Front Line Defenders have published their latest bulletin and there’s a worrying crackdown on human rights and environmental rights defenders in the country whilst the world is pre-occupied with Covid..
4 September 2020
Cambodia: Three environmental rights defenders arbitrarily detained
On 3 September 2020, three human rights defenders, Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea and Phuong Keorasmey of Mother Nature Cambodia were arrested by Phnom Penh police. The three defenders had recently been demanding an end to exploitation of the Boeung Tamok lake, one of the last large lakes in Phnom Penh. Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea and Phuong Keorasmey will be presented before the Phnom Penh municipal court on 5 September 2020.
Mother Nature Cambodia is an environmental rights organisation that advocates and campaigns locally and internationally for the preservation, promotion and protection of Cambodia’s natural environment. As part of their work, the organisation monitors and challenges gross environmental violations and also raises awareness, educates and empowers people by providing them with training and financial support. In addition, Mother Nature Cambodia also provides opportunities for environmental and human rights defenders and supports local fishermen and indigenous communities defend their rights.
On 3 September 2020, environmental rights defender Thun Ratha, and women environmental rights defenders, Long Kunthea and Phuong Keorasmey of Mother Nature Cambodia, were taken into custody separately by Phnom Penh police. Thun Ratha was picked up by police from his home while he was preparing to livestream the single person march that Long Kunthea planned from Wat Phnom to the Prime Minister’s house. The purpose of this march was to seek a meeting with the Prime Minister and share concerns over pressing environmental issues including the filling in of the Boeung Tamok lake. Phuong Keoreaksmey was going to accompany Long Kunthea and act as a ‘guest’ in the Live show. However, both women defenders were also detained before they could proceed with the march. While police have not released the details of the charges the defenders are facing, they have accused the group of operating a recording studio without a permit and with distributing “false information” on Facebook.
Mother Nature Cambodia and its members have been vocal on the exploitation of the lake since the government’s move in June, authorizing the Ministry of Defence to fill in around 740 acres of the lake to build a military base, which will affect over 300 families who rely on it for their livelihood. In addition to affecting the livelihood of the people, the government’s existing development activities on the lake have also been eliminating crucial reservoirs for rainfall, causing severe flooding in the city during heavy rains. This authorization to the defence ministry was given despite a 2016 decree signed by the Prime Minister stating the lake as public land and by law, public land cannot be sold or leased unless they have lost their “public interest value.”
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the progressively hostile environment for human rights defenders in Cambodia. Front Line Defenders condemns the arrest of Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea and Phuong Keorasmey, and the targeting of Mother Nature Cambodia, as it believes they are being targeted for their legitimate and peaceful work for the protection and preservation of environmental rights.
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea and Phuong Keorasmey, as Front Line Defenders believes that they are being targeted solely as a result of their legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of environmental rights;
2. Ensure that the treatment of Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea and Phuong Keorasmey, while in detention, adheres to the conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment’, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Cambodia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including police and judicial harassment.
Cambodia: Three Human rights defenders of Khmer Thavarak arrested
On 6 and 7 September 2020, three human rights defenders and members of Khmer Thavarak, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy and Eng Malai were arrested by police in Phnom Penh, for planning to take part in a peaceful demonstration to ask for the release of several imprisoned human rights defenders. The three defenders have since been appeared in court, charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” and moved to Phnom Penh Correctional Centers (CC) 1 and 2.
Khmer Thavark is a youth group that was set up in early 2020. The movement advocates against social injustices and raises concerns about pressing environmental issues. They have been in the forefront in raising human rights concerns, and have also been reaching out to large audiences through their social media platforms to educate and raise awareness on various social issues.
On 6 September 2020, Phnom Penh police arrested human rights defender and Buddhist monk, Koet Saray over his plans to participate in a peaceful assembly that was to take place on 7 September 2020 at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh. The demonstration was to call for the release of imprisoned human rights defender Rong Chhun, and to call for the release of imprisoned members of Khmer Thavark, Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy. Koet Saray was presented before the Phnom Penh court on the same day, where he was charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” and later sent to pre-trial detention in Phnom Penh’s CC 1.
The following day, on 7 September 2020, two other members of Khmer Thavarak were arrested by Phnom Penh police. Human rights defender Tha Lavy was arrested while alighting from a tuk-tuk at the Freedom Park, while he was on his way to the demonstration. Woman Human rights defender, Eng Malai was arrested on the same evening, after leaving the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Phnom Penh. On 8 September 2020, both defenders were presented before the Phnom Penh Court, where they were charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” and sent to pre-trial detention, Eng Malai in CC2, and Tha Lavy in CC1.
These arrests follow the arrest of three environmental rights defenders, Long Kunthea, Phoung Keorasmey and Thun Ratha of Mother Nature Cambodia, who were also charged with incitement, for planning to organise a one-woman march to the Prime Minister’s residence to raise awareness about the filling in the Boeung Tamok lake.
