceful petitioners. Some
representatives were also ordered to unlock and hand over their smartphones, and were questioned
repeatedly about who authored the petition, as well as their personal financial relationships with
MFIs.

At the end of the interrogation, community representatives were coerced into thumbprinting
documents that seek to restrict their right to continue advocating on behalf of their communities
prior to being allowed to leave the district office.

These community representatives should have been welcomed by their government and treated with
dignity while they shared the legitimate concerns of tens of thousands of community members across
Cambodia. The community representatives set out with the intention to inform their government
about the problems in their communities and never demanded anything other than that their
requests be considered in the government’s response to Covid-19. We strongly decry their treatment
at the hands of authorities.

Signed,
1. 92 Community (Phnom Penh)
2. 104 Community (Phnom Penh)
3. 105 Community (Phnom Penh)
4. 197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
5. 297 Land Community (Koh Kong)
6. 185K Tita Chambak Thom Community (Kampong Chnang)
7. Activities for Environment Community (AEC)
8. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
9. Anlong Run Community (Battambang)
10. Angdoung Thmor Community (Preah Sihanouk)
11. Ang Svay Community (Kampot)
12. Aphivoth Thmei Community (Phnom Penh)
13. Areng Indigenous Community (Koh Kong)
14. Association of Domestic Workers (ADW)
15. Association to Support Vulnerable Women (ASVW)
16. Bat Khteah Community (Preah Sihanouk)
17. Banteay Srey Community (Phnom Penh)
18. Banteay Srei (Phnom Penh)
19. Blog Kanva Thmei Community (Phnom Penh)
20. Boeung Chuk Community (Phnom Penh)
21. Boeung Chuk A Community (Phnom Penh)
22. Boeung Chuk Meanchey Thmei 1 (Phnom Penh)
23. Boeung Chuk Niroth (Phnom Penh)
24. Boeung Kak Community (Kampong Chnang)
25. Boeung Pram Community (Battambang)
26. Bos Sa Am Community (Battambang)
27. Bos Snao Community (Kampong Cham)
28. Borei Keila Community (Phnom Penh)
29. Borei Sontepheap Community (Phnom Penh)
30. Brosre Community (Prey Veng)
31. Buddhism for Peace Organization (BPO)
32. Building Community Voice (BCV)
33. Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
34. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
35. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
36. CamASEAN Youth’s Future (CamASEAN)
37. Cambodian Domestic Workers Network (CDWN)
38. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
39. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
40. Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
41. Cambodian Informal Economy Workers Association (CIWA)
42. Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA)
43. Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC)
44. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
45. Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation (CTSWF)
46. Cambodia Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF)
47. Cambodia Youth and Monk Network (CYMN)
48. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
49. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
50. Chak Krey land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
51. Chamroeun Community (Phnom Penh)
52. Chang Kum 1 Community (Tbong Khmum)
53. Chang Kum Kandal Community (Tbong Khmum)
54. Chek Meas Land Community (Svay Rieng)
55. Cheko Community (Phnom Penh)
56. Cheung Ek Group 3 Community (Phnom Penh)
57. Cheung Ek Group 4 Community (Phnom Penh)
58. Cheung Prey Community (Kampong Cham)
59. Chikor Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
60. Chikor Leu Land Community (Koh Kong)
61. Chhuk Sor Community (Siem Reap)
62. Chorm Kravean Community (Kampong Cham)
63. Chray Indigenous Community (Ratanakiri)
64. Chung Ampol Community (Prey Veng)
65. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C. CAWDU)
66. C I 5 Community (Preah Sihanouk)
67. Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
68. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
69. Community for Nature Protection (Pursat)
70. Democratic Union of Worker of Angkor Beer Company
71. Deum Moklue Community (Phnom Penh)
72. Dok Por Community (Kampong Speu)
73. Dombe Community (Tbong Khmum)
74. Equitable Cambodia (EC)
75. Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
76. Fishery Resource Development Community (Kampong Chhnang)
77. Forest and Biodiversity Preservation Community (Svay Rieng)
78. Forestry and Natural Resource Community (Pursat)
79. Forestry Resource Conservation and Development Community (Kampong Chnang)
80. Horng Samnom Community (Kampong Speu)
81. Indigenous Youth Group (IYG)
82. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
83. Independent Monk Network for Social Justice (IMNSJ)
84. Independent Trade Union Federation (INTUFE)
85. Indradevi Association (IDA)
86. Kam Braes Community (Tbong Khmum)
87. Kbal Hongteuk Community (Preah Sihanouk)
88. Kbal Tahean Forestry Community (Pursat)
89. Khmum Srakar Thlok Risey Community (Kampong Thom)
90. Khmer Thavrak
