URGENT APPEAL- THE OBSERVATORY
New information
KHM 001 / 0415 / OBS 029
Release
Cambodia
April 15, 2015
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), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Cambodia.
New information:
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the release by royal pardon on April 11, 2015, of Mss. Tep Vanny, Nget Khun, Song Sreyleap, Kong Chantha, Pan Chunreth, Bop Chorvy, Nong Srengand, Heng Pich, Im Srey Touch and Phoung Sopheap who have been detained for over five months.
The Observatory welcomes the release of Mss. Tep Vanny, Nget Khun, Song Sreyleap, Kong Chantha, Pan Chunreth, Bop Chorvy, Nong Srengand, Heng Pich, Im Srey Touch and Phoung Sopheap and thanks all the persons, institutions and organisations who intervened in their favour.
The Observatory calls upon Cambodian authorities to stop harassing human and particularly land rights defenders in the country.
Background information:
The Observatory recalls that seven land rights defenders from the Boeung Kak Lake community, Mss. Tep Vanny, Nget Khun, Song Sreyleap, Kong Chantha, Pan Chunreth, Bop Chorvy and Nong Srengand, were arrested on November 10, 2014, while protesting in front of Phnom Penh City Hall where the group had placed a bed frame in the middle of Monivong Boulevard. The peaceful protest was designed to draw attention to the chronic and severe flooding of their neighbourhood during the rainy season. Residents blame the flooding on the filling-in of Boeung Kak Lake by Shukaku, a housing construction company owned by Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Senator Lao Meng Khin. The protesters also asked that local authorities immediately fix inadequate drainage in the neighbourhood [1]. Mss. Heng Pich, Im Srey Touch and Phoung Sopheap were arrested as they were protesting against the detention of the seven women outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
Arrested on two separated occasions, the ten human rights defenders were sentenced on November 11 and November 12, 2014, by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, to a year in prison and a two-million Riel (about 470 Euro) fine respectively on charges of obstructing public traffic and aggravated obstruction of public officials [2].
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities of the Kingdom of Cambodia asking them to :
i. Put an end to all forms of harassment against Mss. Tep Vanny, Nget Khun, Song Sreyleap, Kong Chantha, Pan Chunreth, Bop Chorvy, Nong Srengand, Heng Pich, Im Srey Touch and Phoung Sopheap as well as of all human rights defenders in the country;
ii. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mss. Tep Vanny, Nget Khun, Song Sreyleap, Kong Chantha, Pan Chunreth, Bop Chorvy, Nong Srengand, Heng Pich, Im Srey Touch and Phoung Sopheap as well as of all human rights defenders in Cambodia;
iii. Comply with all the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular with:
article 1, which states that "everyone has the right, individually or collectively, to promote the protection and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels",
article 5.b which stipulates that everyone has the right "to form, join and participate in non-governmental organisations, associations or groups",
as well as article 12.2, which provides that "the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration";
vi. Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments signed or ratified by the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Addresses:
- Mr. Hun Sen, Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister, 41 Russian Federation Blvd, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. Fax: +855 23 360666 / 855 23 880624 (c/o Council of Ministers), Email: leewood_phu@nida.gov.kh / cppparty@gmail.com
- Mr. Sar Kheng, Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior, 275 Norodom Blvd, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. Fax: + 855 23 212708
- Mr. Ang Vong Vathna, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 240 Sothearos Blvd, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. Fax: +855 23 364119
- Mr. Hor Nam Hong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, 161 Preah Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. Fax: + 855 23 216144 / + 855 23 216939. Email: mfaic@mfa.gov.kh
- Mr. Om Yentieng, Minister & President of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, Office of the Prime Minister, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia, Fax: +855 12 81 37 81 / +855 23 21 11 62 or +855 23 88 10 45 (c/o Council of Ministers)
- Mr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Fax: + 855 23 88 06 24, Email: leewood_phu@nida.gov.kh, info@pressocm.gov.kh
- Ambassador Mr. Ney Samol, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations in Geneva, Chemin de Taverney 3, Case postale 213, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland, Fax: + 41 22 788 77 74, Email: camemb.gva@mfa.gov.kh/ cambodge@bluewin.ch
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Cambodia in your respective countries.
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Paris-Geneva, April 15, 2015
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of human rights defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.