URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY
KHM 001 / 0215 / OBS 013
Deportation / Obstacles to freedom of movement
Cambodia
February 24, 2015
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The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Cambodia.
Description of the situation:
The Observatory has been informed by the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), about the arrest and deportation of human and environmental rights defender Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, Director and co-founder of the Mother Nature NGO.
According to the information received, Mr. Gonzalez-Davidson was arrested on February 23, at about 1:15 pm local time, at a restaurant in central Phnom Penh by Interior Ministry officers. He was taken in an unmarked car to the Phnom Penh Immigration Department and afterwards forced to leave the country.
Mr. Gonzalez-Davidson was deported after immigration authorities refused to renew his visa, following orders from Interior Minister Sar Kheng. Although his visa expired on February 20, 2015, Mr. Gonzalez-Davidson had vowed to remain in the country to continue working to support local communities. According to Cambodia’s immigration laws, Mr. Gonzalez-Davidson was entitled to stay in the country for a grace period of 37 days after his visa expiration.
Earlier that day, Prime Minister Hun Sen warned the defiant human and environmental rights defender that he would be deported and blacklisted if he failed to leave Cambodia voluntarily.
It is worth mentioning that Mr. Gonzalez-Davidson has been at the forefront of a campaign by Mother Nature NGO to halt the development of the Stung Cheay Areng hydropower dam in Koh Kong Province. He was briefly detained on September 15, 2014, along with other 11 local environmental rights defenders, for blocking a road and preventing Koh Kong provincial governor Phon Lyvirak and Chinese experts from visiting the dam project site.
The Observatory fears that the refusal to renew Mr. Gonzalez-Davidson’s visa and his subsequent deportation is a direct attempt of the Cambodian Government to prevent him from continuing his work as a human rights defender and particularly aims at sanctioning its campaign to protect environmental rights in Koh Kong Province.
The Observatory urges the Cambodian government to reconsider its decision and to allow Mr. Gonzalez-Davidson to continue working to support local communities in the country.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities of the Kingdom of Cambodia asking them to:
i. Allow Mr. Gonzalez-Davidson to return to Cambodia and allow him to keep carrying out his human and environmental rights activities;
ii. Put an end to all forms of harassment against human rights defenders in the country or entering the country, and ensure that in all circumstances they are able to carry out their work freely and without any hindrances;
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";
iv. 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, February 24, 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.