91. Khum Da Community (Kampong Cham)
92. Khva Community (Phnom Penh)
93. Klaing Teuk 78 Community (Siem Reap)
94. Kok Tarea Community (Takev)
95. Koh Sdech Land Community (Koh Kong)
96. Koh Sralao Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
97. Krei Kra Community (Phnom Penh)
98. Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
99. Land Community (Pailin)
100. Lom Touk Community (Siem Reap)
101. Lor Peang Land Community (Kampong Chhnang)
102. Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
103. Minority Rights Organization (MIRO)
104. Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC)
105.Network for Prey Long Protection in Mean Rith Commune (Kampong Thom)
106.Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC)
107.Not 1 More (N1M)
108. Orm Laing Community (Kampong Speu)
109. Ou Ampil Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
110. Ou Chheu Teal Community (Preah Sihanouk)
111. Ou Damrei Community (Preah Sihanouk)
112. Ou Kampuchea Community (Preah Sihanouk)
113. Ou Khsach Community (Preah Sihanouk)
114. Ou Tracheak Chet Community (Preah Sihanouk)
115. Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
116. Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
117. Peam Rus Community (Kampong Speu)
118. People Center for Development and Peace (PCDP)
119. Phnom Bat Community (Phnom Penh)
120. Phnom Kram Community (Siem Reap)
121. Phnom Torteong Community (Kampot)
122. Phnom Thnort Community (Kampot)
123. Phnom Sleuk Community (Battambang)
124. Phsar Kandal Village Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
125. Phum 3 Community (Phnom Penh)
126. Phum 17 Community (Phnom Penh)
127. Phum 21 Community (Phnom Penh)
128. Phum Andong Community (Phnom Penh)
129. Phum Baku Community (Phnom Penh)
130. Phum Bo Loy Community (Ratanakiri)
131. Phum Dei Chhnang Community (Kampong Speu)
132. Phum Koh Norea Community (Phnom Penh)
133. Phum Prek Punlea Community (Phnom Penh)
134. Phum Samut Kram Community (Phnom Penh)
135. Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
136. Phum Ou Svay Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
137. Phum Teuk Thla Community (Phnom Penh)
138. Ponlok Khmer (PKH)
139. Prek Ksach Land Community (Koh Kong)
140. Prek Takung 3 Community (Phnom Penh)
141. Prek Takung 60 meters Community (Phnom Penh)
142. Prek Tangov Community (Phnom Penh)
143. Prek Tanou Community (Phnom Penh)
144. Prek Trae Community (Preah Sihanouk)
145. Prey Cheou Ou Domdek Community (Kampong Thom)
146. Prey Lang Community (Kampong Thom)
147. Prey Peay Fishery Community (Kampot)
148. Prey Chher Pich Sangva Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chnang)
149. Pun Leu Khemara Community (Phnom Penh)
150. Tunlong Community (Kampong Cham)
151. Railway Community (Phnom Penh)
152. Raksmey Samaki Community (Kampong Speu)
153. Rattanak Rokha Forestry Community (Udar Meanchey)
154. Reak Chmamroeun Community (Phnom Penh)
155. Rolous Cherng Ek Community (Phnom Penh)
156. Romdoul Svay Rieng (Svay Rieng)
157. Roum Met Community (Phnom Penh)
158. Rum Cheik Land Community (Siem Reap)
159. Rural Cambodia Technological Support Organisation (RCTSO)
160. Russey Sras Community (Phnom Penh)
161. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
162. Samaki 4 Community (Phnom Penh)
163. Samaki Romeas Haek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
164. Samaki Rong Roeung community (Phnom Penh)
165. SAMKY Organization
166. Samrong Meachey Community (Phnom Penh)
167. Samrong Tbong Community (Phnom Penh)
168. Sdey Krom Fishery Community (Battambang)
169. Seang Kveang Community (Prey Veng)
170. Setrey Klaing Sang Community (Phnom Penh)
171. Sen Reakreay Community (Phnom Penh)
172. Smar Sman Community (Phnom Penh)
173. Somros Koh Sdech Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
174. SOS International Airport Community (Phnom Penh)
175. Spean Chhes Community (Preah Sihanouk)
176. Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chnang)
177. Sre Prang Community (Tbong Khmum)
178. Steung Bort village Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
179. Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource Community (Kampong Chnang)
180. Steung Meanchey Community (Phnom Penh)
181. Tani Land Community (Siem Reap)
182. Ta Noun Land Community (Koh Kong)
183. Ta Pen Community (Siem Reap)
184. The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
185. Thmor Da Community (Pursat)
186. Thmor Thom Community (Preah Sihanouk)
187. Thmor Koal Community (Phnom Penh)
188. Thnong Land Community (Koh Kong)
189. Toul Rada Community (Phnom Penh)
190. Toul Sambo Aphivoth Community (Phnom Penh)
191. Toul Sangke A Community (Phnom Penh)
192. Toul Sangke B Community (Phnom Penh)
193. Trapaing Anchanh Community (Phnom Penh)
194. Trapaing Chor Community (Phnom Penh)
195. Trapaing Krasaing Land Community (Siem Reap)
196. Trapaing Sangke Community (Kampot)
197. Trapaing Raing Community (Phnom Penh)
198. Trapaing Ropov Community (Kampot)
199. Union Service Workers of ALASKA Massage Center (USWAMC)
200. Union Service Workers of CHEVRON COMPANY (CAMBODIA) LIMITED SIEMREAP
(USWCSR)
201. Union of Food and Service of Cambodia Beverage Company LTD

