Mam Sonando
Mam Sonando Testimony
I wonder why the human beings born to this world would have different destiny. The strong and powerful ones would suppress and terrorise the weak ones. There is unfairness and injustice throughout the world. The law is very weak and meaningless for the dictators. I wonder for how long for those who love the justice and freedom can survive.
There are people who think that we should keep our lives, live for longer and not bother with freedom. For me, we must not only use our lives to defend our rights; we must also use our lives to defend the lives of others.
Mam Sonando a journalist and the Director of one of only three independent radio stations in Cambodia. He is also founder and president of a national organisation called the Association of Democrats, which actively promotes democracy and human rights. Mam Sonando was arrested in early July 2012 on charges of instigating insurrection and incitement to take up arms against the state. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on 1 October 2012. On 14 March 2013, the Court of Appeal ruled that jailed human rights defender Mr Mam Sonando was released on 16 March 2013. Hundreds of supporters of Mam Sonando gathered outside the Court of Appeal to hear the verdict. Mam Sonando was a finalist for the 2013 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.
The Cambodian authorities use legislation and the judicial system, and threats of arrest or legal action, to restrict free speech, jail government critics, and disperse workers, trade union representatives and farmers engaging in peaceful assembly. The authorities routinely forcibly and often violently disperse public protests. HRDs who work to promote and protect economic, social, and cultural rights are particularly at risk of persecution, and trade union leaders have been subjected to extra-judicial executions. Community activists defending the right to housing and protesting against land grabs and forced evictions have faced fabricated charges and jail terms. Journalists who criticise the government face serious charges, lengthy trials, imprisonment and violence.
