Correspondance between Mr. Chandara Kin and US Senator Charles E, Grassley regarding the murder of Chut Wutty

Human Rights Activist Arrested in Cambodia

August 31, 2012
By Luke Hunt
The Diplomat

The CCHR and OPCC were not alone in urging the government of Cambodia, which is the current ASEAN chair and a prospective member of the United Nations Security Council for 2013-14, to release Mam Sonando immediately.

On human rights and freedom of thought and expression, Cambodia has found the going tough. Stories about villagers evicted from their land, human rights workers being arrested, and those who prefer the opposition to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) being harassed are the stuff of daily headlines.

Chief among them is Mam Sonando, 70, Director of the independent Beehive Radio and President of the Democrat Association. He was arrested at his home on July 15 by about 20 police officers after being accused of leading a secessionist movement in northern Kratie province.

He is currently being held without bail even though the he returned willingly from overseas to answer questions despite having been jailed twice before for criticizing the government and taking a vocal stand against forced evictions and alleged land grabbing.

Phnom Penh is in total denial: What a SHAME!!!

Surya Subedi (L) speaks to the media in Phnom Penh, May 9, 2012. (AFP)

Om Yentieng (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)

Officials Slam Rights Report

Cambodia’s government rejects a UN report seeking electoral reforms and respect for human rights.

2012-08-29

AFP

Cambodian government officials have rejected a report by a United Nations expert pushing for electoral reforms and accusing the authorities of rights violations over economic land concessions.

They said that the report by Surya Subedi, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, does not paint an accurate picture of the current status of human rights in the country.

Subedi warned in the report that Cambodia may plunge into violence if it does not reform the current electoral system to allow for fair and free elections.

He also said that the human costs of economic land concessions in the country has been high, adding that the absence of proper consultation and negotiation with the people affected when granting such concessions has been a major concern.

Findings of the Subcommitt​ee on Civil and Political Rights of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand on the Koh Kong Sugar Cane Plantation case in Cambodia

Preliminary Findings

Evidence gathered from the SCPR’s investigation so far allows for a reasonable belief that human rights principles and instruments were breached in this case, and that the Thai parent company is involved in the operations of its subsidiaries in Koh Kong, where these breaches took place. We identify breaches of the right to life and self-determination, in particular. The SCPR also identifies a failure to uphold the people’s right to development, which includes their right to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, and through which most other human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized. The SCPR has completed the investigation and is in the process of drafting the final report which will be endorsed by the NHRC in due course accordingly.

The Commission is a constitutional organization pursuant to the Constitution of Thailand B.E.2550 (2007) committed, under the democratic regime, to ensure that communities and their natural resources remain protected, and that various human rights principles are applied in meeting the economic, social and environmental pillars for fairness and sustainable development.

https://www.box.com/s/28d864a5109a8e66e81d

Cambodia: After US, ASEAN Leave, Media Critic Jailed

Rights Issues Neglected at Regional Summit

July 17, 2012
Source: http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/07/17/cambodia-after-us-asean-leave-media-critic-jailed

"In the past three months a prominent environmentalist has been killed, a young girl was killed in a military siege, an activist Buddhist monk was threatened with arrest, the political opposition leader kept in forced exile, and a crucial media figure was accused of a preposterous crime. Yet Hillary Clinton and regional leaders swept in and out of Cambodia without even addressing the situation." - Brad Adams, Asia director

(New York) – The Cambodian government should release and drop all charges against Mam Sonando, the owner of Cambodia’s main politically independent radio station and prominent critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen. The authorities arrested Mom Sanando at his home on the morning of July 15, 2012, and charged him under six sections of the penal code, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Hun Sen publicly called for Sonando’s arrest on June 26, when Sonando was out of the country and the Cambodian government was preparing to host the Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was held last week in Phnom Penh and included the participation of non-ASEAN members – the United States, Japan, Australia, and China. The forum also serves as a precursor for the larger East Asia Summit, which takes place in November. Sonando returned to Cambodia during the ASEAN meeting, but the authorities did not arrest him until the ASEAN meeting was finished and most international media had departed. Sonando’s arrest came two days after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s departure from the country.

