Trial held for environmental activist killer's killer

Chut Wutty (Photo: AP)

Thursday, 20 September 2012
Meas Sokchea and Stuart White
The Phnom Penh Post

The man accused of shooting the man who shot environmental activist Chut Wutty last April had been summoned to the Koh Kong Provincial Court to stand trial next month on charges of unintentional homicide, a court official said yesterday.

According to deputy prosecutor Srey Mak Ny, Timbergreen security employee Ran Boroth will appear in court on October 4 to face allegations that he shot military police officer In Rattana while attempting to disarm him after he purportedly gunned down Wutty, a widely admired forest advocate, on April 26.

“[We] have sent [citations] already,” Mak Ny said, adding that the court had called as witnesses “all who have ever been involved in this case”.

The facts surrounding Wutty’s shooting have been muddled from the start, with the government’s official version of events changing at least three times.

Murder Case Surrounding Death of Environmentalist Ready for Court

Chut Wutty was a prominent environmental activist whose work to stop illegal logging and deforestation earned him powerful enemies in the lucrative, illicit industry.

Chut Wutty was shot in the western province of Koh Kong, near an environmentally sensitive forest area he had spent much of his career trying to protect.

19.09.2012

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

PHNOM PENH - Koh Kong provincial court will open a hearing early next month into the shooting death of environmentalist Chut Wutty and a military policeman in April.

One suspect, Rann Borath, the chief security guard for a logging company, has been charged with the accidental murder of Chut Wutty’s alleged killer, in a improbable scenario.

The court, which will open the hearing Oct. 4, says Rann Borath accidentally shot to death a military policeman, In Rattana, who was responsible for shooting Chut Wutty at a checkpoint in a remote forest of the province.

Journalist and forestry officer released in deal [-Travesty of justice lingers on...]

Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

A local journalist and a forestry officer who were arrested by military police forces in Kratie province last week for beating a man and firing a gun into the air were released on Monday as part of a compromise between the victim and his attackers.

Srey Vutha, deputy commander of the Kratie provincial military police, said that Khuth Khy, a reporter for Today News, and Seng Chantarun, director of the Sandan Forestry Administration, were let go after they confessed to their mistake and were “educated” by the military police.

The agreement, he said, was brokered between the accused, the police, the victim, and the provincial governor. The police did not say what conditions, if any, pertained to the contract that all parties signed.

Opposition member gets bail

Meas Peng

Friday, 14 September 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

Sam Rainsy Party member and former deputy commune chief in Kandal province, Meas Peng, was released on bail temporarily on Wednesday.

Peng, who was arrested allegedly without a warrant and then escaped from jail last September, was rearrested in June on his original charges of conspiring to use violence against a property owner.

Kandal Provincial Court investigating judge Lim Sokunthat told the Post yesterday that Peng has been released on bail temporarily because police have yet to prove his guilt in conspiring to use violence.

Peng will remain under control of the court during his bail. He is not allowed to leave the country and must appear at the request of the court, Sokunthat said.

Land activists continue petitioning

Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Phak Seangly
The Phnom Penh Post

Free of the police resistance that thwarted their march the previous day, about 65 Borei Keila and Boeung Kak community supporters marched to the Ministry of Justice yesterday in another effort to have land dispute activists Tim Sakmony and Yorm Bopha freed from pre-trial detention at Prey Sar prison.

“We need justice,” the residents chanted as tourists at the nearby Royal Palace looked on. Bopha was arrested last week and charged with intentional violence.

Motodop group Cambodia for Confederation Development Association members have said the 29-year-old was involved in beating two motodops at Boeung Kak lake.

Borei Keila evictee Sakmony, 65, was arrested separately and charged with making a false declaration.

ក្រុម​មួយ​ចេញ​មក​តវ៉ា​ប្រឆាំង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់​ដែល​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​ដោះ​លែង​អ្នក​ស្រី​យ៉ោម បុប្ជា

កម្លាំង​នគរ​បាល​ប្រឹង​រុញ​ទប់​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹង​កក់ និង​បុរី​កីឡាមិន​ឲ្យ​ដើរ​ក្បួន ទៅ​កាន់​ក្រសួង​យុត្តិ​ធម៌​​​។ រូបថត ម៉េង គីម​ឡុង​

