Cost of Freedom Under Hun Sen's Dictatorial Regime

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On 23 Januray 2006, while Messrs. Kem Sokha, Rong Chhun, Mam Sonando, Pa Nguon Teang, and Yeng Virak were giving their press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) in Phnom Penh, Mr. Kem Sokha mentioned that he wanted to meet with the Prime Minister. On that same day, Say Sopheap, a journalist from CTN (TV station) asked to meet Mr. Kem Sokha in his office. There, Mr. Kem Sokha provided the journalist with numerous information on human rights, he also requested that Mr. Hun Sen withdraw his lawsuits against all human right activists and border activists accused by the government.

On that same day, Say Sopheap contacted Mr. Hun Sen and provided to him Mr. Kem Sokha’s opinion and request. Immediately, Mr. Hun Sen entered in contact with Mr. Kem Sokha with Say Sopheap acting as a go-between. The exchange between the two lasted from the afternoon until the evening, when Mr. Hun Sen decided to talk directly to Mr. Kem Sokha by phone. The conversation lasted one hour, at the conclusion of the talk, Mr. Hun Sen agreed to have the government lawyers withdraw the lawsuits against human right activists and border activists. The negotiations ended at 1:00 AM on that same day.

On 24 January 2006, Mr. Hun Sen declared at the council of ministers that he withdrew all lawsuits against human right activists and other people residing both inside or outside the county, if they make the same declaration as that of Mr. Kem Sokha’s.

Reported from Phnom Penh, 24 January 2006

The following is the declaration exacted from Messrs. Kem Sokha and Pa Nguon Teang in exchange for the withdrawal of Mr. Hun Sen’s lawsuit:

CAMBODIAN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

DECLARATION

On 10 December 2005, during the celebration of the international human rights day, there was a banner posted at my stand which I have no knowledge of beforehand. This banner caused the incarceration of myself, Kem Sokha, and Pa Nguon Teang who were accused of defamation against the government based on the court summon.

Therefore, I, Kem Sokha, and Pa Nguon Teang, publicly declare that:

1- Both of us did not accuse the government or Samdech Prime Minister as a traitor who sold Khmer land to the Vietnamese, or accused him of being Pol Pot No. 2.

This view is not the views of the two of us, nor was it the views of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.

2- We regret for the occurrence of this event, it was not our intention, nor was it that of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.

3- We welcome the bail secured by the government and Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen allowing the court to release us temporarily out of jail.

Done in Phnom Penh, 23 January, 2006

Signed: Kem Sokha, President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights

The following is the declaration exacted from Mr. Mam Sonando in exchange for the withdrawal of Mr. Hun Sen’s lawsuit:

Kingdom of Cambodia
Nation Religion King

Phnom Penh, 23 January 2006

Thank You Letter

I, Mam Sonando, the President of Beehive Radio – Voice of the people supporting Buddhism, am thanking Samdech Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, who had secured the bail allowing me to remain temporarily out of jail.

I believe that the Khmer history page related to the national integrity was ended when the National Assembly, the Senate, and Preah Karuna King of Cambodia Samdech Preah Bat Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni had already completed signing and ratifying the supplemental [border] treaty.

In my name as a Khmer people, I must also agree to these top institutions.

Please accept, Samdech Prime Minister, my highest regards.

President

Signed: Mam Sonando

The following is the declaration exacted from Mr. Rong Chhun in exchange for the withdrawal of Mr. Hun Sen’s lawsuit:

Cambodia’s Independent Teachers’ Association

Phnom Penh, 23 January 2006

Thank You Letter

I, Rong Chhun, President of Cambodia’s Independent Teachers’ Association, am thanking Samdech Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, who had secured the bail allowing me to remain temporarily out of jail.

I regret issuing in the past, the declaration about the national integrity which was based only on the views of a border committee based abroad. What I issued in that declaration was caused by my extreme concerns on the national integrity issue.

However, now, the National Assembly, the Senate – which constitute the representatives of the entire Khmer people – had voted to accept it already, and Preah Karuna the King of Cambodia Samdech Preah Bat Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni had also ratified this supplemental border treaty.

In my name as a Khmer people, I must also agree to these top institutions which are the representatives of the nation and the people.

Please accept, Samdech Prime Minister, my highest regards.

President

Signed: Rong Chhun