Human and Land Rights

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) urges Cambodian authorities to release Mr. Oum Mean and Mr. Heng Eang, two human rights defenders who were arrested this morning in Rattanakiri province as they were assisting citizens to file a petition against land rights violations.

Although former Bavet City Governor Chhuk Bundith confessed that he was the gunman who shot three female workers on 20 February during a protest at Svay Rieng Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Provincial Prosecutor Hing Bunchea allowed him to go free after questioning yesterday. Given the seriousness of the crime and the risks of interference with the victims and witnesses, Cambodian authorities must immediately arrest Chhuk Bundith and place him in detention while investigating the case.

As Soum Chankea, the organisation’s Provincial Coordinator at its Banteay Meanchey office, was questioned by the Prosecutor yesterday, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) expresses deep concern about potential charges being brought against him. The Prosecutor has made no decision as of yet, but investigation into the case continues.

Early on 28 February 2012, communities living along two rivers affected by a mega hydro-electric dam project in Stung Treng province gathered to perform a religious ritual and peacefully protest against the project. The Lower Se​ San 2 Dam is planned to be built by Electricity of Vietnam on the Se San river. It will severely affect the livelihoods and lifestyle of communities living along the Se San and Srey Pork rivers, displace them from ancestral land, and flood thousands of hectares of forest and farmland.

As the Prey Veng Provincial Court issued a judgment on 29 February 2012 in a case involving Chhorn Ny, a 47-year old villager, and local policemen, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) is concerned about several issues regarding the case. Chhorn Ny was given a one-year suspended sentence and a one million riel fine for disorderly conduct and attempted assault on a police officer, but he may have been the victim of a plot.

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) is deeply concerned about the use of disproportionate force against Cambodian citizens crossing the border to perform illicit logging activities in Thailand. Eleven Cambodian loggers have lost their lives in the last two months, in what may amount to extrajudicial killings.

After three female factory workers were shot on 20 February during a protest at Svay Rieng Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and despite official statements that a suspect was identified, no arrests have been announced so far. Interior Minister Sar Kheng, Provincial Governor Chieng Am and police officials now remain silent about investigation into the shooting.

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) welcomes the release of seven Borei Keila residents, including two minors, who were arrested last month after a clash with armed forces, but is concerned about criminal charges brought against them, which may be used to silence opponents to illegal forced evictions.

Over one hundred Borey Keila (BRL) and Boeung Kak Lake (BKL) residents who were peacefully protesting in front of Phnom Penh Municipality this morning were cracked down by approximately eighty police officers. The protesters began demonstrating at 8am and asked the Phnom Penh Governor to meet them face to face in order to discuss a solution to the Borey Keila and Boeung Kak issues. BKL residents demanded that City Hall officials help them to obtain a more significant compensation for their eviction. As for BRL residents, they asked the Municipality to allow them to continue living in their settlements, or if this was impossible then to intervene to ensure adequate compensation in case of eviction.