ក្រុមដែលអះអាងជា​អ្នក​រត់​ម៉ូតូ​ឌុប តវ៉ា​​នៅ​សួន​សេរី​ភាព កាល​ពី​ម្សិល​មិញ ប្រឆាំង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹង​កក់។ រូបថត ផា លីណា

Tuesday, 11 September 2012
ផាក់ ស៊ាងលី និង មុំ គន្ធា
The Phnom Penh Post

យ៉ាង​ណា​ក៏​ដោយ អ្នក​រត់​ម៉ូតូ​ឌុប ពីរ​នាក់​នៅ​ផ្សារ​អូរឫស្សី ដែល​ អះអាង​ថា ពួក​គេ ​ត្រូវ​បាន​កៀងគរ ឲ្យ​ចូល​រួម​នៅ​ក្នុង​សមាគម​នេះ កាល​ពី​ខែ​មុន និង​ឲ្យ​ចូល​រួម​តវ៉ា កាល​ពី​ម្សិលមិញ មិន​បាន​ដឹង​ច្បាស់​ពី​ការ​វាយ​ដំ​អ្នក​រត់​ម៉ូតូ​ឌុប​ណា​ម្នាក់ ពី​សំណាក់​អ្នក​ស្រី​យ៉ោម បុប្ផា​នោះ​ទេ​។

ភ្នំពេញៈ ក្រុម​មួយ ដែល​ទើប​តែ​ចេញ​មុខ ដោយ​ប្រើ​ឈ្មោះ​ថា «សមាគម​រួម​គ្នា ដើម្បី​អភិវឌ្ឍន៍​កម្ពុជា» បាន​ប្រមូល​ផ្តុំ​គ្នា​ធ្វើ​ការ​គាំទ្រ ចំណាត់​ការ​របស់​តុលាការ ដែល​បាន​ចាប់​ឃុំ​ខ្លួន​ស្ត្រី​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់​ម្នាក់ ខណៈ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​សហគមន៍​បឹងកក់​ និង​បុរី​កីឡា ​បាន​បរាជ័យ​ ក្នុង​ការ​ដើរ​ក្បួន យក​ញតិ្តទៅ​ដាក់​សុំ​អន្តរាគមន៍ ពី​ក្រសួង​យុត្តិធម៌ សុំ​ឲ្យ​ជួយ​សកម្មជន​ដីធ្លី​ពីរ​នាក់ ដោយ​សារ​កម្លាំង​សមត្ថកិច្ច​ចម្រុះ​ជាង ១០០ នាក់​ បាន​រាំង​ខ្ទប់​ពួក​គាត់​ គ្រប់​ច្រក​ល្អក​ពេញ​មួយ​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃចន្ទ​ម្សិលមិញ ដែល​ស្ទើរ​តែ​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ផ្ទុះ​អំពើ​ហិង្សា​ដាក់​គ្នា។

ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ទាំង​ពីរ​សហគមន៍​ ប្រមាណ ២០០ នាក់​ ដែល​ភាគ​ច្រើន​ជា​ស្ត្រី នឹង​កុមារ​បាន​សរសេរ​ពាក្យ​ស្លោក​លើ​រូបថត​អ្នក​ស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា និង​ខ្លះ​ទៀត​សរសេរ​នៅ​លើ​ផ្ទៃ​មុខ និង​លើ​រូប​ព្រះពុទ្ធ ហើយ​បាន​ជួប​ជុំ​គ្នា ដើរ​ក្បួន ចេញ​ពី​បឹងកក់​ក្នុង​បំណង​ទៅ​ដាក់​ញត្តិ នៅ​ក្រសួង​យុតិធម៌ ស្នើ​សុំ​ឲ្យ​ជួយ​អន្តរាគមន៍ ដោះ​លែង​សកម្មជន​ដីធ្លី​របស់​ពួក​គេ​ពីរ​នាក់ ​គឺ​អ្នក​ស្រីយ៉ោម បុប្ផា និង ទឹម សាក់មុន្នី ដែល​ត្រូវ​បាន​នាំ​យក​ទៅ​ឃុំ​ខ្លួន នៅ​គុក​ព្រៃ​ស កាលពី​សប្តាហ៍​មុន។ កម្លាំង​ចម្រុះ​បាន​ហាម​ឃាត់​ក្បួន​របស់​អ្នក​ភូមិ​ ខណៈ​ពេល​ដែល​មនុស្ស​មួយ​ក្រុម​ផ្សេង​ទៀត ​ដែល​ជិះម៉ូតូ​គាំទ្រ​ ការ​សម្រេច​របស់តុ​លាការ​ក្នុង​ឃុំ​ខ្លួន អ្នក​ស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា ត្រូវ​បាន​អនុញ្ញាត។

អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់ និង​បុរី​កីឡា​ បាន​ពុះ​កញ្ជ្រោល​កំហឹង និង​ព្យាយាម​ទំលុះ​របាំង​របស់​សន្តិសុខ ​និង​នគរបាល​ ខណ្ឌដូន​ពេញ ហើយ​បាន​ស្រែក​ខ្លាំងៗ​ថា​«ម៉េច​ក្រុម​ម្ខាង​ទៀត ដែល​ប្តឹង​ យ៉ោម បុ ប្ផា ឲ្យ​ហែ​បាន តែ​ស្រីៗ​យើង​ខ្ញុំ ហែ​មិន​បាន? ​ពួក​អ្នក​ទាំង​អស់​គ្នា ​កំពុង​ឃុបឃិត​គ្នា បិទ​បាំង​ការ​ពិត ធ្វើ​បាប​សកម្មជន​ដីធ្លី​។ ការ​តវ៉ា​របស់​យើង​ខ្ញុំ​ វា​ផុស​ចេញ​ពី​ការ​ឈឺចាប់ ដោយ​សារ​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន​មាន​អំណាច រំលោភ​យក​ផ្ទះ​សម្បែង។​ យើង​ត្រូវ​ការ​ឲ្យ​ដោះលែង​ស្ត្រី​ទាំង​ពីរ​នាក់​វិញ»។​

Villain or victim? Protesters divided over activist pre-trial detention

Protesters wear masks bearing the likeness of detained Boeung Kak community activist Yorm Bopha during a demonstration in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Meng Kimlong/Phnom Penh Post

A fake motodoop protest?

Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Phak Seangly and Mom Kunthear
The Phnom Penh Post

One man, who asked not to be named, said he had been forced to participate – or risk losing his turf.

“If I did not join, I would not be allowed to park and pick up customers from near a market,” he said. “So I had no choice but to join.”

Imprisoned Yorm Bopha has either been unjustly targeted for her role in Boeung Kak lake eviction protests or is responsible for the vicious beating of two motodops, depending on which protesters’ chants were true yesterday.

It was land evictees versus motodops in the capital as two separate protests revealed divided opinion over Bopha’s pre-trial detention in Prey Sar prison since her arrest last week on an intentional violence charge.

Almost 200 motodops, members of the Cambodia for Confederation Development Association, rode from Freedom Park to the Court of Appeal to demand the continued detention of the 29-year-old mother, who along with 65-year-old Borei Keila representative Tim Sakmony, was arrested last week.

Speaking outside the court, CCDA president E Sophors demanded justice for two of his members, who he claimed Bopha beat up at Boeung Kak recently.

Boeung Kak woman arrested

Yorm Bopha speaks to reporters in June. She was arrested yesterday and sent to Prey Sar prison for pre-trial detention. Photograph: Meng Kimlong/Phnom Penh Post

Lous Sakhorn (in blue shirt) leaves Phnom Penh Municipal Court with other villagers from the Boeung Kak lake community yesterday following his release. He was arrested yesterday morning along with his wife, Yorm Bopha, who later in the day was sent to Prey Sar prison for pretrial detention. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post

Wednesday, 05 September 2012
Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Claire Knox
The Phnom Penh Post

Bopha was a vocal presence at protests for the Boeung Kak 13, a group of women arrested during May 22 eviction protests.

Prominent Boeung Kak villager and protester Yorm Bopha was yesterday jailed in Phnom Penh’s Prey Sar prison, after she and her husband – en route to check for their names on a voting register – were pounced on by police in plain clothes in what her husband claims was a set-up.

Outside a building housing Srah Chork commune’s electoral roll, 29-year-old Bopha and her 56-year-old husband Lous Sakhorn were arrested at about 9am by 10 policemen, who shoved them into an unmarked car and sped away, according to witness Doung Kea.

About 100 villagers who gathered outside Daun Penh police station maintained they had not been informed of an August 29 arrest warrant handed down by Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Te Samnag – a response to an alleged act of intentional violence committed on August 7.