PDF format: Download full statement in English – Download full statement in Khmer

April 27, 2020 – The suffering of millions of Cambodians who are facing economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic is being amplified by the country’s ongoing over-indebtedness crisis, stemming from more than $10 billion in loans from aggressive microfinance institutions (MFIs). More than two and a half million Cambodians currently hold microloans, with an average loan of more than $3,800 – the largest amount in the world. This puts millions of Cambodians’ livelihoods, health and land tenure security at risk.

The government must ensure that MFIs immediately suspend all loan repayments as well as interest accrual on loans for at least three months and return the millions of land titles currently held as collateral by MFIs to their owners. These actions are necessary to ensure that people are able to survive this crisis without risking their health or homes, and are able to avoid further risky loans that could lead to bonded labour, human trafficking and other human rights abuses.

Millions of workers in the tourism, garment and construction sector are facing layoffs and loss of wages. Government efforts to subsidise these losses have so far fallen short of fulfilling workers’ basic needs. Cambodia’s MFI debt – much of it collateralised with millions of borrowers’ land titles – exponentially heightens the short- and long-term risks of this economic crisis.

We recognise the steps already taken by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) to encourage MFIs to offer re-scheduling and loan deferment on a case-by-case basis, and that Amret Microfinance Institution has announced deferments of both principal and interest payments for three months for some of their borrowers upon request. However, Cambodia has over 80 MFIs, and a case-by-case process will not work fast enough for the 2.6 million borrowers who need immediate relief. A more systematic approach is urgently needed. The NBC and Cambodian government should issue a sector-wide directive ordering MFIs to give all borrowers immediate relief, including returning their most valuable asset – their land titles – and suspending all repayments and interest accrual for at least 3 months, with the possibility of longer-term relief if the crisis continues.

