A Change of Guard

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Monday 1 October 2012

Cambodia sentences journalist to lengthy prison term [Mam Sonando jailed for 20 years]

Cambodian protesters shout slogans next to a portrait of Mam Sonando (R), owner of the independent Beehive radio station, during a rally near the Phnom Penh municipal court on October 1, 2012. Photo: TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP/GettyImages

Court Cases
Deutsche Welle 

A Cambodian court has sentenced a journalist and activist to 20 years in prison. Mam Sonando had been accused of instigating an anti-government rebellion. But critics say authorities are trying to silence a vocal critic.
A court in Phnom Penh on Monday sentenced journalist Mam Sonando to 20 years in prison. Sonando, 71, was accused of inciting an anti-government movement. However, critics say authorities had little basis for the accusations.

Following Monday's verdict, Rupert Abbott with London-based Amnesty International called the sentence "outrageous."

"We believe the motivation behind his conviction is because he's been a prominent government critic," Abbott said. "He's seen, I think, as a threat to the government; someone who's prepared to speak out."

Sonando ran the popular independent radio station Beehive Radio and was president of Cambodia's Democrat Association. In Cambodia, the media scene is dominated by outlets that are generally sympathetic to the ruling party. But Sonando's station often aired stories that were critical of the governing Cambodian People's Party.


Expropriation

Supporters shout slogans as they hold up portraits of detained radio station owner Mam Sonando during a protest near the Phnom Penh municipal court on October 1, 2012. Photo: TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP/GettyImages Supporters protest the court ruling against Sonando in Phnom Penh
The charges against Sonando stemmed from a confrontation in May between authorities and villagers in eastern Cambodia. The villagers had been protesting against the expropriation of land. Security forces fired on the protesters, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old girl.

Shortly after, authorities accused villagers of plotting an armed revolt against the government - a claim the villagers denied. Sonando was later accused of inciting the alleged rebellion, which he also denied.

Rights groups say that Sonando's September trial ran relatively smoothly, compared to other recent convictions of protesters and government critics. But they also say the prosecution failed to present convincing evidence linking Sonando to any insurrection.

"I think what we can see is perhaps the authorities here are learning that if you can make the trial look a bit better on the face of things then perhaps you can deflect some criticism," Abbott said. "The problem is, though, the evidence was so weak, we can only come to the conclusion that the decision to give Mam Sonando a 20-year sentence was based on something other than the evidence."
On Monday, the court also convicted several other villagers in relation to the alleged insurrection; they received sentences ranging from several months to 30 years.

Growing unease over land disputes

Critics say Monday's convictions are a symptom of a growing unease in Cambodia over land disputes. Over the last two decades, the government has awarded huge swathes of land to private firms as part of economic concessions aimed at triggering development. But it has also fueled confrontations between authorities, the companies and villagers who say they are being evicted from their homes.

In January, for example, authorities demolished roughly 300 homes in Phnom Penh's Borei Keila neighborhood - the culmination of a long-standing dispute.

In another high-profile confrontation in May, 13 women from the capital's Boeung Kak community were arrested and sentenced to more than two years in prison. The charges were later reduced to time already served on appeal.

But to government watchdogs, the message is that increasingly, authorities in Cambodia are continuing to crack down on its most vocal critics. Last week in Geneva, United Nations' Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Cambodia Surya Subedi told the UN Human Rights Council that land disputes and forced evictions were continuing unabated.

"There are well-documented serious and widespread human rights violations associated with land concessions that need to be addressed and remedied," Subedi wrote in a report. "Criminalization of land activists and human rights defenders is particularly worrying, as freedom of expression and assembly is crucial to a well-functioning democratic society."

'Unfair' findings

The government, however, disagreed with Subedi's assessment. Phay Siphan, a government spokesman, said the special rapporteur's findings were "unfair."

"It was kind of out of date," Siphan said, noting that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier this year announced a moratorium on granting new land concessions. "[Subedi] obtained second-hand information. It's not updated to what's going on in Cambodia."

Siphan also disagreed with critics of the Cambodian court system, maintaining that the judiciary and government operate independently.

Still, Monday's convictions and lengthy sentences came as a surprise to some observers.

"It's pretty sad," said Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights. "It's pretty sad this court hasn't improved in the past two decades. With all of the money, with all of the push, with everybody trying to come up with all kinds of indicators and all kinds of strategic meetings, here we are with a court that is basically a political tool."

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

តុលាការអញ អញចង់ដាក់គុកអាណាស្រេចតែ​អញ។​ អាណាមិនស្គាល់អញ មិនស្គាល់មហាជំទាវ
អគ្គព្រិត្តគតិបន់ក្តិត។

Anonymous said...

This show their are no democracy in Cambodia. What a corrupted country ruling by a dictator by the name of Hun Sen

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen is the dumbest idiot. I wonder why the Vietnamese installed Hun Sen and all the Khmer rogue to be in power for the past 33 years.