“The accused suspects escaped after the court issued the warrant… to ensure the suspects are judged fully they must be arrested,” Samnag told the Post.

Trumped-up charges to arrest Yom Bopha of Boeung Kak Lake?

ស្ត្រី​អ្នករស់នៅ​បឹងកក់​ម្នាក់ ដែល​ព្រួត​គ្នា ចាក់ និង​កាប់​លើ​បុរស​ពីរ​នាក់ ត្រូវ​ឃុំខ្លួន​

ស្ត្រីអ្នករស់នៅបឹងកក់ម្នាក់ ដែលព្រួតគ្នា ចាក់ និងកាប់លើបុរសពីរនាក់ ត្រូវឃុំខ្លួន

ថ្ងៃទី 4 កញ្ញា 2012
ដោយ: ឆាយា
Cambodia Express News


ភ្នំពេញ​: ចៅក្រម​ស៊ើបសួរ​សាលាដំបូង​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ កាលពី​រសៀល​ថ្ងៃទី​៤ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ បានសម្រេច​ឃុំខ្លួន​ស្ត្រី​អ្នករស់នៅ​បឹងកក់​ម្នាក់ ដែល​ជាប់​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​នឹង​ការ​ព្រួត​គ្នា​ជាមួយ​បងប្អូន ចាក់​ដោយ​ទួ​ណឺ​វី​ស និង​កាប់​ដោយ​ពូថៅ បណ្តាលឱ្យ​បុរស ២​នាក់​រងរបួស​ជា​ទម្ងន់​នោះ ដាក់ពន្ធនាគារ​ក្រោម​ការចោទប្រកាន់​ពីបទ ហិង្សា​ដោយ​ចេតនា​មាន​ស្ថាន​ទម្ងន់ទោស ដើម្បី​រង់ចាំ​ការស៊ើបអង្កេត​រក​គូកន ២​នាក់​ទៀត ដែល​គេចខ្លួនបាត់​។

​ចំណែក​ប្តី​របស់​ស្ត្រី​រូបនេះ បាន​ត្រូវ​តុលាការ​សម្រេច​មិន​ឃុំខ្លួន តែ​ដាក់ឱ្យ​ស្ថិតក្រោម​ការត្រួតពិនិត្យ​តាមផ្លូវ​តុលាការ​។ ដូច្នេះ​ការចាប់ និង​ឃុំខ្លួន​ស្ត្រី​រូបនេះ គឺជា​រឿង​បុគ្គល​សុទ្ធសាធ ពោលគឺ​ពុំមាន​ជាប់ជំពាក់​នឹង​ករណី​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​បឹងកក់ ឬ​បុរី​កីឡា ធ្វើបាតុកម្ម​នោះទេ​។ នេះ​បើតាម​ការបញ្ជាក់​របស់​មន្ត្រី​តុលាការ​។​

Borei Keila residents ask for court action in their case

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfDyp_1euDw

BKL women protest at the Ministry of Women's Affairs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B7_YtLEqD0

Amid Kratie Crackdown, Fears of a ‘Downward Spiral’ for Freedoms

Police later said the protest was linked to a secessionist movement in the province, a claim that has not been widely supported, and began making arrests of alleged ringleaders.

Rights groups say the summons is a continuation of a campaign of intimidation against civil society in the wake of the Kratie crackdown.

Sok Khemara, Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer

18 August 2012

WASHINGTON and PHNOM PENH - With prominent rights worker Chan Soveth summoned to court to face charges related to an ongoing secessionist crackdown, international and local rights advocates say they now fear a major backslide in the country’s civil rights.

Chan Soveth, lead investigator for the rights group Adhoc, has been summoned to appear before Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Aug. 24 and is accused of “providing assistance to the perpetrator” of a crime, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison under Cambodia’s criminal code.

Rights officials say the charges are related to the flight of a man named Bun Rotha, who is wanted in connection with a violent land protest in Kratie province in May, when authorities swept into the province’s Chlong district, Kampong Damei commune, forcing nearly 1,000 families to evict and shooting and killing a 14-year-old girl in the process.

Police later said the protest was linked to a secessionist movement in the province, a claim that has not been widely supported, and began making arrests of alleged ringleaders. Among four so far arrested was Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando, who is accused of leading the movement through his Association of Democrats, a civic organization. He remains in jail awaiting trial, while his radio station, one of the last independent broadcast media outlets in the country, has struggled to continue its programming.

