Released SRP activist must resign: official [-The CPP sets up their own arbitrary law?]

Tuot Saron (middle) following his release (Photo: SRP)

Friday, 14 January 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

OPPOSITION Sam Rainsy Party activist Tuot Saron has been ordered to give up his post as chief of Pongro commune in Kampong Thom province’s Baray district, after being freed from jail on royal amnesty last month.

Baray District Governor Hak Mov Seng said yesterday that he will refuse to let Tuot Saron resume his duties unless the Ministry of Interior issues an official letter reinstating him. He said he has demanded that Tuot Saron return his rubber stamp, a means of ratifying official documents.

“Tuot Saron cannot hold a rubber stamp any more. I will not allow him to do anything at all and if he stamps documents, we will refuse them,” Hak Mov Seng said.

During the run up to national elections in 2008, Tuot Saron was imprisoned for abducting and illegally holding an SRP election candidate against his will.

Rights group Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience and he received a pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni in December.

KHMER INTELLIGENCE NEWS TODAY

KHMER INTELLIGENCE NEWS
31 October 2010

Hillary Clinton receiving better treatment in Cambodia than Ban Ki-moon (2)

Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who arrived in Cambodia yesterday, is receiving better treatment by the Cambodian government than United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier this week. While Prime Minister Hun Sen humiliated Ban Ki-moon with his two undiplomatic, untimely and unacceptable requests -- closure of the UN human rights office and abrupt termination of the UN-sponsored Khmer Rouge Tribunal after Trial # 2 -- he is being more respectful to the head of the US diplomacy for two main reasons:

1. Vietnam, which exerts a strong influence on Cambodia, is imploring the US to help counter China's aggressive policy in asserting Beijing's exclusive sovereignty on the South China Sea. The US has therefore, through Vietnam, a strong leverage on Cambodia.
2. The US State Department and Justice Department can order any time the FBI to release its still partly classified Report showing Hun Sen's involvement in the 1997 deadly grenade attack in Phnom Penh.

Forced closing of UN office would be a violation of the Paris Agreement on Cambodia (1)

Prime Minister Hun Sen told visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on 27 October that he wanted to close down the UN human rights office in Cambodia. However, Article 17 of the 1991 Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict, stipulates, "After the end of the transitional period, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights should continue to monitor closely the human rights situation in Cambodia, including, if necessary, by the appointment of a Special Rapporteur who would report his findings annually to the Commission and to the General Assembly." It is obvious that, in order to "monitor closely the human rights situation in Cambodia," the concerned UN body has to operate and maintain an office in this country. Read related opposition party statement at http://tinyurl.com/275kphp

Vietnam encroaching on Cambodia's territory in Kampong Cham province (1)

Some two hundreds Khmer farmers from Trapeang Damrey Thom village, Da commune in Kampong Cham province's Memot district, are protesting against the planting by Vietnamese authorities on 27 October 2010 of border post # 109 on their farm lands. This is the latest incident in a long series of border encroachments in the Eastern provinces of Cambodia. Listen to 30 October 2010 report in Khmer on Radio Free Asia at http://tinyurl.com/37eflzn

Hun Sen acknowledges government disinformation on border situation (2)

By accepting to violate the constitution by not responding to questions from National Assembly members on the border situation, Prime Minister Hun Sen implicitly acknowledges that he has actually not told the truth on the sensitive issue of Cambodian farmers losing their lands because of border encroachments by Vietnam. Moreover, he acknowledges that the CPP's top leadership has disseminated false information by recently telling King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, "Not a single Khmer farmer has lost his/her rice field in the ongoing border demarcation process with Vietnam." The questions from parliamentarians were officially asked on 15 October 2010, and the government had to respond within seven days according to article 96 of the constitution. See related news published in these columns on 24 October 2010, "Chea Sim, Hun Sen and Heng Samrin disseminating false information on border situation."

China not happy with King-Father Norodom Sihanouk's recent visit to Vietnam (2)

China had unsuccessfully tried to prevent King-Father Norodom Sihanouk and Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk from accompanying King Norodom Sihamoni in his last June's official visit to Vietnam. Beijing did not appreciate the whole three-member Cambodian royal family, traditionally close to China, going together to pay tribute as a vassal to Vietnam. Nevertheless, Vietnam wanted Norodom Sihanouk to symbolically endorse controversial border treaties imposed on Cambodia in the 1980s. Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened again to abolish the monarchy if Norodom Sihanouk did not go to Hanoi. During the visit, while state television in Hanoi was broadcasting scenes of the royal allegiance to Vietnam, some TV stations in China broadcast scenes of China's (Cambodia-related) Punitive War against Vietnam in 1979.

Opposition elected official to be released from jail (2)

After the release yesterday of journalist Ros Sokhet who was detained for more than a year for "disinformation" or "dissemination of false information" some other government critics or opposition activists are expected to be released soon from prison following increasing international pressure. One of them could be SRP elected commune chief Tuot Saran whom Amnesty International describes as a "prisoner of conscience." "Amnesty International believes that the accusations against [Tuot Saran] were baseless and politically motivated, in order to intimidate other opposition party activists," the organization said in a 15 September 2010 statement.

Airport operator asks government to open up competition for flights to Sihanoukville (1)

Because national carrier Cambodia Angkor Air, which is affiliated with Air Vietnam, is reluctant to schedule flights to Sihanoukville (see "Conflict of interests between Cambodia and Vietnam in airline joint venture," KI News, 24 October 2010), French airport operator SCA said on 27 October 2010 they were negotiating with several other airlines to start flights to the coastal destination. However, there is a lack of political will on the part of the Cambodian government to open up competition for the reason we have explained.

