Cambodia: Rally Barred on Women’s Day [-Hun Xen scared of the Jasmine revolution in Cambodia?]

Government Fails to Explain Ban on 100th Anniversary

March 8, 2011
Source:Human Rights Wath

"Refusing women the right to rally peacefully reflects the government's distrust its people," said Adams. "The Cambodian government's creeping dictatorial rule should be of real concern to the country's donors."

"The government’s refusal to allow an International Women’s Day rally first seemed like a joke. But no Cambodian government restriction on basic rights should come as a surprise anymore." - Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

(New York) - The Cambodian government should reverse its decision to refuse a permit to the Cambodian Women's Movement Organization (CWMO) for a rally in central Phnom Penh, Human Rights Watch said today. The rally was intended to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on March 8, 2011.

The government failed to provide any reason for its rejection of a permit in a March 7, 2011 letter from Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chutema to the CWMO. Speakers and a celebration were planned. Minister of Women's Affairs Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi had previously agreed to speak at the event, but when the permit was denied, she said she was no longer available to attend.

"The government's refusal to allow an International Women's Day rally first seemed like a joke," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "But no Cambodian government restriction on basic rights should come as a surprise anymore."

International Report Highlights More Abuses Over Land, Press

A cop shooting at land-grabbing protesters in Oudong (RFA Video)

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 02 September 2010

“I do not think the violence is calming down,” he said. “But I think that arrests are increasing.”

The Cambodian government is facing more accusations it has cracked down on freedoms of expression and the media in the past several years.

In a new report by the Paris-based Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, researchers found “trade union leaders, land rights activists and journalists have faced among the worst human rights violations [and are] facing new legal restrictions and fierce retaliation for documenting and denouncing abuses.”

Dozens of land rights activists were detained on charges “designed to remove them from the role as community leaders,” the research group said in a statement.

The group cited the case of venerable monk Loun Sovath, who is embroiled in a land dispute in Siem Reap province, as an example.

Two of Loun Sovath's family members were shot during land protests in Anlong Samnor commune, Chi Kreng district, where villagers and the owner of a water reservoir were disputing ownership of nearly 100 hectares of rice fields.

Loun Sovath, who has led a number of awareness campaigns over the dispute, told VOA Khmer on Thursday the arrests of nine protesters and the wounding of others was “unjust for villagers who led a protest against a land grab.”

“I do not think the violence is calming down,” he said. “But I think that arrests are increasing.”

The international researchers also pointed to the jailing of opposition newspaper editor Hang Chakra as further evidence of the erosion of free expression.

Hang Chakra, the editor of the Khmer Mchas Srok newspaper, was jailed for nearly a year in 2009, after he published articles alleging corruption within the Council of Ministers.

“Since I was in jail, I think media expression has gone down,” he told VOA Khmer Thursday. “The Cambodian government should open their hearts to receive criticism and consider what the NGOs and media are doing. That's better than thinking about a dictatorship against criticism.”

Cheam Yiep, a lawmaker for the Cambodian People's Party, said freedoms of expression and media were not on the decline. “Right now the Cambodian government is reforming step by step on human rights issues,” he said.

Cambodian rights groups face worsening repression: activists

Thursday, September 02, 2010
AFP

PHNOM PENH — Human rights workers in Cambodia face "an increasingly hostile environment" as authorities use violence, intimidation and "trumped-up" criminal charges to silence them, activists warned Thursday.

Rights group Licadho said that as of mid-July around 60 activists were being held in Cambodian prisons on a range of charges.

"Cambodian human rights defenders have faced an increasingly hostile environment over the past two years, enduring physical violence, illegal arrests, trumped-up criminal charges," the group said in a statement.

In a new report, "Attacks and Threats Against Human Rights Defenders in Cambodia", it said courts were being used to obstruct human rights workers' lawful activities while defamation and disinformation laws were restricting freedom of expression.

In a separate statement, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) said that rights groups faced "shrinking space" in Cambodia.

"Time and again we see the same pattern -- those who dare to speak out against injustice are arrested, imprisoned and intimidated," said Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH president.

"The message to human rights defenders is clear: Be quiet, or the government will forcibly silence you," he added.

The groups' warning came just a few days after Licadho staff member Leang Sokchouen was jailed for two years for disinformation after he allegedly distributed anti-government leaflets.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, FIDH and OMCT condemned the conviction in joint statement released late Wednesday and called for his immediate release.

