Monday, 30 July 2012,
Press Release: Asian Human Rights Commission
A Joint Statement from the Cambodian
Human Rights and Development Association and the Cambodian
Center for Human Rights forwarded by the Asian Human Rights
Commission (AHRC)
Cambodia: Continued
Disruption Of Community Empowerment Activities Organized By
Human Rights Groups
Phnom Penh, 27 July 2012 --
The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association
(ADHOC) and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
condemn the disruption of a training session on land rights
jointly organized in Rattanakiri province this morning.
ADHOC and CCHR call on all public authorities to put an end
to intimidation of human rights workers and to comply with
Cambodia’s obligations by upholding citizens’ rights to
free expression and assembly.
At 8:30am on 27 July, as
villagers gathered in a house in Patang village, Patang
commune, Lumphat district, three commune police officers,
one provincial police officer, the Village Chief, the
Commune Chief and the Deputy Commune Chief knocked on the
door and demanded that the meeting be discontinued. They
argued that they received orders from provincial authorities
and that the meeting organizers failed to satisfy
notification requirements.
Mr. Pen Bonnar, ADHOC’s
Provincial Coordinator, ignored the orders and proceeded
with the meeting. Fifteen minutes later, two additional
police officers were sent by the district authorities. One
of them carried an M-16 assault rifle. Considering this
threat and in view of the attendees’ physical safety,
ADHOC and CCHR decided to stop the meeting. Upon their
departure, Patang Commune Chief accused ADHOC of engaging in
incitement activities. Pen Bonnar now intends to file a
complaint for defamation against Patang Village Chief. CCHR
staff were told by police that if they did not leave the
area, their security would not be guaranteed.
The incident
in Rattanakiri this morning is only one example of
interference in the work of ADHOC and CCHR, both of which
have had their trainings and public forums disturbed and
shut down by authorities without legal
justification.
ADHOC and CCHR remind Cambodian authorities
that under article 3 of the Law on Demonstrations (2009),
organizers are exempted from notification requirements for
all education dissemination activities for social interests.
Despite this provision, CCHR had sent a letter to Patang
Village Chief to notify him of the upcoming event. The
actions of the authorities are in complete violation of both
Cambodian domestic and international human rights
law.
ADHOC and CCHR call on all public authorities to
uphold Cambodian citizens’ rights to freedom of expression
and assembly and to discontinue intimidation of human rights
workers who are acting wholly within the law.
# # #
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission
is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors
human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for
justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection
and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was
founded in 1984.
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ENDS
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