The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 680
“Phnom Penh: According to the latest report from the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights [LICADHO], titled ‘Attacks and Threats against Human Rights Defenders in Cambodia from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009,’ human rights defenders in Cambodia faced more danger during the last two years.
“The report of LICADHO to be released on 1 September 2010 says that human rights defenders in Cambodia suffered physical abuses, unlawful arrests, fake accusations over criminal cases, restrictions of their rights to assemble and move freely, intimidations, and forced evictions.
“LICADHO investigated and noted that within two years (2008 and 2009), there were 67 serious abuses against human rights defenders. By 15 July 2010, 60 human rights defenders have been jailed in Cambodia.
“Human rights defenders refer to journalists, representatives of communities, land protesters, trade unions, and staff members of civil society organizations.
“The same report added that representatives and leaders of communities involved in land disputes received threats with the use of violence, legal actions, or detentions while trade union leaders suffered from violations, detentions, and mistreatment through legal procedures. Journalists and staff members of civil society organizations were intimidated, arrested, and prevented from doing their work.
“The report continued that the Royal Government of Cambodia has good relations with some companies and individuals, but continues to use different means to impose constraints and also uses the courts as weapons, to block legal activities of human rights defenders, scaring them and weakening their ability for non-violent struggle and expressing their opinions.
“The president of LICADHO, Ms. Pong Chhiv Kek [also known as Dr. Kek Galabru], said in a statement released to journalists on 30 August 2010 that even though Cambodia signed many international treaties and the contents of national laws guarantee human rights, the situation got worse and worse for many human rights defenders and staff member of civil society organizations.
“The report goes on that in 2009, there were at least 25 lawsuits over defamation, disinformation, and other offenses against journalists. Among those four journalists sued was also the editor-in-chief of the opposition newspaper Khmer Machas Srok, Mr. Hang Chakra, who was convicted to serve a prison term.
“So far, there is yet no reaction from government officials to the report of LICADHO.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5290, 31.8.2010
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2341, 31.8.2010
- [The Minister of Information] Khieu Kanharith: Courts Cannot Arrest and Jail Journalists because They Express Their Opinions
- Cambodia Denied that It Supports the Iranian Nuclear Program [as reported in some press reports]
- The Indian and Slovakian Presidents Plan to Visit Cambodia Next Month [to deepen relations]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.43, #7048, 31.8.2010
- A Road to the Ta Moan Thom Temple on the Dangrek Mountains Was Inaugurated [Oddar Meanchey]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.17, #3972, 31.8.2010
- Even Though There Is Little Hope, Boeng Kak Lake Residents Submitted Requests to the Prime Minister to Ask for His Intervene to Provide Land Titles and to Allow Them to Construct Houses on the Previous Basis [Phnom Penh]
Nokor Wat, Vol.1, #44, 31.8.2010
- Thai Security Guards and Police Beat Three Khmer Citizens with Iron Tubes until The Lost Consciousness – and Then Compensated Each of Them with Baht 10,000 [approx. US$317 – Srah Keo, Thailand. The conflict started when the officers tried to hinder the Cambodians who had come to sell things along the pedestrian walk in town]
- [Fourteen] Officials of the Anti-Corruption Unit Will “Drink Oath Water” This Morning – the fourteen officers will commit themselves on 31 August 2010 to become justice police officers, while serving at the recently created Anti-Corruption Unit. They have the duty to conduct investigations to fight corruption]
Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #248, 31.8.2010
- A Staff Member of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights [LICADHO] and Two Khmer Kampuchea Krom People Were Convicted to Two Years in Prison for Distributing Leaflets [criticizing the government]
- [The Vice president of the National Assembly from the Cambodian People’s Party] Nguon Nhel, Warned that He Would Sue Opposition Party Members over the Ussue of His Advisers [for defamation; the Sam Rainsy Party criticized that he has too many – 71 – advisers paid from public funds – but he denies that the umber is correct]
- Cambodia Rejected the US$41 Million Loan Offered from Thailand [for a road construction, claiming that Cambodia will use its own resources]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5290, 31.8.2010
- Human Rights Defenders Encounter More Danger
- A Man Held a B40 Rocket Launcher Shell as if It Were a Microphone and Sang – but when It Exploded, it Killed Four Persons and Seriously Injured Three Others [Pursat]
- Nineteen Cars Loaded with Ebony Wood Crossed Siem Reap [however, forestry officers said they were not aware of it]
- Eleven Restaurants [among 634] Received a License for Standard Sanitation [from the Ministry of Health – Phnom Penh]
Have a look at the last editorial – you can access it directly from the main page of the Mirror.
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