Mam Sonando Demands Justice

17 August 2012
By Mu Sochua

Seven MPs from the Sam Rainsy Party visited Mam Sonando today at Prey Sar prison.

"I tried putting my head down to sleep but my head felt harder than the concrete floor ", said Mam Sonando to describe his physical health.

Suffering from diarrhea for the past week from food he consumed, Mam Sonando's physical health is of concern. He has made request for a medical check up outside of the prison clinic. This should be granted to avoid further complication.

"I have no regrets for I have committed no crime. My heart cries out to the villagers who are losing their land and my head continues to think of the management of my radio station", he continues with a firm but frail voice.

The prime minister's involvement in the case before the court's action has raised alarm and further targeting of human rights defenders about this Kratie case must not be tolerated. it is a problem of economic land concession that should be resolved by letting the people speak and make their own claims and not a matter for the court.

Report

Radio Free Asia: http://www.rfa.org/khmer/indepth/srp_members_visits_mom_sonando_in_preysar_prison-08172012081319.html

Borei Keila children cry in the streets to demand for promised housing

ក្រុម​កុមារ​បុរី​កីឡា យំ​ននៀល​ដី ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​សង់​អគារ​ពីរ​បន្ថែម​តាម​កិច្ចសន្យា​

ថ្ងៃទី 17 សីហា 2012 | ដោយ: រតនា
Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: ​ពលរដ្ឋ​បុរី​កីឡា​ប្រមាណ ៥០​នាក់ និង​ក្រុម​កុមារ​តូចៗ​ផង​នោះ បាននាំគ្នា​មក​ធ្វើការ​តវ៉ា កាលពី​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃទី​១៧ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ នៅក្បែរ​ស្នាក់ការ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ផាន​អ៊ី​ម៉ិច ដោយ​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​គោរព​ទៅតាម​កិច្ចសន្យា សង់​អគារ​ពីរ​បន្ថែម ឲ្យ​បាន​គ្រប់​ដប់​អគារ​។​

​នៅក្នុង​សកម្មភាព​តវ៉ា ដែលមាន​ការចូលរួម​ពី​សំណាក់​កុមារ​តូចៗ​ដែរនោះ ពួកគេ​បាន​យំ​ននៀល​នៅលើ​ដី ស្រែក​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​គោរព​តាម​កិច្ចសន្យា សង់​ពីរ​អគារ​បន្ថែមទៀត ពីព្រោះ​មកដល់ពេលនេះ ឪពុកម្តាយ​ពួកគេ​មួយចំនួន នៅ​មិនទាន់បាន​ចំណែក​អគារ​ស្នាក់​នៅទេ​។ កា​រយំ​ននៀល​របស់​ក្រុម​កុមារី​ទាំងនេះ បានធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​មានការ​ចាប់អារម្មណ៍​យ៉ាងខ្លាំង ពី​សំណាក់​បណ្តាញសារព័ត៌មាន​ជាតិ និង​អន្តរជាតិ ព្រមទាំង​អង្គការសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​ផងដែរ​។

​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​បុរី​កីឡា សូម​ធ្វើការ​បដិសេធ​ទាំងស្រុង ចំពោះ​ការលើកឡើង​របស់លោក​ស្រី ស៊ុយ សុផាន ប្រធាន​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ផាន​អ៊ី​ម៉ិច កាលពី​ថ្ងៃទី​១០ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ តាមរយៈ​កាសែត​ភ្នំពេញ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍ ដែល​លោកស្រី​បាន​ចោទប្រកាន់ថា “​ពួកយើងខ្ញុំ​ដែល​កំពុងធ្វើការ​តវ៉ា​រាល់ថ្ងៃ គឺជា​ការទាមទារ​ជាថ្មី​របស់​ពួកយើង បន្ទាប់ពី​ទទួលបាន​ផ្ទះ ហើយ​បាន​លក់​ដោយសារតែ​ពួកយើង​ក្រ​ពេក និង​ជំពាក់​លុយ​គេ យើងខ្ញុំ​សូមបញ្ជាក់ថា ការលើកឡើង​នេះ គឺជា​រឿង​មិន​ពិត​ទេ​”​។​

Beehive radio director's health deteriorates in jail [-Free Mam Sonando NOW!]