"Unfounded charges of disinformation or defamation are well-worn tactics used by the Cambodian government to create a climate of fear," Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in the statement.

Cambodia rights body decries worsening repression as staffer jailed

Wed, 01 Sep 2010
DPA

Phnom Penh - A leading human rights group in Cambodia said Wednesday that activists are operating in an increasingly hostile environment there, characterized by physical violence, illegal arrests and trumped-up criminal charges.

Up to 60 human rights activists were currently in pretrial detention on a range of charges, according to the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights.

The report, Attacks and Threats Against Human Rights Defenders in Cambodia, highlighted a number of trends the league said were being used against those the government perceives as its critics.

"Despite Cambodia being a signatory to numerous international treaties and the passage of national laws guaranteeing the protection of human rights defenders, the situation has worsened for many human rights defenders and civil society," league president Pung Chhiv Kek said.

The twice yearly report was released two days after staff member Leang Sokchoeun was jailed for two years for disinformation. Pung Chhiv Kek condemned the judgement as "an absolutely appalling example" of the lack of independence of Cambodia's courts.

She described the conviction as politically motivated and predetermined with "no basis in fact or law," adding that it "underscores the dire state of Cambodia's judiciary."

Leang Sokchoeun was sentenced with two other men after being accused of distributing anti-government leaflets. The league said the trial was marked by numerous deficiencies, including evidence that police had arrested the wrong man.

"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," Pung Chhiv Kek said.

The report highlighted measures being taken against anyone speaking out for human rights, such as community representatives protesting land grabs by the powerful.

Naly Pilorge, the league's director, said among the "disturbing trends" was the government's use of the courts as a weapon.

Other trends included charging people with defamation and disinformation to restrict freedom of expression and curbing freedom of association and assembly.

Pilorge said human rights defenders released on bail were typically told to stop their work while charges were pending - a situation that could last years.

The report made several recommendations, including calling on the government to stop arresting human rights officials and to prosecute corrupt state officials who the league said enjoy impunity.

Photo diary of a Cambodian democrat during times of repression

July-Sept. 2009
By Theary C. SENG

"Cambodia, as a democracy, is a teenager in terms of years, and an infant in terms of maturity. Democracy in Cambodia is so fragile and now this attack on democracy poses serious concerns on the health and existence of democracy."

In a democracy, you need democrats. Cambodia purports to be a democracy. However, within recent months, the government has been going after democrats and human rights defenders in a more concentrated manner in the crackdown on political opposition, civil society and media which greatly undermines democracy.

Theary Seng with Mr. Phin Malay (center) in Toulouse, prior to a 2-hour call-in radio program on Canal Sud 92.5 FM (in Khmer and English) on democracy and human rights in Cambodia, 7 July 2009.

Cambodia, as a democracy, is a teenager in terms of years, and an infant in terms of maturity. Democracy in Cambodia is so fragile and now this attack on democracy poses serious concerns on the health and existence of democracy. Since 1993, Cambodia has made important strides in democratic development, but now all of that is at risk in light of the concentrated crackdown on expression, opinions and assembly.

How then does the Cambodian government expect Cambodia to have a democracy?

Theary Seng, relaxing at dinner, after 2nd day of Fifth Ministerial Community of Democracies in Lisbon, 10 July 2009.

Lisbon 5th Ministerial of Community of Democracies, Portugal Foreign Minister getting up to give welcoming remarks, 10 July 2009. During this session, Theary Seng informed the participants of the crackdown in Cambodia and her removal from the Center for Social Development via a politically-motivated court injunction.

Fmr. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who initiated the Community of Democracies ten years ago, attending the Lisbon Fifth Ministerial, 9 July 2009.

Theary Seng with democrats from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Peru at the Lisbon Ministerial of Community of Democracies, 9 July 2009.

The situation is insidious in that the ruling party uses the semblance of democracy to combat democracy; that is to say, it uses "mock legality" of the court carry out its fiat. It criminalizes democracy and human rights activism; it weaponizes the law. A genuine democracy is rooted in the “rule of law”. An authoritarian regime bases its authority in the "rule by law" that it alone legislates, interprets and executes. Cambodia now follows the adage of other dictators: For my friends, whatever they want; for my enemies, the law.

