Cambodia: Drop politically-motivated charges against 11 opposition members and supporters
| Publisher | International Federation for Human Rights |
| Publication Date | 24 December 2014 |
| Cite as | International Federation for Human Rights, Cambodia: Drop politically-motivated charges against 11 opposition members and supporters, 24 December 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54b8ce2d15.html [accessed 23 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Paris, Phnom Penh, 24 December 2014 – The Cambodian government must immediately drop the politically-motivated charges against 11 members and supporters of Cambodia's main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), FIDH and its member organization Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) said today.
On 25 December, the 11 will face trial at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. CNRP members Ouern Narith, Khin Chamreun, and Meach Sovannara, are on trial on charges of leading an insurrectionary movement (Article 459 of the Criminal Code). If convicted, they face up to 30 years in prison. CNRP members and supporters San Kimheng, Neang Sokhun, San Seihak, An Batham, Ouk Pich Samnang, Ke Khim, Sum Puthy, and Tep Narin are accused of participating in an insurrectionary movement (Articles 456 and 457 of the Criminal Code), a charge that carries a prison sentence of seven to 15 years. Narin, Sovannara, Samnang, Puthy, and Khim have been held in pre-trial detention at Prey Sar's Correctional Center 1 (CC1) prison in Phnom Penh.
"The trial is the latest attempt by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his party to use the judiciary to extort concessions from the opposition during the ongoing political negotiations," said FIDH President Karim Lahidji. "The government must end the senseless prosecution of the 11 opposition members and immediately release those who have been unjustly detained," he added.
"The court's decision to hold the trial on Christmas is a blatant attempt to avoid international scrutiny," said LICADHO Director Naly Pilorge. "The international community must demand these shenanigans stop and urge the government to enact much needed reforms to make the judiciary independent," she urged.
The charges against the 11 CNRP members and supporters stemmed from their alleged involvement in violence that flared at a protest organized by the CNRP at Phnom Penh's Freedom Park on 15 July 2014, when demonstrators sought to reopen the area, which the government sealed off in April after banning public demonstrations. The rally, which involved several CNRP MPs and more than 300 party supporters, turned violent when district security guards removed a banner that protesters had placed on the barb wire barricades and began using batons to beat demonstrators. At least 40 people were injured in the clash, most of them district security guards.
After the violence at Freedom Park, authorities detained eight CNRP officials, including seven MPs, in connection with the protest. They were all released on 22 July, shortly after the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the CNRP reached an agreement to end the political deadlock. However, the charges against them were not dropped. To date, a total of 16 CNRP members and supporters have been charged in connection with the 15 July demonstration.
Last Update 24 December 2014