“Sonando’s arrest on the heels of Clinton’s visit is a brazen signal that Hun Sen thinks that the US wants his cooperation on other matters so much that he isn’t afraid to lower the boom on his critics,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “He may have gotten that impression after the US and other delegations neglected to publicly comment on the country’s rapidly deteriorating human rights situation. The US now needs to take strong and public steps to pick up the pieces.”

Clinton Prepares for Major Asean Security Meeting

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. (Photo: AP)

Friday, 29 June 2012
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

"Clinton’s visit to Cambodia for the Asean forum will entail delicate diplomacy on a number of issues."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton travels to Cambodia next month for a major regional conference hosted in Phnom Penh, where a host of diplomatic challenges awaits.

The Asean Regional Forum will focus on security in Southeast Asia, but it will also host many of the world’s major players, including North Korea, which said through Cambodian diplomatic channels it will be willing to talk to the US bilaterally and to reopen moribund six-party talks.

The contentious issue of the South China Sea will also likely be on Clinton’s agenda, as she moves to further engagement in the region.

Analysts say the issues of the South China Sea issue, democracy and human rights all stand as obstacles to greater US influence in Southeast Asia, which has keenly felt the growing political and economic influence of China in recent years.

Cambodia, which is this year’s rotating head of Asean, is especially friendly with China, which is a major benefactor of military and economic aid.

Trade without human rights?

12 June 2012
By Mu Sochua

Trade without human rights? Trade with a judiciary that is controlled by money and the power of one man? We do not think so, Mr. Hor Nam Hong.

US government may want to try the carrot and stick policy with Cambodia but not investors. They want return and protection of their investments. The only guaranty is rule of law and real democracy. For that to happen, the USA and the world community need to invest in free and fair elections in Cambodia so there can be a true change of power that will begin the real step towards paving steps for democracy.

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Foreign Minister, Clinton Meet Amid Growing Rights Concerns


Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Reporters, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jIO0erZRiM

Petition to Hillary Clinton to Ensure Human Rigths and Democracy in Cambodia

https://www.box.com/s/9e0d22063c6fa77d5ab3

Only UN with Human Rights

Trade Vs. Humann Rights - Here We Go Again...

27 May 2012
By Mu Sochua

The US must learn from its previous support of dictatorships around the world.

Stand up America for what you are.

This statement by a high ranking official of the State Department is an insult to human rights and in particular to women's human rights.

The US State Department will have some serious damage control to do after this statement unless it can reveal what topics of "peace and security" were covered with the Foreign Minister.

Sec. Hillary Clinton will be meeting Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong and we hope she is not as "thrilled" as Kurt Campbell. She knows Hor Nam Hong's implication in the the Khmer Rouge prison that killed thousands of lives.

Trade first before human rights?

This statement is totally inappropriate.

"Thrilled" to be in Cambodia and speaking with the Foreign Minister, while 13 women were arrested, an award-winning human rights monk arrested , a 14 year-old girl killed by soldiers wearing US military helmets, the outstanding environmentalist assassinated, factory workers shot at by a governor. He was also thrilled that the trial of the 13 women was conducted...

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Remarks in Cambodia - By Kurt Campbell

First of all, let me just say that on behalf of the United States government, we are so thrilled to be here in Cambodia for the Senior Officials Meeting.

Click here to read Kurt Campbell's speech

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: US Aid

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

មន្ត្រី​អាមេរិក​រិះគន់​ប្រព័ន្ធ​តុលាការ​កម្ពុជា [ដឹងរឿងខូចដែរ តែហេតុដូចម្តេច បានជាអាមេរិកនៅ តែជួយ ហ៊ុនសែន?]