All people, including MFI borrowers, deserve unhindered access to their land titles – now more than ever. The coming months will likely see hundreds of thousands of Cambodians lose jobs or wages in Thailand and Cambodia, and many of these people will return to their homeland in the countryside. Land tenure security has long been a difficult thing to ensure in Cambodia, and the risk posed by microfinance debt is far too pressing to ignore. Immediate steps must be taken to ensure that no one is forced to sell their land to make loan repayments during this economic crisis. The best way to avoid this dispossession crisis is to return land titles held by MFIs to their rightful owners and suspend repayments.

In addition, MFI debt disproportionally affects women, who make up 75% of MFI borrowers in Cambodia. The COVID-19 crisis has already sharply decreased demand in the garment sector, where 80% of the workers are women. While many Cambodians will be worrying about their next meal or how to afford basic necessities in the coming weeks and months, they should not have to worry about making a monthly payment to an MFI ¬– particularly if non-payment could result in the loss of their land.

We understand the suspension of loan payments will have negative effects for MFIs. We also understand they will be taking on additional risk after returning the land titles used as collateral to their owners. However, this risk is commonly carried by MFIs in other countries, which rarely use an asset as fundamental as a land title for microloan collateral. In addition, Cambodia’s MFI sector is highly profitable and has vastly greater access to capital and assistance than the average Cambodian household. All seven of the deposit-taking MFIs – which together hold the vast majority of all MFI loans – are owned by foreign entities, some of which are subsidiaries of some of the largest financial institutions in the world, others of which are European state-owned development banks. As MFIs in Cambodia have long claimed to be invested in the well-being of the poor and vulnerable, this crisis demands that MFIs give immediate relief to their borrowers.

We strongly urge the government and MFIs to prioritise the health and livelihood of Cambodian borrowers above all else by immediately suspending all MFI loan repayments and loan interest accrual for at least three months as well as returning land titles to their rightful owners.

