Criticism of the Court of Appeal’s decision Friday to deny bail to
independent radio station owner Mam Sonando continued over the weekend
with human rights groups questioning the legal reasoning behind the
denial, and pointing to double standards in the courts.
“He is an old person and he will not escape,” said Yeng Virak,
executive director of the Community Legal Education Center, dismissing
the Appeal Court claim that Mr. Sonando posed a threat to witnesses and
public order.
“There was no incidence of threats to the witnesses, so there’s no sign of threats,” Mr. Virak said.
Mr. Sonando was sentenced to 20 years in jail in October on charges
of fomenting a so-called rural insurrection. Supporters of the radio
station owner say the charges were politically motivated and a thinly
veiled attempt by the government to silence one of the only critical
voices in domestic broadcast media, which is dominated by pro-ruling
party TV and radio channels.
The claims of insurrection date back to May when authorities launched
a massive operation to evict hundreds of families in Kratie province,
shooting a 14-year-old girl in the process. Human rights groups have
condemned the government’s claim that the villagers were part of a
secessionist movement, calling such statements an excuse to evict the
families on behalf of a rubber plantation company.
In denying Mr. Sonando’s bail request, the judges said they feared
the 72-year-old would pressure witnesses and cause unspecified “public
disorder.” Prosecutors also argued that Mr. Sonando, who holds dual
French and Cambodian citizenship, posed a flight risk.
Naly Pilorge, director of rights group Licadho, said the decision
made little sense given that Mr. Sonando returned to Cambodia in July
after he was charged specifically to face down the allegations against
him, which he unequivocally denies.
“It’s been clear to us from the start that Mr. Sonando came back to
the country on his own free will, so there’s absolutely no risk he would
leave the country again,” she said.
Ms. Pilorge said the denial of bail also lacked consistency with some
of the court system’s other recent decisions, noting the case of the
former Bavet City governor, Chhouk Bundith, who was charged months ago
with shooting three female factory workers but has never been detained
and has yet to stand trial. “There has been no arrest and no pretrial
detention” of Mr. Bundith, Ms. Pilorge said. “[Mr. Sonando] decided to
come back to Cambodia even though he knew he would face these charges
because he wanted to prove he was innocent,” she said.
Sok Sam Oeun of the Cambodian Defenders Project, another free
legal-aid organization, said the Appeal Court judge should have offered
some proof to back up his claim that Mr. Sonando posed a threat.
“If he [the judge] said like that, he must have evidence…not only
fear,” said Mr. Sam Oeun, who defended Mr. Sonando during his Municipal
Court trial in September.
“The Cambodian court is like that—not evidence, only fear.”
On Friday, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee and rights
group Adhoc also denounced the court’s decision to deny Mr. Sonando
bail.
Mr. Sonando’s current lawyer, Sa Sovan, filed an appeal of the bail
rejection with the Supreme Court on Friday. He said the Supreme Court
had yet to respond.
(Additional reporting by Eang Mengleng)
No comments:
Post a Comment