CCHR Press Release_CCHR launches the “Voices for Freedom” campaign in support of imprisoned activist Yorm Bopha and calls for her immediate release

Dear media friends,

In anticipation of the upcoming - but yet unscheduled - appeal hearing for Boeung Kak activist Yorm Bopha, LICADHO is releasing a briefing paper outlining the issues of the case.

There has been some recent confusion surrounding Bopha's case, and LICADHO argues that the muddling of the facts causing this confusion has been no accident. It reflects an intentional campaign by the authorities, complete with plausible allegations of payments to counter-protestors and even a disturbing weighing-in by the Prime Minister himself. In reality the facts underlying Bopha’s unwarranted conviction are simple, and reveal beyond any doubt that the authorities have targeted her to create fear and self-censorship among the remaining active members of the beleaguered Boeung Kak community.

Khmer and English versions of the paper are attached. The briefing is for immediate release. There is no embargo.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Am Sam Ath, Technical Supervisor Tel:  (+855) 012-327-770  [Khmer]
Ms. Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO Tel:  (+855) 012-803-650  [English, French]

Thank you,

CCHR PRESS RELEASE - Phnom Penh, 23 April 2013

CCHR launches the “Voices for Freedom” campaign in support of imprisoned activist Yorm Bopha and calls for her immediate release

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) invites all concerned citizens to send either their recorded or telephone messages of support for imprisoned Yorm Bopha to CCHR in order to have them broadcast live at the beginning of CCHR’s radio program which is aired from 11.00 to 12.00 on radio FM 105 MHz every Tuesday to Thursday morning. The messages of support will continue to be broadcast until the activist is released from prison. 

Yorm Bopha is a land activist from the Boeng Kak community in Phnom Penh, who is currently serving a three-year prison sentence after being found guilty on bogus charges of assault against two alleged thieves. Considering the blatant lack of evidence to convict Yorm Bopha, it is widely believed that she was targeted as a result of her activism and outspokenness, especially during the campaign for the release of the Boenk Kak 13 – thirteen of Yorm Bopha’s fellow female land activists who were imprisoned as a result of protesting in May 2012.

CCHR’s “Voices for Freedom” campaign aims to garner support for Yorm Bopha, to remind the human rights defender that the public has not forgotten about her cause and to help keep her morale high as she awaits her appeal from prison. CCHR therefore invites all concerned citizens to send either recorded audio messages of encouragement to CCHR’s headquarters or to contact CCHR via telephone at  +855 (0) 16 202 017  to have their messages recorded. Pre-recorded audio messages can be sent via email or delivered directly to CCHR on a CD or USB device. CDs or USB devices containing pre-recorded messages can also be sent by post to the following address: The Cambodian Center for Human Rights, #798, St.99, Boeng Trabek, Chamkarmon, P.O.Box: 1506, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. CCHR will also open its doors to anyone interested in recording his or her thoughts directly at its in-house radio studio. CCHR will ensure that all the messages of support reach Yorm Bopha in Prey Sar prison and will accept messages until justice is served and the human rights defender is released. 

In addition to this “Voices for Freedom” campaign, CCHR will display a banner in front of its office counting the number of days Yorm Bopha has been imprisoned. CCHR also encourages other individuals or organizations to adopt this action and will gladly make the banner design available to anyone who is interested.

CCHR Human Rights Defenders Project Coordinator Suon Bunthoeun comments:

“CCHR monitored the trial of Yorm Bopha on 26 December 2012 and absolutely no evidence was produced to warrant her conviction. CCHR therefore believes that Yorm Bopha was targeted by the authorities as a result of exercising her rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association. We wish therefore to gather support for Yorm Bopha, and to let her know that she is still in the thoughts of many Cambodian citizens. We hope that this campaign will also help to bring about justice in her case and that all charges against her will be rightfully dropped on appeal. ”

For more information please contact 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.

Please kindly see the press release attached both in Khmer and English.

Kind Regards,

CCHR