Cambodian human rights defenders released after more than one year in prison
Since 5 November 2021, several Cambodian human rights defenders including Rong Chhun, Chhoeun Daravy, Hun Vannak, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy, Eng Malai, Muong Sopheak and Mean Prommony have been granted bail after being imprisoned for more than a yearOn 6 and 7 September 2020, three human rights defenders and members of Khmer Thavrak, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy and Eng Malai were arrested by police in Phnom Penh, for planning to take part in a peaceful demonstration to ask for the release of several imprisoned human rights defenders. The three defenders have since appeared in court, charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” and moved to Phnom Penh Correctional Centers (CC) 1 and 2.
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 an the forefront in 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.
Since 5 November 2021, several Cambodian human rights defenders including Rong Chhun, Chhoeun Daravy, Hun Vannak, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy, Eng Malai, Muong Sopheak and Mean Prommony have been granted bail after being imprisoned for more than a year. Rong Chhun was released on 5 November 2021 after being arrested in July 2020 for a statement he issued on the demarcation of border between Cambodia and Vietnam which has stripped several farmers of their land. The other human rights 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. Koet Saray, Mean Prommony and Tha Lavy were also released on bail on 5 November 2021, Eng Malai was released on 8 November 2021, Muong Sopheak on 11 November 2021, while Chhoeun Daravy and Hun Vannak were released on 12 November 2021.
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 6 and 7 September 2020, three human rights defenders and members of Khmer Thavrak, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy and Eng Malai were arrested by police in Phnom Penh, for planning to take part in a peaceful demonstration to ask for the release of several imprisoned human rights defenders. The three defenders have since been appeared in court, charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” and moved to Phnom Penh Correctional Centres (CC) 1 and 2.
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.
On 6 September 2020, Phnom Penh police arrested human rights defender and Buddhist monk, Koet Saray over his plans to participate in a peaceful assembly that was to take place on 7 September 2020 at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh. The demonstration was to call for the release of imprisoned human rights defender Rong Chhun, and to call for the release of imprisoned members of Khmer Thavrak, Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy. Koet Saray was presented before the Phnom Penh court on the same day, where he was charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” and later sent to pre-trial detention in Phnom Penh’s CC 1.
The following day, on 7 September 2020, two other members of Khmer Thavrak were arrested by Phnom Penh police. Human rights defender Tha Lavy was arrested while exiting a tuk-tuk at the Freedom Park, while he was on his way to the demonstration. Woman human rights defender, Eng Malai was arrested on the same evening, after leaving the local Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Phnom Penh. On 8 September 2020, both defenders were presented before the Phnom Penh Court, where they were charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” and sent to pre-trial detention, Eng Malai in CC2, and Tha Lavy in CC1.
These events closely follow the arrest of three environmental rights defenders, Long Kunthea, Phoung Keorasmey and Thun Ratha of Mother Nature Cambodia, who were also charged with incitement, for planning to organise a one-woman march to the Prime Minister’s residence to raise awareness about the filling in the Boeung Tamok lake.
Following the initial arrest on Monday, the Ministry of Interior released a statement accusing Khmer Thavrak of inciting instability and disrupting security and public order, and appealed to the public to not participate in any of the youth movement’s ‘illegal’ activities. The Ministry called for legal action to be taken against members of the group, leading to the multiple arrests in the following days.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the progressively hostile environment for human rights defenders in Cambodia. Front Line Defenders condemns the arrest of human rights defenders, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy and woman human rights defender, Eng Malai, as it believes they are being targeted for their legitimate and peaceful work for the protection of human rights.