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24 October 2010

Chea Sim, Hun Sen and Heng Samrin disseminating false information on border situation (2)

In a tit-for-tat move, the SRP leadership is accusing CPP top three leaders Chea Sim, Hun Sen and Heng Samrin of disseminating false information, a charge that could logically send them to prison based on current laws in Cambodia. In a recent letter to King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, the three CPP leaders claimed, "Not a single Khmer farmer has lost his/her rice field in the ongoing border demarcation process with Vietnam." The case of Prum Chea and Meas Srey, two Cambodian farmers from Svay Rieng province who were recently arrested and jailed for protesting the loss of their rice fields because of border encroachment, are living evidence to the contrary and an irrefutable denial of CPP's claim on the issue. Read related statement at http://tinyurl.com/3x6nrc2

Conflict of interests between Cambodia and Vietnam in airline joint venture (2)

National carrier Cambodia Angkor Air is unwilling to extend regular flights to Preah Sihanouk City (or Sihanoukville) which boasts a newly-extended airport, even though Cambodia's southwestern coastline and islands are considered a vital part of the country's tourism growth strategy. Vietnam Airlines, which operates Cambodia Angkor Air, actually doesn't want Preah Sihanouk City to seriously compete with nearby Vietnam's Phu Quoc island, which is also a newly-developed destination for international tourism with a brand new airport.

[End]

Cambodia Prisoner of Conscience: Tuot Saron

Tuot Saron is serving a three-year prison sentence on what are believed to be politically motivated charges.He is an activist in the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), the largest opposition party in Cambodia, and the former head of Pongro commune, in Baray district of Kompong Thom province. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and is calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

Tuot Saron was arrested in Baray district on 18 March 2008 and charged with being an accomplice to unlawful confinement. The authorities also charged three other SRP activists with the same crime; they went into hiding before they could be arrested.

After one year in pre-trial detention, Tuot Saron was brought to trial on 20 March 2009 at Kompong Thom Provincial Court. He was convicted as charged and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, and a fine of USD 2,500. The three others charged were tried in absentia and sentenced to between three and five years’ imprisonment.

The charges arose out of allegations that an SRP member who had come under pressure to change allegiance to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), was abducted and illegally held by the four men. Tuot Saron has always denied the charges, and Amnesty International believes that the accusations against him were baseless and politically motivated, in order to intimidate other opposition party activists.

In the months prior to the July 2008 general election, the CPP was seeking to further consolidate its position and members of opposition political parties were targeted, mostly through intimidation and financial inducements, to join or align themselves with the CPP. In this tense pre-election campaign atmosphere, Tuot Saron said that he and his three colleagues were asked for protection by the SRP member under pressure. They escorted her to Phnom Penh from Kompong Thom for her own safety.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Cambodia stated that its own investigation into the case showed that there was no credible evidence to support the allegation of abduction, and that it had shared its findings with the relevant courts and officials. At the trial, the prosecution reportedly failed to present corroborating evidence of the alleged crime, and relied mainly on uncorroborated statements. Despite this and other shortcomings at the trial, all four SRP members were convicted.

Tuot Saron is in his early 40s and married with four children; his family is struggling to make ends meet since his imprisonment. He is in Kompong Thom prison, where he shares a cell with more than 100 other prisoners, many of whom are in ill health as a result of the poor conditions.

Background

The 2008 elections were conducted with fewer incidents of violence than in previous elections, but were marred by the killing of Khim Sambor, a journalist for the SRP-affiliated newspaper, and his son two weeks before polling day. The CPP won 90 of 123 seats, the SRP 26, and three other smaller parties won seven seats.

Sam Rainsy Party supporters, including members of parliament, local officials, journalists and activists have been targeted at various times in the past few years because of their opposition political activities; some have been subjected to threats, others have been imprisoned and several have been unlawfully killed.

Sam Rainsy visited Mr. Tout Saron in prison at Kampong Thom province

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy visited Mr. Tout Saron, SRP Pong-ro commune chief in Baray district, who was detaining in prison at Kampong Thom province on July 10, 2009.

Tout Saron was sentenced 3 years in jail by Kampong Thom Court on March 20, 2009.

Anger over jailing of Cambodian opposition member

March 23, 2009
ABC Radio Australia

In Cambodia, there's concern about the conviction of an opposition commune chief on kidnapping charges.

The alleged kidnapping of Tim Norn occured in February last year amid a defection campaign by the ruling Cambodian People's Party, or CPP, which attracted some opposition figures away from the Sam Rainsy Party, also known as the S-R-P. Tuot Saron was found guilty of kidnapping and illegal confinement, and sentenced to three years prison, after spending more than 12 months in jail already. The Cambodian human rights group LICADHO says the ruling is politically-motivated and could have long lasting consequences for democracy.

Presenter: Liam Cochrane
Speaker: Jason Barber, LICADHO consultant

Click here to listen to the audio program in English (Windows Media)

SRP bail request for jailed SRP commune chief

Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

18 SRP MPs requested bail for Tuot Saron, SRP Pongro commune chief, Baray district, Kampong Thom province, who was arrested by the authority on 21 March for illegal detention of a person (Tim Norn). The SRP MPs signed the request on a letter dated 24 March and sent to the Kampong Thom provincial court, asking to act as guarantors for Tuot Saron for his release on bail. In this letter, the opposition MPs stated that the arrest of Tuot Saron was very unfair and that the entire case was concocted to blame him. Furthermore, this case should not involve incarceration of Tuot Saron. Ty Sovin, the Kampong Thom provincial court prosecutor, told the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper that Tuot Saron’s defense lawyer already sent in to the tribunal the request for bail. Ty Sovin said that, in 5 days time, if the investigating judge finds that there is no reason for bail, then the court will issue a decision blocking this bail request.