Beehive Radio director and Association of Democrats president Mam Sonando (centre) is escorted by police at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court last month. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Friday, 17 August 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Imprisoned Association of Democrats president and Beehive Radio director Mam Sonando had fallen ill for a second time, his wife said yesterday.

Din Phannara, who visited her husband yesterday and the day before, said Sonando had been fighting severe diarrhoea and chronic fatigue, had a swollen face and was almost incapable of walking.

She said his health had continuously deteriorated over the course of his one-month stay in prison.

“He hasn’t eaten since Monday, and he has diarrhoea, making him powerless,” Phannara said.

“Previously, he never got sick, but this month, he’s been sick twice.”

Cambodia: Judicial harassment of Mr. Chan Soveth

Chan Soveth (Photo: Ir Channa, RFI)

URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY

KHM 004 / 0812 / OBS 075
Judicial harassment
Cambodia
August 16, 2012

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Cambodia.

Description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources of a citation to appear in court issued against Mr. Chan Soveth, Senior Investigator and Deputy Head of the Monitoring Section of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC).

According to the information received, on August 9, 2012, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued a citation summoning Mr. Soveth to appear before an investigating judge on August 24, 2012.

Mr. Soveth was charged with “providing assistance to the perpetrator” of a “crime” under Article 544 of the Cambodian Criminal Code, and faces an imprisonment sentence of one to three years and a fine of two million to six million Riels.

Exact details behind this charge have not yet been disclosed by the government, but they appear to be connected to a long-standing land dispute in Kratie province. On May 16, 2012, the government sent in hundreds of armed security personnel, supported by helicopters, to evict villagers who were living in an area in Kratie province marked for development by a Russian company. During the eviction, Ms. Heng Chantha, a 14-year-old girl, was shot dead. Government officials later justified the operation by claiming the villagers, some of whom are members of the Independent Democrats Association, were part of a secession movement. ADHOC released a statement on May 17 and condemned the killing of the young girl[1]. It is believed that the charges against Mr. Soveth are linked to his sheltering of a land activist involved in this issue. The court citation was signed on August 9, 2012, just eight days after Prime Minister Hun Sen made accusatory references in a nationally televised speech to an unnamed “human rights worker” for his role in providing assistance to villagers in relation to this land dispute.

Joint Media Statement- Charges Against ADHOC Staffer

https://www.box.com/s/b15b50af2ace04d743a9



https://www.box.com/s/6a4eaf07cc79ba395973

Beehive Radio Owner Falling Ill in Prison, Wife Says

Mam Sonando supporters in front of the US embassy (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Mam Sonando has been in prison since his July 14 arrest, on charges he instigated a secessionist movement in Kratie province.

16 August 2012
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

PHNOM PENH - Jailed radio station owner Mam Sonando is falling ill for a second time in detention, due to hot weather and dirty bedding, his wife said Wednesday.

Mam Sonando, the owner of Beehive Radio, which carries VOA programming, among others, has been in prison since his July 14 arrest, on charges he instigated a secessionist movement in Kratie province.

His wife, Din Phanara, said Wednesday he is suffering from diarrhea and exhaustion and that his face is swollen.

Prey Sar Prison Chief Srun Leang told VOA Khmer that the hot weather had made a number of prisoners ill recently, but he said Mam Sonando was recovering after medical treatment at the prison. “He had a little stomach ache, but when he was on intravenous drip last night, he pulled it out,” the chief said. “And then he had a high temperature. Right now his health has become better.”

CCHR HRD Alert - Case of Chan Soveth

https://www.box.com/s/00980110a696c7179983



https://www.box.com/s/bcb44a6b615c394dfc8c

Vague charges for Cambodian NGO official

Chan Soveth (Photo: Ir Channa, RFI)

Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

“I am now wondering what proof or evidence or offence that the court has accused him of, and then charged him with”

In a mysteriously vague citation, Adhoc monitoring head Chan Saveth has been called to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to face charges of “providing assistance to specific perpetrators”.

Although the court’s summons, which asks Saveth to appear on August 24, provides no specifics as to the “perpetrators” in question, a court official who spoke to the Post on condition of anonymity said the term was a reference to Bun Ratha and his associates.

Ratha was accused of being a “secessionist” and inciting villagers in a land dispute in May that led to the death of a teenage girl in Kratie province. The death came only weeks after environmentalist Chut Wutty was shot dead in Koh Kong province.