Bail denied to seven human rights defenders
On 18 May 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court denied bail to seven human rights defenders, five of whom are members of Khmer Thavrak and two others who are members of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association. All seven defenders were arrested between August and September 2020, some for planning to participate and others for participating in peaceful demonstrations seeking the release of several other imprisoned human rights defenders. Those arrested include Chhoeun Daravy, Hun Vannak, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy, Eng Malai, Muong Sopheak and Mean Prommony. The defenders continue to be held in pre-trial detention, without being charged.
On 11 September 2020, human rights defender Muong Sopheak was arrested by police, from outside the Khmer Will Party headquarters in Phnom Penh. He now joins a long list of human rights defenders who have been arrested by authorities over the week, in relation to their organisation and participation in a peaceful assembly at Freedom Park. Muong Sopheak was arrested by court order for “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest”. He is currently detained at the Phnom Penh Correctional Center (CC) 1.
Muong Sopheak is a human rights defender and a member of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA). The group works on mobilising and building capacity, to increase students’ participation in social development, good government, and sustainable use of natural resources. In his capacity, the defender has been an active voice, especially amongst youth in the country, raising awareness on social injustices and human rights issues.
On 18 May 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court denied bail to seven human rights defenders, five of whom are members of Khmer Thavrak and two others who are members of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association. All seven defenders were arrested between August and September 2020, some for planning to participate and others for participating in peaceful demonstrations seeking the release of several other imprisoned human rights defenders. Those arrested include Chhoeun Daravy, Hun Vannak, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy, Eng Malai, Muong Sopheak and Mean Prommony. The defenders continue to be held in pre-trial detention, without being charged.
Khmer Thavrak is a youth group that was set up in early 2020. The movement advocates against social injustices and raises concerns about pressing environmental issues in Cambodia. They have been at the forefront of raising human rights concerns in the country, and have also been reaching out to large audiences through their social media platforms to educate and raise awareness on various social issues. The Khmer Student Intelligent League Association works on mobilising and building capacity, to increase students’ participation in social development, good government, and sustainable use of natural resources.
On 18 May 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court denied bail to five members of the youth group Khmer Thavrak and two members of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association, despite the human rights defenders having already spent close to nine months in pre-trial detention, without being charged. Family members were permitted to talk with the human rights defenders during a 15 minute break from the Court session, and reported that they looked weak. Eng Malai has a visibly swollen leg and the other human rights defenders have expressed concerns about their mental health.
The five members of Khmer Thavrak, Hun Vannak, Chhoeun Daravy, Tha Lavy, Eng Malai and Koet Saray, were arrested in August and September amid peaceful protests in support of imprisoned labour rights defender Rong Chhun. Muong Sopheak and Mean Prommony were arrested in September for their involvement in the same peaceful protests. All seven human rights defenders were arrested on charges under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code, relating to ‘incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest’. Close to nine months after their arrest, the defenders continue to be held in pre-trial detention without being charged. Authorities have been using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext for delaying the trial. The next trial date on the case is yet to be announced.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Cambodia to quash the conviction of all seven human rights defenders, and unconditionally release Chhoeun Daravy, Hun Vannak, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy, Eng Malai, Muong Sopheak and Mean Prommony, as it believes they are being targeted for their legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights. It further urges the Cambodian government to cease targeting Khmer Thavrak, the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association and its members, and guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in the country are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including police and judicial harassment.
On 11 September 2020, human rights defender Muong Sopheak was arrested by police, from outside the Khmer Will Party headquarters in Phnom Penh. He now joins a long list of human rights defenders who have been arrested by authorities over the week, in relation to their organisation and participation in a peaceful assembly at Freedom Park. Muong Sopheak was arrested by court order for “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest”. He is currently detained at the Phnom Penh Correctional Center (CC) 1.
Muong Sopheak is a human rights defender and a member of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA). The group works on mobilising and building capacity, to increase students’ participation in social development, good government, and sustainable use of natural resources. In his capacity, the defender has been an active voice, especially amongst youth in the country, raising awareness on social injustices and human rights issues.
On 11 September 2020, Phnom Penh police arrested human rights defender Muong Sopheak after the Phnom Penh Court issued an order for his arrest, charging him with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest”. The charge has been brought against him in relation to his participation in a peaceful assembly that took place at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh on 7 September 2020. The demonstration called for the release of imprisoned human rights defender Rong Chhun, as well as imprisoned members of Khmer Thavarak, Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy. Muong Sopheak is currently being held at Phnom Penh’s CC 1 where he has access to his lawyer.
In the past several days, there has been a crackdown on public gatherings in Cambodia, with several human rights defenders currently detained. Front Line Defenders has issued multiple appeals condemning judicial harassment of defenders, including the detention of the vice president of KSILA, Mean Prommony, who was arrested on 6 September 2020.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the progressively hostile environment in which human rights defenders carry out their work in Cambodia. Particularly concerning is the Government’s curtailing of defenders’ fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Front Line Defenders condemns the arrest of Muong Sopheak, as it believes he is being targeted for his legitimate and peaceful work for the protection of human rights.
