Friday, 15 June 2012
Shane Worrell and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
Phnom Penh Post
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a visit to Phnom Penh in 2010. Photograph: Sovan Philong/Phnom Penh Post
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged the Cambodian government
to release 13 Boeung Kak lake women imprisoned after a three-hour trial
last month, telling Foreign Minister Hor Namhong at a meeting in
Washington that such a move would support freedom of expression.
“The
secretary expressed concern over recent protests regarding land-rights
issues and urged Cambodia to allow Boeung Kak lake detainees full access
to due process, noting that their release would be a sign of support
for freedom of expression,” Sean McIntosh, spokesman for the US embassy
in Phnom Penh, said yesterday.
The women were arrested during a
land eviction protest at Boeung Kak on May 22 and charged two days later
with disputing authority and trespassing on land awarded to CPP senator
Lao Meng Khin’s development firm Shukaku. Two others were arrested
while protesting at the trial.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court
tried and sentenced the women, including a 72-year-old, to between one
and two-and-a-half years in Prey Sar prison.
Sam Rainsy Party
lawmaker Mu Sochua, who in the wake of the trial urged the international
community to take action, said Clinton’s comments were “very positive”.
“There
are clearly grounds for her to question the lack of due process,” Mu
Sochua said from the US, where she too has been meeting with government
officials.
“I am positive progress will be made. Let’s watch the
Appeal Court. I am confident they will be released before Hillary gets
to Phnom Penh in July [for the ASEAN Regional Forum].
“I am confident Mr Hor Namhong heard [Clinton’s] message. It is a win-win situation to end the case at appeal.”
Clinton’s
comments gave some hope to the Boeung Kak lake community, whose
protesters took to the streets again yesterday to urge the authorities
to intervene.
“I am very happy [she] is concerned with our community,” Ou Kong Chea, the husband of imprisoned activist Tep Vanny, said.
“I hope the Cambodian government will think about her comments and free our 15 friends.”
Seak Heng, whose wife Kong Chantha is also in Prey Sar, said the issue could no longer be ignored.
“News of this dispute is spreading all over the world, so the authority must resolve it,” he said.
Protester
Yom Bopha said police blocked and threatened her 100-strong group with
arrest as they marched to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house with a
petition, which they ended up not giving to waiting officials.
“We feared they would put it in the bin,” she said.
Police refused to comment when asked if they had threatened to arrest anyone.
Independent analyst Lao Mong Hay said the government should have the case heard in the Court of Appeal as soon as possible.
“I think the government should implement its ‘win-win’ policy to resolve this problem for Boeung Kak villagers,” he said.
Clinton
also reportedly praised Cambodia for not proceeding with its proposed
NGO law, which has received widespread criticism, and made comments
about the importance of a free and fair national election next year.
It
was up to Cambodians, however, to decide whether the Sam Rainsy Party’s
self-exiled leader – who faces an 11-year jail sentence on incitement
charges – should take part in the ballot, she said, according to the
Associated Press.
Mu Sochua said her party would continue to push
for his return, adding she was mostly satisfied US government officials
had taken her issues seriously when she had met with them.
She
will, however, keep pushing for the US to cut military aid to Cambodia
when she attends more meetings in Washington next week.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong declined to comment.
To contact the reporters on this story: Shane Worrell at shane.worrell@phonmpenhpost.com
Khouth Sophak Chakrya at sophakchakrya.khouth@phnompenhpost.com
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