CCHR Press Release - CCHR calls for the immediate lift of the ban on assemblies and for a halt to the wave of detention of human rights activists

CCHR PRESS RELEASE – Phnom Penh, 21 January 2014

CCHR calls for the immediate lift of the ban on assemblies and for a halt to the wave of detention of human rights activists

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) calls for the immediate lift of the current ban on assemblies and for a halt to the subsequent wave of detention of human rights activists. On 4 January 2014, the Ministry of Interior announced a ban on assemblies, demonstrations, and marches until “public order and security are restored.” Since the announcement human rights activists and peaceful protesters have been systematically temporarily arrested and required to sign letters agreeing to cease demonstrating.

Today - 21 January 2014 – eleven human rights activists and peaceful protesters were temporarily arrested by Daun Penh security guards and taken to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Station. Among the 11 arrested were Rong Chun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (‘’CITA’’), Tep Vanny and Yorm Bopha along with seven other Boeng Kak Lake activists, a staff member of Housing Rights Task Force (‘’HRTF’’) and an activist from the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (‘’CATU’’). The arrest took place during a demonstration that started in front of the Embassy of the United States to deliver a petition calling for the release of the 23 people jailed during the violent crackdown on garment workers demonstrations earlier this month. All eleven people arrested this morning were released in the afternoon after signing a letter stating they will not incite or take part in further illegal activities or demonstrations.

Today’s temporary arrests are not an isolated case, but rather emerge as a new tactic by the Royal Government of Cambodia (the ‘’RGC’’) to silence the population. On 6 January 2014 and on 19 January 2014 respectively, five Boeng Kak Lake activists and Sok Chhun Oeung, acting President of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (‘’IDEA’’), were also temporarily arrested while attempting to protest and subsequently released after signing a similar letter.

The current ban on assemblies is unlawful, seriously disproportionate and excessively broad and thus is in clear violation of international and domestic provisions protecting the right to freedom of assembly, including the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia. According to international law, derogations to the right to peaceful assembly must respond to the exigencies of the situation: for instance, in emergency situations which threaten the life of the nation. They must also be officially proclaimed. Neither of these conditions has been fulfilled in the current case.

CCHR President Ou Virak comments:

“In light of the past weeks’ events, it seems Cambodia is now in a de-facto, unlawful state of emergency, as the current situation in the capital cannot by any stretch qualify as an emergency situation threatening the life of the nation. The only thing currently under threat is the authority and legitimacy of the RGC. It is thus clear that such a broad ban on assemblies and the subsequent arrests are politically motivated and serve only the purpose of protecting the current government from criticism by garment workers and the political opposition, and not the population of Cambodia.”

For more information, please contact CCHR President Ou Virak via telephone at +855 (0) 1240 4051 or e-mail at ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org or CCHR Consultant Elise Tillet via telephone at +855 (0) 77 70 97 23 or e-mail at elise.tillet@cchrcambodia.org  

Please find the Press Release also attached in PDF format in English. The Khmer version will follow shortly.