CCHR Invitation_CCHR Press Conference to launch the Mam Sonado Justice Calendar campaign and corresponding postcard design competition

CCHR INVITATION – Phnom Penh, 10 January 2013

CCHR Press Conference to launch the Mam Sonando Justice Calendar campaign and corresponding postcard design competition

On 15 January 2013, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) will organize a press conference to launch the campaign, Mam Sonando Justice Calendar, and a corresponding postcard design competition, in order to mark six months (or 186 days) from the date of Mam Sonando’s arrest and subsequent detention, and to place increasing pressure on the authorities for his release. Mam Sonando was arrested on 15 July 2012 and charged with instigating a secessionist movement in Pro Ma village, Kratie province.

The Mam Sonando Justice Calendar campaign aims to draw attention to the number of days that Mam Sonando has been unjustly and arbitrarily imprisoned. CCHR will display a banner in front of CCHR’s office counting the number of days that he has been detained and will make this banner design available to other Civil Society Organizations, encouraging them to adopt the same activity. To coincide with this campaign, CCHR will announce a related postcard design competition, which will be open to the public. The postcards submitted should highlight the case of Mam Sonando and the injustice he has faced. On 31 January 2013, CCHR will select the three best designs to be printed out and distributed to Mam Sonando’s supporters. People will be encouraged to write a message of encouragement to Mam Sonando on these postcards and to send them back to CCHR, who will then read the messages on CCHR’s radio airtime and will ensure that the postcards get to Mam Sonando in Prey Sar prison

The Press Conference will take place at CCHR’s office located at #798, Street 99, Sangkat Beoung Trabek, Khan Chamkarmorn, Phnom Penh, on 15 January 2013 from 10.00am to 11.00am.

For more information please contact Human Right Defenders Project Coordinator Suon Bunthoeun via telephone at +855 12 483 546 or email at bunthoeun@cchrcambodia.org or Cambodian Freedom of Expression Project Coordinator Sorn Ramana via telephone at +855 17 655 591 or email at ramanasorn@cchrcambodia.org.