2012-05-26
ដោយ តាំង សារ៉ាដា
RFA

សហ​រដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ព្រហស្បតិ៍ បាន​បង្ហាញ​អំពី​ស្ថានភាព​មិន​ប្រក្រតី​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ក្នុង​បរិបទ​នៃ​ការ​គោរព​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស និង​អំពី​ប្រព័ន្ធ​តុលាការ​មាន​លក្ខណៈ​អន់ថយ។

របាយការណ៍​ប្រចាំ​ឆ្នាំ​២០១១ ចំនួន ១១​ទំព័រ របស់​ក្រសួង​ការ​បរទេស​សហរដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក ដែល​ចេញ​ផ្សព្វ​ផ្សាយ​កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ព្រហស្បតិ៍ បាន​បង្ហាញ​ថា ក្រោម​ការ​ដឹកនាំ​នៃ​រដ្ឋបាល​របស់​លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន បាន​ធ្វើ​អោយ​ប្រព័ន្ធ​តុលាការ​កម្ពុជា​ចុះ​ទន់​ខ្សោយ នាំ​អោយ​ខក​ខាន​មិន​បាន​រក​យុត្តិធម៌​ពេញ​លេញ​ជូន​ពល​រដ្ឋ​ស្លូត​ត្រង់ ហើយ​ដែល​បញ្ហា​នេះ​បាន​បង្ក​អោយ​មាន​ការ​រំលោភ​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស។

រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ទីក្រុង​វ៉ាស៊ីនតោន​បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ថា ការ​រំលោភ​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​នៅ​កម្ពុជា មាន​ចំនួន​កើន​ឡើង​តាម​រយៈ​ការ​រំលោភ​សិទ្ធិ​ដីធ្លី ការ​បណ្ដេញ​ប្រជា​ពល​រដ្ឋ​ចេញ​ពី​លំនៅឋាន​ដោយ​បង្ខំ តាម​រយៈ​គោល​ការណ៍​ដី​សម្បទាន​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច ប្រព័ន្ធ​តុលាការ​មាន​លក្ខណៈ​អន់ថយ​ដែល​មិន​អាច​រក​យុត្តិធម៌​ពិត​ប្រាកដ​ជូន​ពល​រដ្ឋ ការ​បន្ត​បទ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ករណី​បរិហារកេរ្តិ៍​ជា​ទោស​ព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ និង​ការ​រឹតត្បិត​ដល់​សេរីភាព​ក្នុង​ការ​បញ្ចេញ​មតិ​តាម​រយៈ​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ពី​បទ​ញុះញង់​ឲ្យ​ប្រព្រឹត្ត​បទ​ឧក្រិដ្ឋ​ជា​ដើម។

AUSTRALIA MINING COMPANIES IN CAMBODIA-F​OR WHOSE GOOD?

16 April 2012
By Mu Sochua

The people of Cambodia are grateful to the government of Australia for taking the lead role in the 1991 Paris Peace Accords.

Australia invests Aus.$ 77.4 million in 2011-2012 in Cambodia in agriculture, health and access to justice.

Agriculture policies and strategies can not ignore the devastating impact of land economic concessions that have lead to close to 30% of Cambodia's land mass now in the hands of close to 250 companies. Among these companies are mining concessions given to Australian companies.

Land grabs are only mentionted in the AUSAID strategy documents but not addressed.

In 2006, BHP paid US$1 million to the government to get special concessions in Mondol Kiri for mining in the North -East. The final deal was signed with BHP and the prime minister of Cambodia with an additional US$2.5million as "tea money" that never appeared in the books of the finance ministry http://www.smh.com.au/business/bhps-tea-money-missing-in-cambodia-20100514-v4fs.html.

Such deals must be stopped. Such deals must be a serious alarm and warning for AUSAID to be super cautious of its aid in the agriculture sector as well as other sectors.

We want quality of aid and accountability.

Click here to read Geogia Wilkins' article about "Call to stop firms accepting Cambodian land"

Far From Meetings, Evictees Ask Region for Help

Monday, 02 April 2012
Say Mony, VOA Khmer | Kandal province, Cambodia

“I would like to ask all the ministers to help all the people here, whether they are inside or outside tents, who are in miserable conditions.”

Far from the Asean ministerial meetings underway on Monday, victims of forced evictions in Cambodia say they need regional leaders to help enforce human rights.

At a squalid relocation camp at Phnom Bath mountain, where many displaced families live in poverty, Nhim Sopha, 29, told VOA Khmer she needs Asean’s leaders “to help solve the problems, so that I can have a plot of land.”

Nhim Sopha, who is a widow with one child, said she was forcibly evicted with around 300 families from the Phnom Penh neighborhood of Borei Keila earlier this year. They were brought by truck to this desolate mountain location, 50 kilometers from the city.

