Human Rights Defenders Alert – Phnom Penh, 24
May 2012
Day of Crackdown – 13 Lake Activists Imprisoned as “Multi-Media
Monk” is Detained and Defrocked
Thirteen
women affected by the land conflict at Phnom Penh’s Boeung Kak Lake who have
led protests against the eviction were today convicted by the Phnom Penh
Municipal Court on charges of inciting others to take land illegally under
Article 504 of the Penal Code and obtaining land illegally under Articles 34,
259 of the Land Law Act after being detained without charge for a period of 48
hours. The 13 women are Kong Chantha, Tol Sreypov, Tep Vanny, Pov Sophea, Suong
Samai, Pan Chhunret, Heng Nom, Chan Navy, Po Davy, Nguon Kimleang, Song
Sreyleap, Chheng Leap and Nget Kun. Seven of
the women have been sentenced to two
years and six months in prison, five have been sentenced to two years and one
has been sentenced to a term of one year.
The
Venerable Loun Savath, a prominent human-rights activist and monk joined some
one hundred protestors outside the court today.
As shown in this video clip,
at around 10am, Loun Savath was manhandled and forced into an unmarked Land
Cruiser by policemen, army officers and unidentified men before being driven to
Wat Botum Pagoda, where police and officials from the
Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Cults and Religion barricaded him
inside. As of 4pm, Wat Botum remained
completely sealed off, with even fellow monks unable to gain access to the
site. It was widely rumoured that Loun Sovath had been defrocked although a Ministry of Cults and
Religion official has stated that this remains unclear. Last year, Loun Savath was banned from
entering all pagodas in Phnom Penh as a result of his human rights and
community activism.
In another development, a further two Boeung Kak
representatives – Ly Channary (female) and Say Sareoun (male) were arrested outside the
Phnom Penh Municipal Court at 2pm and taken to Phnom Penh Police Station where
they are being held without charge.
No comments:
Post a Comment