Conviction of moto driver sheds light on government paranoia
It was reported today by The Cambodia Daily (‘Motodop Found Guilty of Helping Spread Leaflets’) that a motorcycle taxi driver was found guilty of incitement to discrimination by Phnom Penh Municipal Court for distributing anti-government leaflets and sentenced to one and a half years in prison and fined $750. Hin Piseth claimed that he picked up a female passenger who distributed the pamphlets, which made, in the words of The Cambodia Daily, ‘unfavourable comparison between government leaders and a race from another country’, without his knowledge.
Responding to the judgement that was passed down on Hin Pinseth, Ou Virak, President of CCHR, a non-political, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia, commented:
“The case of Hin Piseth sheds new light on the extent of the paranoia within the ruling party. The people of Cambodia are long used to the brutal reality that those who speak out in criticism of the government and ruling party often become the victim of physical violence or criminal prosecution. Hin Piseth claims to have had no knowledge that the woman who distributed the leaflets was doing as much and that he was merely trying to earn a fare. By imprisoning Hin Piseth, it seems the government wants to set a new precedent by imposing an obligation on all citizens to not only refrain from speaking their minds but to ensure they don’t associate, even unwittingly, with those who do.”
For more information please contact Ou Virak on +855 (0) 12 404 051 or via e-mail at
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