A piece of land, she said, “would be enough for me, and then I’ll demand nothing else.”

ស្ថាប័ន​ឃ្លាំមើល​សេរីភាព​ចង់​ឲ្យ​អាមេរិក​ពិនិត្យ​រឿង​នយោបាយ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា

Richard Solomon, president of the United States Institute of Peace

Click on the control below to listen to the audio program:

Click here to download the audio in MP3

2012-04-02
ដោយ តាំង សារ៉ាដា
Radio Free Asia

ស្ថាប័ន​ឃ្លាំមើល​សិទ្ធិ​សេរីភាព និង​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​របស់​អាមេរិក ដែល​មាន​មូលដ្ឋាន​ក្នុង​រដ្ឋធានី​វ៉ាស៊ីនតោន (Washington) បាន​ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​សកម្មជន​ខ្មែរ​នៅ​ក្រៅ​ស្រុក​ទាំង​អស់ រួប​រួម​គ្នា​ជា​ធ្លុង​មួយ ដើម្បី​ស្វែង​រក​ការ​គាំទ្រ​នានា​ពី​តាម​បណ្ដា​ប្រទេស​ដែល​ជា​សមាជិក​អាស៊ាន ដើម្បី​ដាក់​សម្ពាធ​ដល់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា ឲ្យ​ធានា​ពេញលេញ​ដល់​សិទ្ធិ​ជា​មូលដ្ឋាន​របស់​ពលរដ្ឋ និង​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ប្រកប​ដោយ​សេរី និង​យុត្តិធម៌​នៅ​ពេល​ខាង​មុខ។

អ្នក​សង្កេតការណ៍​ខាង​ផ្នែក​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ និង​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​ក្នុង​សហរដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក បាន​ផ្ដល់​អនុសាសន៍​ដល់​ក្រុម​សកម្មជន​ក្នុង​សហគមន៍​ខ្មែរ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ទស្សនវិស័យ និង​ចក្ខុវិស័យ​ជ្រៅ​ថែម​ទៀត ក្នុង​ការ​ចង​ក្រង​បណ្ដាញ​របស់​ខ្លួន ដើម្បី​គិតគូរ​អំពី​ស្ថានការណ៍​នយោបាយ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា។

លោក​អគ្គរដ្ឋទូត រីឆាដ សូឡូម៉ុន (Richard Solomon) ជា​ប្រធាន​វិទ្យាស្ថាន​សហរដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក​ដើម្បី​សន្តិភាព មាន​មូលដ្ឋាន​ផ្ទាល់​ក្នុង​រដ្ឋធានី​វ៉ាស៊ីនតោន។ លោក រីឆាដ ធ្លាប់​បាន​ចូល​រួម​តាក់តែង​សន្ធិសញ្ញា​ទីក្រុង​ប៉ារីស កាល​ពី​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩១ ក្នុង​ការ​នាំ​យក​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ និង​ការ​គោរព​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​ដល់​កម្ពុជា។


លោក​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា សហគមន៍​ខ្មែរ​ទាំង​ក្នុង និង​នៅ​ក្រៅ​សហរដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក គួរ​បង្កើត​បណ្ដាញ​របស់​ខ្លួន​ឲ្យ​រឹង​ម៉ាំ ដើម្បី​អាច​មាន​ឥទ្ធិពល​ក្នុង​ការ​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​សហគមន៍​អន្តរជាតិ ឬ​បណ្ដា​ប្រទេស​ជា​សមាជិក​អាស៊ាន អាច​ជួយ​ដាក់​សម្ពាធ​ដល់​កម្ពុជា ក្នុង​បរិបទ​នៃ​ការ​គោរព​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស និង​គោរព​នូវ​កិច្ច​ព្រមព្រៀង​សន្តិភាព​ទីក្រុង​ប៉ារីស។

Does Cambodia deserve to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council?

Former Khmer Rouge jailer's sentence increased, will spend life in prison

03 Feb 2012
By Miranda Leitsinger
msnbc.com

[Theary Seng] also noted that the life term, while appeasing the emotional sentiments of victims in handing out the most extreme sentence, had aligned with the Cambodian government's efforts to make Duch, "a small fish" in the regime, the "sole scapegoat."

