DPA
Phnom Penh - A coalition of human rights organizations has called on the Cambodian government to release a human rights activist jailed this week.
In a statement released late Wednesday, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights, and the World Organisation Against Torture, criticized Monday's two-year sentence handed down to Leang Sokchoeun.
Leang Sokchoeun, a staffer with local rights group Licadho, was arrested in May accused of involvement in the distribution of anti-government leaflets and charged with disinformation.
The coalition said his trial was "marked by numerous procedural flaws as well as violations of fair trial provisions in Cambodian and international law".
It called on the government to repeal the laws on disinformation and defamation as they were being abused.
"Unfounded charges of disinformation or defamation are well-worn tactics used by the Cambodian government to create a climate of fear," said Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director Phil Robertson.
Amnesty International said the conviction reiterated the lack of independence of Cambodia's courts.
"(The courts) are all too often used as a tool against the less powerful, rather than to uphold their rights," said Donna Guest, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific deputy director.
On Wednesday Licadho described the judgement as "an absolutely appalling example" of the lack of independence of Cambodia's courts, and said it was politically motivated and predetermined with "no basis in fact or law."
"Given the involvement of an NGO [non-governmental organization] staff member, combined with the heavy prison sentence, I am concerned that someone may be trying to send a message," said Licadho president Pung Chhiv Kek.
Three other men were convicted in the same case.
Leang Sokchoeun's conviction coincided with a report from Licadho that said activists in Cambodia operate in an increasingly hostile environment characterized by physical violence, illegal arrests and trumped-up criminal charges.
Licadho said up to 60 human rights activists were currently in pre-trial detention on a range of charges.
In a statement released late Wednesday, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights, and the World Organisation Against Torture, criticized Monday's two-year sentence handed down to Leang Sokchoeun.
Leang Sokchoeun, a staffer with local rights group Licadho, was arrested in May accused of involvement in the distribution of anti-government leaflets and charged with disinformation.
The coalition said his trial was "marked by numerous procedural flaws as well as violations of fair trial provisions in Cambodian and international law".
It called on the government to repeal the laws on disinformation and defamation as they were being abused.
"Unfounded charges of disinformation or defamation are well-worn tactics used by the Cambodian government to create a climate of fear," said Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director Phil Robertson.
Amnesty International said the conviction reiterated the lack of independence of Cambodia's courts.
"(The courts) are all too often used as a tool against the less powerful, rather than to uphold their rights," said Donna Guest, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific deputy director.
On Wednesday Licadho described the judgement as "an absolutely appalling example" of the lack of independence of Cambodia's courts, and said it was politically motivated and predetermined with "no basis in fact or law."
"Given the involvement of an NGO [non-governmental organization] staff member, combined with the heavy prison sentence, I am concerned that someone may be trying to send a message," said Licadho president Pung Chhiv Kek.
Three other men were convicted in the same case.
Leang Sokchoeun's conviction coincided with a report from Licadho that said activists in Cambodia operate in an increasingly hostile environment characterized by physical violence, illegal arrests and trumped-up criminal charges.
Licadho said up to 60 human rights activists were currently in pre-trial detention on a range of charges.
4 comments:
Anything said against the traitor government wrong doing is disinformation. Pathetic!
As long as Ah Kwak is alive and his Youn's slave party ruling the country Cambodia and Cambodian will never improve for the better.
Cambodian must wake up as unity to demand or force change. It is neccessary. Enough is enough!
Ah Kwak has to go. People around it must be replaced and throw out of the offices next election around. Your misery will never end with these traitors - Knom Kahncheas Youn.
Ah Kwak rounded up Pen Sovann for its own gain. It is a complete,submissive youn's bitch. Its do no shit for Cambodia and you, Khmer, but implement the final end process outlined in Ho Chi Minh's vision. More Khmers are getting booted out of their lands, so folks where r u gonna go? Ah Kwak gives youns land, you sell yours. Will it ever end? NO, until this group of looters are out of the office forever good. Next election take your best shot, and make a real change,people.
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT' JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT' JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT' JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT' JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT' JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
AH HUN SEN AH KBORT' JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN
kon kmeng naek srae
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