Phnom Penh, 19 March 2012 — 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.
Oum Mean and Heng Eang, who work for the Community Peacebuilding Network (CPN), were arrested today at 10:00am in Kanat village, Talao commune, Andoung Meas district, Rattanakiri province. They were holding a meeting to help citizens submit a petition to the authorities to protest against land rights violations. The petition calls upon Cambodian authorities to stop bringing criminal charges against citizens protesting against land grabbing. It further urges the authorities to release people who have been arrested in relation to land disputes all around the country. Some Kanat villagers are affected by land disputes, but the petition is a mark of solidarity with all people affected by land rights violations in Cambodia.
The police gave two reasons for the arrests. They alleged that the organizers of the meeting had no mission letter, and that they did not ask permission from the local authorities to thumbprint citizens. Oum Mean and Heng Eang have been brought to the District Governor’s office, where they are currently held.
ADHOC reminds Cambodian authorities—both national and provincial—that they are under obligation to uphold citizens’ rights to free expression, association and peaceful assembly. Both the Cambodian Constitution (article 41), and several international human rights instruments to which Cambodia is a party, protect these rights. In this legal framework, as regards civil and political rights, all that is not expressly forbidden is permitted. The police had no authority to ask Oum Mean and Heng Eang to present a mission letter and to ask permission to provide educational assistance to citizens. No restrictions can be imposed on legitimate, peaceful human rights education, advocacy and capacity building activities.
Moreover, article 3 of the Law on Peaceful Demonstrations exempts organizers of meetings from the duty to notify authorities of “education dissemination activities for social interests.” Activities carried out by CPN are within the scope of this definition.
ADHOC urges the Cambodian authorities to immediately release Oum Mean and Heng Eang, to stop placing undue restrictions on the activities of human rights defenders, and to uphold citizens’ fundamental rights to free expression, association and assembly.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ny Chakrya, Head of Monitoring Section at ADHOC: 011 274 959
Mr. Chan Soveth, Deputy Head of Monitoring Section: 016 937 591
Mr. Nicolas Agostini, Technical Assistant: 078 405 024
