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 20 October 2020, the Court of Appeal in Phnom Penh denied the bail motion of two members of Khmer Thavrak; Hun Vannak and Chhoeurn Daravy.
On 13 August 2020, human rights defender Hun Vannak and woman human rights defender Chhoeun Daravy were arrested for their participation in a peaceful protest in Phnom Penh. The defenders were part of a larger group of protesters who had gathered outside the municipal court to demand the release of recently arrested human rights defender Rong Chhun. Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy are currently detained at the Phonom Penh Correctional Center (CC), in CC1 and CC2 respectively.
Hun Vannak is an environmental rights defender and a former member of Mother Nature Cambodia, a movement opposing land-grabbing and defending environmental rights. In early 2020, the defender founded the youth movement Khmer Thavarak that advocates against social injustices and environment 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 20 October 2020, the Court of Appeal in Phnom Penh denied the bail motion of two members of Khmer Thavrak; Hun Vannak and Chhoeurn Daravy. The Court justified the decision by alleging that it needed to facilitate further investigation and prevent the pair from committing further crimes.
Both defenders were arrested on 13 August 2020, for participating in a protest calling for the release of union leader and human rights defender, Rong Chhun. The defenders are currently under pre-trial detention at Phnom Penh's Correctional Centeres 1 and 2.
On 13 August 2020, human rights defender Hun Vannak and woman human rights defender Chhoeun Daravy were arrested for their participation in a peaceful protest in Phnom Penh. The defenders were part of a larger group of protesters who had gathered outside the municipal court to demand the release of recently arrested human rights defender Rong Chhun. Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy are currently detained at the Phonom Penh Correctional Center (CC), in CC1 and CC2 respectively.
Hun Vannak is an environmental rights defender and a former member of Mother Nature Cambodia, a movement opposing land-grabbing and defending environmental rights. In early 2020, the defender founded the youth movement Khmer Thavarak that advocates against social injustices and environment issues. Chhoeun Daravy is a woman human rights defender and a member of Khmer Thavarak. As one of the first members of the movement, she has been heavily involved in drawing attention to several human rights issues in the region, especially those concerning the environment. She regularly livestreams events and protests organised by Khmer Thavarak and other defenders on social media, reaching large audiences.
On 13 August 2020, Chhoeun Daravy was arrested by authorities outside the Phnom Penh municipal court. She and Hun Vannak were part of a group of 30 peaceful protesters calling for the authorities to drop the charges against human rights defender Rong Chhun. The protesters were forcibly dispersed away from the court building by an elite unit of the security personnel known as “Khan 7 January”. Those who attempted to continue protesting outside the building were beaten and kicked by the security personnel, leaving at least 10 of them injured.
Chhoeun Daravy, who had remained outside the premises, was slapped by security personnel. Her backpack containing money was then seized, along with her ID and bank cards. Following this, the defender moved to an area across from the court building and started to livestream on Facebook the violent dispersal by the security officers. Two plain-clothed officers grabbed her whilst she was livestreaming, physically assaulted her and then pushed her into a vehicle. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court also issued a search warrant for Chhoeun Daravy’s home, and formally announced that she was being charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest.”
Hours after Chhoeun Daravy’s arrest, authorities arrested five other members of Khmer Thavarak including the founder, Hun Vannak, from a small house rented by the organisation in the Pur Senchey district. The police alleged that the group had tried to incite disorder and insecurity by participating in the protest. Although four of the members were released, Hun Vannak continues to be held in detention and is being charged under Articles 494 & 495 of Penal Code, which relate to 'incitement to commit a felony'. The crackdown on the peaceful protest and the subsequent arrests of the human rights defenders are clear signs of reprisal against those exercising their freedom of assembly and expression.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the increasingly hostile environment for human rights defenders in Cambodia. Front Line Defenders condemns the arrest of Hun Vannak and woman human rights defender Chhoeun Daravy, as it believes they are being targeted for their legitimate and peaceful work for the protection of human rights.
