Radio broadcast is the reason for Mam Sonando’s arrest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooYM0j25cUA

Jul 24, 2012
By Clothilde Le Coz
AsianCorrespondent.com

The Franco-Khmer Mam Sonando has been arrested on Sunday, July 15th and accused with « secessionism » by the Kratie province authorities. He is currently waiting for his trial in Pey Sor Jail, in the outskirts of Phnom Penh. According to most local activists, this accusation is a pretext to silence one of the most popular voice in the country.

« Whoever stands up to love the nation and protect the country is always short lived. And it is my turn this time.» Mam Sonando told Voice of America before coming back to Cambodia from his trip to France, Switzerland and the U.S. This realism cost him his freedom four days later, once the international attention left the country with Hillary Clinton and Asean dignitaries.

Mam Sonando is the owner and director of Beehive radio in Phnom Penh, known to broadcast programs from the opposition and civil society organizations. A lot of Cambodian citizens also know his face from trips he takes to the provinces with the Democrat Association to explain their rights to citizens. Although he was out of the country at that time, Prime Minister Hun Sen called for his arrest on June 26th, making him partly responsible for organizing a protest in Kratie province, that cost her life to a 14 year old girl.

Sok Sam Oeun, Mam Sonando’s lawyer, started to read the accusation dossier on July 19th. To him, it is not clear how his client is linked to the secessionnist movement in Kratie province. « Only two people are blaming Mam Sonando for ordering people from Prama to strike against land grabbing », he said. « I also read statements of persons who were arrested and charged by the governement after the protest in Prama, saying they protested becaues they listened to Mam Sonando’s words during a meeting at his house». But Mam Sonando answers that he meets many people every day and don’t remember if this was the case. « I still don’t believe the accusation of secessionism. In an American court, Mam Sonando would be free and the dossier would not prove enough. But in Cambodia, one cannot predict what might happen», the lawyer concluded.

Ou Virak , the director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, is helping Mam Sonando by providing lawyer’s fees. Although he could not visit Mam Sonando in jail yet, he told Asian Correspondent that Sonando was better treated than other prisoners for there are chances that he is able to buy proper food and have access to drinking water. « But he is still in the same cell as 17 other persons, which means that he has about a half square meter to sleep ». Even though the Democrat Association denied any link with Mam Sonando, Ou Virak thinks there is one : « Mam Sonando was also arrested because of Sourn Serey Ratha and more importantly other community activists who lead protests in land conflicts areas. When Mam Sonando interviewed Bun Ratha, he did something that the governement does not tolerate. This has very little to do with the Democrat Association ». More secessionist charges are brought on more community activists now. For example, at least 4 villagers have been arrested in Pursat province since the beginning of the week in connection with what the authorities are calling a secessionnist plot.

The fear of a jasmine revolution ?

An Op-Ed published in the New York Times on July 18th, Mu Sochua, opposition member of the Parliament in Cambodia and Cecilia Wikstrom, a EU Parliament member, state that « it is time the Cambodian government be held accountable for violating its people’s basic rights ». The arrest of Mam Sonando comes after a number of human right abuses. In the past three months, the land activist Chut Wutty was killed, thirteen Boeung Kak lake activists were arrested and convicted Venerable Loun Sovath was arrested and a 14 year old girl was killed during land evictions. For Ou Virak, this arrest is due to the government fear of instability since the Arab Spring and Sonando’s arrest is a faux-pas: « Hun Sen cannot stay away from the Arab Spring. Any mention of it is quite sensitive in the country […] », he said. « The government did not want to arrest Mam Sonando until he came back to Cambodia, provoking the government [after telling Voice of America that he did not fear any allegation]. All signs say anyone that rule with almost absolute control of all organs of the state will be bound to make mistakes».

Tek Nim (The Phnom Penh Post)

Moreover, land conflicts are sensitive in Cambodia for they cost its popularity to the ruling party, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). According to the results of the last commune elections on June 3rd, the CPP was in difficulty in provinces known for land conflicts, grabbing and border dispute. For example Tek Nim, a 28 year –old woman, won the seat for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party in Omlaing commune, embroiled in land conflict with Ly Yong Phat, a CPP senator and tycoon.

One of the latest measure taken by the Prime Minister in this regard is to send volunteers and surveyors to measure land in the whole country. Late last year, a draft law has been released by the government on the Management and Use of Agricultural Land. On Monday, a briefing from the local NGO Licadho stated that it « could be used as legal cover for land-grabbing and for those who wish to exploit and personally profit from Cambodia’s land and resources».

In this context, Mam Sonando’s arrest was criticized and denounced. It was locally criticized by the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) as well as 14 Ngos, and internationally by the US based NGO Human Rights Watch, the France based NGO Reporters Without Borders, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Swiss-based World Organization Against Torture. On July 18th, the Council of Ministers spokesman called for NGO’s « patience », reminding that « Mam Sonando is innocent until proven guilty ».

Mam Sonando’s wife was able to visit her husband twice last week and met with the French Embassy on Monday, who assured her they would be visiting Mam Sonando before the end of the month.