Phnom Penh, 13 March 2012 ― 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.
Soum Chankea had been summoned by the Prosecutor’s office in Sisophon following a complaint lodged by Oum Socheath, head of the Banteay Meanchey branch of the Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and Coordinator of the UNDP-CMAC mine clearance program. This move followed ADHOC’s intervention in a gender-based violence case, in which Hi Theavy, a 25-year old waitress, filed complaints against Oum Socheath and another man known as Thong Piseth, for sexual harassment.
The authorities took no action to investigate the case. Instead, Soum Chankea, who had helped the victim initiate legal proceedings and urged the police and the Prosecutor to investigate her allegations, now faces criminal charges. The suspects threatened the victim, declaring they were not afraid because they were protected by high-ranking officials. ADHOC later found that Hun San, brother of Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, had sent a letter to the Prosecutor in Sisophon, asking him to drop investigations into charges against Oum Socheath’s.
Soum Chankea discovered yesterday that he was suspected of forcing Hi Theavy to file a complaint against Oum Socheath. She will be questioned at a later date. She faces charges of slanderous denunciation—which would be inconsistent with the allegation that she was forced to initiate legal proceedings.
These developments illustrate the fact that impunity is endemic in Cambodia. The poor, especially women, do not have access to legal redress when confronted with powerful, well-connected individuals. Rather, the latter are able to use the judicial system as their personal tool to threaten victims and human rights defenders.
All ADHOC did in this case was to carry out their mandate by providing legal advice and legal assistance. Soum Chankea and Hi Theavy acted in compliance with the law and filed complaints through established institutions. ADHOC therefore calls on the Cambodian authorities to investigate her allegations and to stop placing undue restrictions on the activities of human rights defenders through the use of criminal charges. After cases in Rattanakiri and Kampong Chhnang, this marks the third time ADHOC employees have been threatened with criminal charges following human rights education, advice, or advocacy activities.
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