Following the initial arrest on Monday, the Ministry of Interior released a statement accusing Khmer Thavarak of inciting instability and disrupting security and public order, and appealed to the public to not participate in any of the youth movement’s ‘illegal’ activities. The Ministry also instructed to take legal action against members of the group, leading to the multiple arrests in the following days.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the progressively hostile environment for human rights defenders in Cambodia. Front Line Defenders condemns the arrest of human rights defenders, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy and woman human rights defender, Eng Malai, as it believes they are being targeted for their legitimate and peaceful work for the protection of human rights.
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Koet Saray, Tha Lavy and Eng Malai and drop the charges against them, as Front Line Defenders believes that they are being targeted solely as a result of their legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Ensure that the treatment of Koet Saray, Tha Lavy and Eng Malai, while in detention, adheres to the conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment’, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Cambodia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including police and judicial harassment.
On 6 September 2020, human rights defender Mean Prommony was arrested by police in Phnom Penh, ahead of his planned participation in a peaceful assembly at Freedom Park the following day. On the same day as his arrest, the defender was taken to the Phnom Penh Court, where he was charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest”. He is currently detained at the Phnom Penh Correctional Center (CC) 1.
Mean Prommony is a human rights defender and the vice-president of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA). The group works on mobilising and building capacity, to increase students’ participation in social development, good government, and sustainable use of natural resources. He has been an active voice, especially amongst youth in the country, raising awareness on social injustices and human rights issues.
On 6 September 2020, Phnom Penh police arrested human rights defender Mean Prommony over his plans to participate in a peaceful assembly that was due to take place the following day at Freedom Park in Phnom Penh. The demonstration was to call for the release of imprisoned human rights defender Rong Chhun, as well as imprisoned members of Khmer Thavarak, Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy. Mean Prommony was presented before the Phnom Penh Court on the same day, where he was charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” and later sent to pre-trial detention in Phnom Penh’s CC 1.
This arrest comes against the backdrop of rising Government intolerance towards defenders in the country. In the past several days, there has been a crackdown on public gatherings, with several human rights defenders currently detained. Front Line Defenders has issued multiple urgent appeals condemning judicial harassment of defenders and urging the Cambodian authorities to release the those detained without sufficient legal basis and cease the targeting of human rights movements.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the progressively hostile environment in which human rights defenders carry out their work in Cambodia. Particularly concerning is the Government’s treatment of defenders and the curtailing of their fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Front Line Defenders condemns the arrest of Mean Prommony, as it believes he is being targeted for his legitimate and peaceful work in the protection of human rights.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Cambodia to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Mean Prommony, and drop the charges against him, as it is believed that that he is being targeted solely as a result of his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Ensure that the treatment of Mean Prommony, while in detention, adheres to the conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment’, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Cambodia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including police and judicial harassment.
14 September 2020
Cambodia: Human rights defender Muong Sopheak arrestedOn 11 September 2020, human rights defender Muong Sopheak was arrested by police, from outside the Khmer Will Party headquarters in Phnom Penh. He now joins a long list of human rights defenders who have been arrested by authorities over the week, in relation to their organisation and participation in a peaceful assembly at Freedom Park. Muong Sopheak was arrested by court order for “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest”. He is currently detained at the Phnom Penh Correctional Center (CC) 1.Muong Sopheak is a human rights defender and a member of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA). The group works on mobilising and building capacity, to increase students’ participation in social development, good government, and sustainable use of natural resources. In his capacity, the defender has been an active voice, especially amongst youth in the country, raising awareness on social injustices and human rights issues.
On 11 September 2020, Phnom Penh police arrested human rights defender Muong Sopheak after the Phnom Penh Court issued an order for his arrest, charging him with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest”. The charge has been brought against him in relation to his participation in a peaceful assembly that took place at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh on 7 September 2020. The demonstration called for the release of imprisoned human rights defender Rong Chhun, as well as imprisoned members of Khmer Thavarak, Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy. Muong Sopheak is currently being held at Phnom Penh’s CC 1 where he has access to his lawyer.
In the past several days, there has been a crackdown on public gatherings in Cambodia, with several human rights defenders currently detained. Front Line Defenders has issued multiple appeals condemning judicial harassment of defenders, including the detention of the vice president of KSILA, Mean Prommony, who was arrested on 6 September 2020.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the progressively hostile environment in which human rights defenders carry out their work in Cambodia. Particularly concerning is the Government’s curtailing of defenders’ fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Front Line Defenders condemns the arrest of Muong Sopheak, as it believes he is being targeted for his legitimate and peaceful work for the protection of human rights.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Cambodia to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Muong Sopheak, and drop the charges against him, as it is believed that that he is being targeted solely as a result of his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Ensure that the treatment of Muong Sopheak, while in detention, adheres to the conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment’, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Cambodia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including police and judicial harassment.
