Human Rights Watch calls for summit boycott if convictions not overturned

Beehive Radio director Mam Sonando

Sam Rainsy party leader was sentenced in absentia in 2009 to 10 years in jail for uprooting border posts and faking public document

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Human Rights Watch is urging world leaders to boycott the East Asia summit in Phnom Penh next month if convictions of Beehive Radio station owner Mam Sonando, opposition leader Sam Rainsy and others are not overturned.

In a statement released in New York late Tuesday, the American human rights group demanded the "immediate release" of the broadcaster and others convicted for being involved in an attempted secession in Kratie in May. The convictions were based on "trumped-up charges," it said.

"These latest convictions call into question whether Cambodia should host November’s East Asia Summit," said Brad Adams, the group's Asia director.

"President Barack Obama and other world leaders should insist that unless these and other baseless convictions are overturned, including that of opposition leader Sam Rainsy, they will call for the summit to be moved to another ASEAN country," he said.

The remarks by Adams echo those made last week by opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua who said Obama's visit could be construed as support for the "communist" government of Cambodia.

Mom Sonando was sentenced to 20 years on Monday for his role in the secession. Sam Rainsy, the exiled opposition leader believed to be living in France, has meanwhile been sentenced in absentia to 10 years for uprooting markers along the border with Vietnam. Both have dual French-Cambodian citizenship.

Adams asserted that "no credible evidence of a secessionist movement or of Sonando’s involvement was produced at the Phnom Penh court, yet it handed down these incredibly harsh sentences anyway.

"Sonando and the other activists are being imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of their political views and should be released immediately," he said.

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Government dismisses appeal to boycott summit PHNOM PENH ( Cambodia Herald)- Cambodia dismissed Wednesday an appeal by US-based Human Rights Watch for world leaders to boycott next month's East Asia summit if convictions of Mam Sonando and others are not overturned.

"It's weightless," Council of Ministers spokesman Keo Ramy said, adding that leaders consider the summit as a "very important" event. "The appeal will not work."

Keo Ramy said Mam Sonando's conviction Monday for  attempted secession was a sovereign issue and that it was not possible to interfere in judicial affairs.

The Beehive Radio station owner was sentenced to 20 years.

Human Rights Watch said the summit should be boycotted if the convictions of Mam Sonando, opposition leader Sam Rainsy and others are not overturned.

The exiled opposition leader, who is believed to live in France, has been sentenced in absentia to 10 years for uprooting posts along the border with Vietnam.