By Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Despite a March 15 pledge by Prime Minister Hun Sen to release all those imprisoned due to land dispute protests, 13 of 116 land dispute prisoners remain behind bars, local human rights group Licadho said in a report released on Monday.
Nine of 13 jailed villagers—11 men and two women—are still detained in Takeo Provincial Prison, three others are jailed in Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh and one protester is in Koh Kong Provincial Prison, Licadho President Kek Galabru said.
"Samdech [Hun Sen] already ordered the release of those jailed villagers, but some are still detained in prisons," Kek Galabru said.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith questioned whether the prime minister had agreed to release all land protest prisoners, but said he would check.
The Licadho report also notes that there are 44 prisoners, including seven women, who have been detained beyond the legal pretrial period of six months in Correctional Center 2 in Prey Sar prison, and that 37 of the detainees are under 18.
There are also 16 prisoners in the prison system who have been detained beyond the period of their original sentences as they await hearings on their appeals, which were aimed at overturning sentences they have now already served. "Some perpetrators were guilty and punished for three years in prison, but they were detained in prison over the three-year period" awaiting their appeal hearing, Kek Galabru said.
Kek Galabru said she would be sending letters to the Ministry of Justice, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, provincial courts and the Appeals Court to request that they resolve these cases of "illegal detention."
"The Appeals Court should not delay complaints and let perpetrators be detained over the period of their [original] punishment" she said.
Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana could not be reached for comment.
Nine of 13 jailed villagers—11 men and two women—are still detained in Takeo Provincial Prison, three others are jailed in Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh and one protester is in Koh Kong Provincial Prison, Licadho President Kek Galabru said.
"Samdech [Hun Sen] already ordered the release of those jailed villagers, but some are still detained in prisons," Kek Galabru said.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith questioned whether the prime minister had agreed to release all land protest prisoners, but said he would check.
The Licadho report also notes that there are 44 prisoners, including seven women, who have been detained beyond the legal pretrial period of six months in Correctional Center 2 in Prey Sar prison, and that 37 of the detainees are under 18.
There are also 16 prisoners in the prison system who have been detained beyond the period of their original sentences as they await hearings on their appeals, which were aimed at overturning sentences they have now already served. "Some perpetrators were guilty and punished for three years in prison, but they were detained in prison over the three-year period" awaiting their appeal hearing, Kek Galabru said.
Kek Galabru said she would be sending letters to the Ministry of Justice, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, provincial courts and the Appeals Court to request that they resolve these cases of "illegal detention."
"The Appeals Court should not delay complaints and let perpetrators be detained over the period of their [original] punishment" she said.
Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana could not be reached for comment.
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