A math teacher turned prison chief who oversaw a torture center where at least 12,000 people died under Cambodia’s genocidal Khmer Rouge regime will spend the rest of his life behind bars, after a war crimes court rejected his appeal to overturn his conviction and instead increased his sentence.

Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, was deputy and then chairman of S-21, a school converted into a prison where thousands of Cambodians were brought for execution during the regime’s 1975-1979 rule. He is the only former cadre to accept responsibility and express remorse for his role in what has become known as “the killing fields.”

Duch, the first former Khmer Rouge cadre to stand trial before a United Nations-backed tribunal, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in July 2010 on charges that included crimes against humanity and numerous grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. After reductions for 11 years he had already served in custody and another five years for his illegal detention by the Cambodian military, he received a 19-year term, angering survivors and activists.

Eviction victims should hold a demonstration at the ASEAN Human Rights Meeting held in Cambodia

Human rights violation in Borei Keila (Photo: Will Baxter, The Phnom Penh Post)

International Human Rights Day Celebrated amid Human Rights VIOLATIONS: Kingdom of Wonder

ព័ត៌មាន​ក្ដៅ​ពី​ ក្រុម​មិត្ត​១០​ធ្នូ

Saturday, December 10, 2011
Originally posted at: http://dectenfriends.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post_9209.html

រហូត​មកដល់​ពេល​នេះ​ (ម៉ោង​៨​ព្រឹក) ការប្រារព្ធ​ទិវាសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស មាន​បញ្ហា​ខ្លះដោយ​សារ​អជ្ញាធរ​រារាំង ទោះ​​បី​ជានៅ​តាម​សហគមន៍​ទាំង​១៣៨នៅ​២៤​ខេត្តក្រុងទូទាំង​​ប្រទេស​ ដែល​គ្រោង​ធ្វើ​ពិធី​អបអរ​ទិវា​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​​អន្តរជាតិ​នេះ​ក៏ដោយ។

បញ្ហា​កើតនេះ​មាន​នៅ​សហគមន៍៖

១. សហគមន៍​បឹង​ឈូក សង្កាត់​គីឡូលេខ​៦ ខណ្ឌ​ឬស្សី​កែវ នគរបាល​ព័ទ្ទ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​មិន​ឲ្យ​ធ្វើ​ពិធី​នេះ។

២. សហគមន៍​ត្រពាំង​ស្វាយ សង្កាត់​​ភ្នំពេញ​ថ្មី ខណ្ឌ​សែន​សុខ រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ ចៅសង្កាត់​​យក​លិខិត ហាម​មិន​ឲ្យ​ធ្វើ ប៉ុន្តែ​សហគមន៍​នៅ​តែ​ធ្វើ។

៣. សហគមន៍​អន្លង់​ចាស់ ឃុំ​តេជោ​អភិវឌ្ឍន៍ ស្រុក​ឈូក ខេត្ត​កំពត នគរបាល​ហាម​ឃាត់​មិន​ឲ្យ​ធ្វើ។

៤. ឃុំ​កណ្ដៀង​រាយ ស្រុក​ស្វាយទាប​ ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង ពី​ដំបូង​អាជ្ញាធរ​សួរនាំ​សហគមន៍ថា តើ​ពិធីបុណ្យ​១០​ធ្នូ​ ជា​ពិធីបុណ្យ​អ្វី? តែក្រោយ​មក​ក៏​បាន​ដំណើរ​ការជាធម្មតាវិញ។

ខាងលើ​នេះ​ជារបាយការណ៍​បណ្ដោះ​អាសន្ន​ពី​ក្រុម​មិត្ត​១០​ធ្នូ​នៅ​ក្នុង​អំឡូង​ម៉ោង​៨​ព្រឹក។ ប្រសិន​បើ​មាន​ការកែ​ប្រែ​ស្ថានភាព​យ៉ាងណា មិត្ត១០​ធ្នូ​នឹង​រាយការណ៍ជូន​។ ​

Kaun Mean Omnach Khlach Borotes (You are powerful, but you are scared of the foreigners)

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