Now I see why. As long as Khmer heroes are dying, the Vietnamese will continue to support This dumb idiot.

Anonymous said...

it was fair verdict for 20yrs in jailed.,

Anonymous said...

how is it fair, so is it wrong to speak out against the extreme corruption? who ever u are u better stop spreading false ideas on how great hun sen is. the whole world knows his the biggest criminal in cambodia. but i guess the international community doesnt give a bs.

Anonymous said...

You idiot don't know what is right or wrong,how in the Hell do you know what is fair what is not!????? It is not fair! it is unjust! Its NO JUSTICE NO PEACE!...Down with Hun sen,kidnap that Mother fxxxker and put him in the lion's cage,that is justice for this traitor Hun sen.

12:42AM Shutta hell up! You don't know what is fair or unfair,your option is stupid bias side with your thugs regime.

Anonymous said...

Response to 12:42AM! You're an idiot don't know what is fair nor unfair.If your Hun sen is so great leader why he has 10,000 bodies gards to protect him!? Can you answer me and tell the world the reason why idiot!? A great leader people will loves him/her don't need that many body gards to protect him/ her to wasted state money.Hun sen is a thug thatwise he needs many body gards for protection.He is a death man if no body gards.Is that what you call a great leader?

Anonymous said...

don't get mad - get even

yes, it was fair verdict for 20yrs.,

Anonymous said...

Three of Cpp judges=three little pigs that has no brains to build a house on the sand without strong foundation,your house will not stand that for long....No brainer judge were bias,convicted innocent man put him in jail for 20yrs,its insane! How these no brainers get the job as judge? F.u all judges idiot....

Anonymous said...

Who were these no brainers judge? I hope they were not Yiek cong! What are these judges name? These judges were appointed by Cpp Hun sh!t right!!???? Judge should not be bias,these judges were idiot and incompetence judge.

Anonymous said...

The US should deploy military in the area around Cambodia, either Thailand or Vietnam.

Anonymous said...

Don’t blame the judge, blame Hun Sen instead is the one which controlled everything from A to Z in Cambodia, if Hun Sen says you have to do whatever in your power to convict this person and put him in the prison, so the judge follows or risk of losing his position.

Anonymous said...

THIS IS BULLSHIT! F**K THE REGIME

Anonymous said...

2 October 2012 1:28 AM

If one of your family member were to stand trial like Mam Sanando and get 20 years in jail would you say it's fair too?

Anonymous said...

Everyone of us that love srok khmer should not be discourage from this verdict. We should take Mr.Mam Sanando courage and expand beyond, this way he can have inner peace while enduring this sentence.

Anonymous said...

A message to Cpp fucking thugs! You can put Mr Mam Sonondo in jail,your prison wall can't hold his spirit down,his spirit with all the patriotism out side your prison wall.Justice will prevail one day your regime will collapse from within,it just a matter of time.The bible says: The wicked rules,the people mourned,the righteous rules the people happy.Your regime rules by the wicked thatwise khmers people mourned all over Cambodia.Your regime get the curses from those whose mourns the lost of their homes their land their lives and more...You won't get away from this curses!

Anonymous said...

WE SHOULD RISE UP AGAINST THIS HUN SH!T REGIME AND SCALE DOWN THE JAILHOUSE WALL AND SET MR MAM SANANDO FREE. F U AH KWACK

Anonymous said...

Its very sad indeed! Very sad day your of all khmers whose loves justice and fairness,it sad and it unfair.....Where is the evidence to convicted him? He has done nothing wrong.....

Anonymous said...

you have a dream with 20yrs in jailed

Anonymous said...

I regretted for him,
coz, he should has lived in Paris , until he die,

don't come to Cambodia to made troubles.

coz, western country liked France has very good democracy systems, good justice system, no corruption cases..

Anonymous said...

7:40AM....f...u...go to hell little thug....your thugs parents Cpp regime will pay the price obey day...Regret my ass! Your parents will never leave the jungle behind,even if they left the jungle more than 30yrs they still has animals instinct and jungle's GOOK with them.

Anonymous said...

This is no surprise because it is a kangaroo court. Hun sen is the court, the jury, the judge and the police at the same time. The court in Cambodia is Hun Sen's political tool to persecute those who dare to criticize or stand up to his dictatorship!

Anonymous said...

i'm not surprised with this verdict
it is democracy country,

in werstern countries,liked US or EU- will do the same verdict.

Anonymous said...

CPP dog. What is democracy?

Anonymous said...

Hanoi needs to be bombed as soon as possible. Hate Yuon/Vietnamese masters who have currently been controlling Yuon/Viet slave Hun Sen and telling Yuon puppet Hun Sen what to do to destroy, kill, allow illegal Yuon/Viet settlers in Cambodia, illegally sign the deals to give lands, border encroachment, islands, natural resources, business deals and beyond out of controls.