Phnom Penh Post
Beehive Radio
director Mam Sondando (R) waves as he arrives at the municipal court in
Phnom Penh in 2012. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post
Imprisoned activist and former Beehive independent radio director Mam
Sonando has been nominated for an international human rights award.
Front Line Defenders, an organisation based in Ireland that provides
practical support to rights activists, has selected Sonando as a
finalist for its eponymous award, which seeks to highlight the work of
activists who put their lives at risk.
Sonando, who was convicted on October 1 and sentenced to 20 years in
prison for his role in co-writing a secessionist plot – charges widely
believed to have been trumped up – is among six activists shortlisted
for the award.
Also in the running are nominees from Uzbekistan, Mauritania, Iran,
Kenya and Colombia. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony
to take place in Dublin later this year.
The news isn’t causing too much of a stir among Sonando backers, who’ve had no shortage of support from outside Cambodia.
US President Barack Obama even expressed his concern when he met with
Prime Minister Hun Sen during the ASEAN Summit in November.
Huon Pannary, secretary for Sonando’s Association of Democrats group,
said winning the award could be an honour for Sonando − and his first
such honor since the October conviction − but that they have little
impact on his actual case.
Pannary said Sonando, who is turning 72 next week and has been in
Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh more than 200 days, is suffering from lack
of sleep and still has an ache in one of his wisdom teeth.
“He’s had a toothache for a month already; he’s requested for a
dentist, but no response from the government. One private doctor came to
the prison and said he didn’t have the equipment,” she said.
In its statement announcing the finalists, Front Line Defenders
described Sonando as someone who “has devoted his life to helping the
poor and disenfranchised of Cambodia, fighting for their rights”.
Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers Press and Quick Reaction Unit, could not be reached.
To contact the reporter on this story: Joe Freeman at
joseph.freeman@phnompenhpost.com
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