AlJazeera TV interview with Theary Seng (reading Undermining Democracy) in Phnom Penh re her removal from the Center for Social Development via a politically-motivated court injunction, before her departure for meetings/conferences in Portland and Berlin, Aug. 2009.

Theary Seng as keynote speaker and panelist with Fmr. US Ambassador Sichan Siv at the KRT international conference in Portland, OR, requesting for action by Cambodian-American against authoritarian backlash against democrats and human rights defenders in Cambodia. 16 Aug. 2009.

Theary Seng speaking with German Federal Minister of Economic Development Mrs. Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul after Press Conference to celebrate 10th Anniversary of Civil Peace Service, Berlin, 19 Aug. 2009.

Another invidious trend which is undermining democracy in Cambodia and elsewhere is the use of legislation to curtail the work of civil society, ie, in the form of an NGO Law. Two recently, highly recommended publications address the authoritarian backlash against democrats worldwide, both specifically mentioned Cambodia: Defending Civil Society and Undermining Democracy.

Theary Seng meeting with Vice-President of German Parliament (Bundestag) to discuss culture of memorial and crackdown on democracy and human rights in Cambodia. Berlin, 28 Aug. 2009.

The Center for Social Development (CSD) case is really a simple case of simple people bent on destruction by taking their private grievances to the court, exploiting the political context of repression and crackdown on civil society, media and political opposition. Politics, in turn, took advantage of this opening to silence an outspoken civil society voice (mine) by giving the green light to the court to enforce this baseless injunctive order. In sum, the CSD issue started out as a private dispute which turned political.

I am no longer at the CSD as of August 27, the Municipal Court ruled on the substantive case striking down the recognition of me and the 11-member Board of Directors as accepted by the Ministry of Interior. To continue the work of CSD, we have established The Center for Justice & Reconciliation and The Parliamentary Center of Cambodia.

Theary Seng with German parliamentarian Hellmut Konigshaus after one-hour meeting with him to inform of the crackdown on democracy and human rights in Cambodia (very generous of his time in light of election campaign season!) and Friedrich Naumann Stiftung’s Asia director Christian and SEA program manager Moritz. German Bundestag Office, Berlin, 2 Sept. 2009.

Information communication technology (ICT) is without a doubt a powerful, fearful weapon against authoritarianism and the best friend of democracy and democrats. Movements and campaigns require the effective dissemination of information to rally up the support and ICT proves an effective tool in getting the message out to the larger audience which knows no boundary. During my 3 1/2 years at CSD, we emphasized the use of ICT in our work, particularly we did research through the iREACH pilot project in Kep on the use of ICT in empowering rural communities.

Khmer Rouge Tribunal: Success or Scandal. International conference for invited heads of institutions, parliamentarians and policy-makers, Berlin. Theary Seng with panelists Hon. Jurgen Koppelin (German parliamentarian who opposed the KRT) and German prosecutor Jurgen Assmann, organized by and moderated by Friedrich Naumann Stiftung’s Moritz Kleine-Brockoff, Berlin, 3 Sept. 2009.

Authoritarian regimes, which characterizes the Cambodian People’s Party, are afraid of truth and ideas; they function on fear, control and paranoia, in keeping the population ignorant to better manipulate them. They function best in secrecy and in the dark. Information and knowledge is light, it is power, hence a challenge to the authority and power of the CPP.

Hon. Tioulong Saumura (MP, SRP), second from left, on a special panel of Women in Political Leadership.

Theary Seng with democrats from India and Mongolia at WFDA Biennial Conference (Seoul, 16-18 Sept. 2009) where she addressed Democracy in Cambodia on a panel of Asian democrats from transitional countries.

For me, I have found that as a public figure, visibility is one layer of protection. We cannot vacillate back and forth and mourn the loss of privacy. I believe this awareness is important for human rights activists for visibility is a protective tool. With regards to CSD, I have been speaking out at the various conferences (ie, Community of Democracies, World Forum for Democratization in Asia, my meetings with the Vice President of the German Bundestag etc.) and in interviews for radio and TV, including an AlJazeera half-hour program on this crackdown... and will continue to speak out very strongly against any and all forms of authoritarianism, despots, for human lives and well-being are at stake here when democracy is under attack.