Signed,

1. 92 Community (Phnom Penh)
2. 197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
3. 297 Land Community (Koh Kong)
4. 185K Tita Chambak Thom Community (Kampong Chnang)
5. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
6. Anlong Run Community (Battambang)
7. Angdoung Thmor Community (Preah Sihanouk)
8. Boeung Chuk community (Phnom Penh)
9. Boeung Chuk A community (Phnom Penh)
10. Boeung Chuk Meanchey Thmei 2 (Phnom Penh)
11. Boeung Kak Community (Kampong Chhnang)
12. Boeung Pram Community (Battambang)
13. Boeung Trabek 4 community (Phnom Penh)
14. Bos Sa Am Community (Battambang)
15. Borei Sontepheap community (Phnom Penh)
16. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
17. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
18. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
19. Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
20. Cambodian Informal Economy Workers Association (CIWA)
21. Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA)
22. Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC)
23. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
24. Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation (CTSWF)
25. Cambodia Youth and Monk Network (CYMN)
26. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
27. Center for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
28. Chak Krey land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
29. Chek Meas Land Community (Svay Rieng)
30. Chikor Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
31. Chikor Leu Land Community (Koh Kong)
32. Choeung Prey Community (Kampong Cham)
33. Chorm Kravean Community (Kampong Cham)
34. Chray Indigenous Community (Ratanakiri)
35. C I 5 Community (Preah Sihanouk)
36. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C.CAWDU)
37. Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
38. Community Peace-Building Network (CPN)
39. Community for Nature Protection (Pursat)
40. Deum Sroul Community (Phnom Penh)
41. Dok Por Community (Kampong Speu)
42. Dombe Community (Tbong Khmum)
43. Equitable Cambodia (EC)
44. Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
45. Fishery Resource Development Community (Kampong Chhnang)
46. Forest and Biodiversity Preservation Community (Svay Rieng)
47. Gender and Development Cambodia (GADC)
48. Horng Samnom Community (Kampong Speu)
49. Indradevi Association (IDA)
50. Indigenous Youth Group (IYG)
51. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
52. Kbal Tahean Forestry Community (Pursat)
53. Kean Teuk Land Community (Koh Kong)
54. Khmum Srakar Thlok Risey Community (Kampong Thom)
55. Khmer Thavrak
56. Klaing Teuk 78 Community (Siem Reap)
57. Koh Sdech Land Community (Koh Kong)
58. Koh Sralao Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
59. Lom Touk Community (Siem Reap)
60. Lor Peang Land Community (Kampong Chhnang)
61. Meanchey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
62. M’lop Tapang
63. Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC)
64. Network for Prey Long Protection in Mean Rith Commune (Kampong Thom)
65. Neutral and Imparial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC)
66. Orm Laing Community (Kampong Spue)
67. Ou Ampil Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
68. Ou Chheu Teal Community (Preah Sihanouk)
69. Ou Khsach Community (Preah Sihanouk)
70. Ou Tracheak Chet Community (Preah Sihanouk)
71. Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
72. Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
73. Phnom Kram Community (Siem Reap)
74. Phnom Thnort Community (Kampot)
75. Phnom Torteong Community (Kampot)
76. Phnom Sleuk Community (Battambang)
77. Phsar Kandal Village Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
78. Phum 23 Community (Phnom Penh)
79. Phum Bo Loy Community (Ratanakiri)
80. Phum Dei Chhnang Community (Kampong Speu)
81. Phum Prasat Rang Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
82. Phum Prasat Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
83. Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
84. Phum Ou Svay Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
85. Ponlok Khmer (PKH)
86. Prek Ksach Land Community (Koh Kong)
87. Prek Takung Community (Phnom Penh)
88. Prek Takung 3 community (Phnom Penh)
89. Prek Takung 60 meters community (Phnom Penh)
90. Prek Tanou Community (Phnom Penh)
91. Prey Cheou Ou Domdek Community (Kampong Thom)
92. Prey Long Community (Kampong Thom)
93. Prey Peay Fishery Community (Kampot)
94. Tunlong Community (Kampong Cham)
95. Railway community (Phnom Penh)
96. Raksmey Samaki Community (Kampong Speu)
97. Rolous Cherng Ek community (Phnom Penh)
98. Roum Met community (Phnom Penh)
99. Rum Cheik Land Community (Siem Reap)
100. Russey Sras community (Phnom Penh)
101. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
102. Samaki 4 Community (Phnom Penh)
103. Samaki 3.1 community (Phnom Penh)
104. Samaki Romeas Haek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
105. Samaki Rong Roeung community (Phnom Penh)
106. Samrong Meachey (Phnom Penh)
107. Samrong Tbong community (Phnom Penh)
108. Sdey Krom Fishery Community (Battambang)
109. Setrey Klaing Sang community (Phnom Penh)
110. Sen Rekreay community (Phnom Penh)
111. Smar Sman community (Phnom Penh)
112. Skun Land Community (Siem Reap)
113. Somros Koh Sdech Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
114. SOS International Airport Community (Phnom Penh)
115. Spean Chhes Community (Preah Sihanouk)
116. Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chnang)
117. Sre Prang Community (Tboung Khmum)
118. Steung Bort village Land community (Banteay Meanchey)
119. Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource (Kampong Chhnang)
120. Steung Meanchey community (Phnom Penh)
121. Tani Land Community (Siem Reap)
122. Ta Noun Land Community (Koh Kong)
123. The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
124. Thmor Da Community (Pursat)
125. Thmor Thom Community (Preah Sihanouk)
126. Thnong Land Community (Koh Kong)
127. Toul Rada Community (Phnom Penh)
128. Toul Sangke A community (Phnom Penh)
129. Toul Sangke B Community (Phnom Penh)
130. Trapaing Chor Community (Kampong Speu)
131. Trapaing Krasaing Land Community (Siem Reap)
132. Trapaing Sangke Community (Kampot)
133. Trapaing Raing community (Phnom Penh)
134. Trapaing Ropov Community (Kampot)
135. Rural Cambodia Technological Support Organisation (RCTSO)

PDF format: Download full statement in English – Download full statement in Khmer

January 16, 2020 – We, the undersigned Cambodian civil society groups, call on the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to ensure that the long-awaited trial of former opposition leader Kem Sokha is open to the public, independent media outlets and the full participation of civil society organisations. We also call on the court to record and broadcast the trial proceedings live, as they have done in the past. Read More