News – Page 8 – ADHOC Cambodia

STATEMENT: ADHOC Staff Members Meet with European Diplomats

Thursday December 20th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

Diplomats from the Embassies of Denmark, France, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Cambodia, visited yesterday the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC). The meeting took place at the association’s central office and allowed the diplomats to review ADHOC’s activities and the human rights work carried out by its investigators.

On this occasion, they met with ADHOC staff members, including Mr. Chan Soveth, who has been summoned to appear before the investigating judge on 24 December at 2:30pm on the accusation of “providing assistance to the perpetrator” of a crime—an offense punishable by one to three years imprisonment and a fine from 2 to 6 million riels.

STATEMENT: Charges Dropped against Chhuk Bundith

Wednesday December 19th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) expresses its utmost disappointment at the decision of Svay Rieng Provincial Court to drop all charges against former Bavet City Governor Chhuk Bundith, who was accused of firing his gun at three female factory workers at Svay Rieng Special Economic Zone. It took Prosecutor Hing Bunchea almost ten months to decide that, despite Chhuk Bundith’s own confession and confirmation by numerous witnesses that he was the gunman, Chhuk Bundith was not even to be tried for causing “unintentional injuries”—let alone attempted murder.

STATEMENT: The Court of Appeal Should Have Granted Bail to Mam Sonando

Friday December 14th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) wishes to express its disappointment at the decision made today by the Court of Appeal not to release Mam Sonando – the owner of independent Beehive Radio and president of the Democrats Association – on bail. Mam Sonando was arrested in July and sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges that were widely perceived to be politically motivated. His detention has sparked international outrage and has been condemned at the highest levels. The reasons given for the denial of Mam Sonando’s bail were completely unfounded.

STATEMENT: The Court of Appeal Should Grant Bail to Mam Sonando

Thursday December 13th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) urges the Court of Appeal to grant a bail request made by the lawyer of Mam Sonando at a hearing scheduled for Friday 14 December 2012. Mam Sonando – the owner of independent Beehive Radio and head of the Democrats Association – was arrested in July and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on 1 October 2012, on charges that were widely perceived to be politically motivated. ADHOC has been monitoring this case closely and welcomes the news that a bail hearing has been scheduled. Nevertheless, though Mam Sonando’s release on bail would be a positive move by the Appeal Court, his conviction should be overturned as soon as possible given the apparent political interference in his case.

STATEMENT: New Summons for Chan Soveth; ADHOC Reiterates that He Has Done Nothing Wrong

Tuesday December 11th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) expresses its deepest concerns over the new summons issued by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 30 November 2012. Mr. Chan Soveth, one of ADHOC’s most senior investigators, is summonsed to appear before Investigating Judge Chhe Virak on 24 December at 2:30pm. He is accused of “providing assistance to the perpetrator” of a crime, an offense punishable by one to three years in prison pursuant to article 544 of the Cambodian Criminal Code.

JOINT STATEMENT: Issues and Concerns over Serious Impacts Related to Governance of Land and Natural Resources (7th National Advocacy Conference, 6-7 December 2012)

Friday December 7th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

We, approximately 300 representatives […] and civil society organizations […] in Cambodia would like to make a Joint Statement stemming from the issues identified in the 7th Annual National Advocacy Conference on “Working Together for Good Governance on Land and Natural Resources in Cambodia”, held on 07 December 2012 at the Imperial and Garden Hotel, Phnom Penh.

We, as the communities and civil society organizations from all provinces above in Cambodia compliment the efforts by the Royal Government for good governance of land and natural resources in Cambodia. The 7th Annual National Advocacy Conference raises the issues and recommendations, which reflect the great concerns over serious impacts on the people of Cambodia as follows […]

JOINT STATEMENT: Civil Society Denounces Adoption of Flawed ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

Monday November 19th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

Disregarding the deep concerns expressed by senior United Nations officials, human rights experts and hundreds of civil society and grassroots organisations at the national, regional and international levels, ASEAN leaders nonetheless adopted yesterday an “ASEAN Human Rights Declaration” that undermines, rather than affirms, international human rights law and standards. The document is a declaration of government powers disguised as a declaration of human rights.

STATEMENT: ADHOC Condemns the Disruption of Regional Civil Society Events and the Intimidation of Organizers and Participants

Wednesday November 14th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) strongly condemns the repeated disruption of civil society meetings taking place as part of the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum and ASEAN Grassroots People’s Assembly 2012. The intimidation of organizers and participants at the meetings is an unacceptable affront to basic freedoms of expression and assembly and sends a powerful message to the world that the Cambodian government is not committed to the creation of an ASEAN that respects fundamental rights and freedoms.

STATEMENT: Mam Sonando Must Be Released and the Rights of All Journalists and Human Rights Defenders Upheld

Monday July 16th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) is deeply concerned about the arrest of Beehive radio owner Mam Sonando yesterday at his Phnom Penh home. According to the information received, Mr. Mam faces charges of insurrection and incitement, offenses punishable by up to 20 years in prison (Penal Code, articles 28, 456, 457, 464, 504 and 609). His arrest follows a speech by Prime Minister Hun Sen in which he alleged that Mr. Mam was directly responsible for a secession attempt in Kratie province’s Chhlong district. ADHOC is afraid these charges may be an excuse for silencing a prominent journalist and advocate of democratic rights, and calls on the authorities to immediately release him.

JOINT STATEMENT: The Culture of Impunity and Violence Must Stop

Wednesday May 30th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

Following the recent shootings, evictions and arrests, in particular relating to citizens and activists defending land, labor and natural resources rights, 139 Cambodian and international civil society organizations issue a Joint Statement on Impunity and Violence.

Joint open letter to the Prime Minister: Vacate convictions against BKL human rights defenders

Wednesday May 30th, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

International and regional NGOs issue a Joint Open Letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen, expressing their “grave concerns regarding the arbitrary arrest and mistreatment” of 13 Boeung Kak Lake residents; “strongly condemn[ing] their prosecution on trumped-up charges and summary trial”; and urging the Cambodian government to “vacate the convictions and drop . . . unfounded charges against [all] Human Rights Defenders and unconditionally release them immediately”.

PRESS STATEMENT AND JOINT STATEMENT: ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN Peoples’ Forum

Monday April 2nd, 2012Tuesday June 19th, 2018 - by ADHOC- Cambodia

We, more than 1,200 delegates from all ten ASEAN countries representing various civil society organizations and movements of workers from rural and urban sectors as well as the migrant sector, peasants and farmers, women, children, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, urban poor, Indigenous Peoples, victims of human rights violations, domestic workers, lesbian gay transgender/transsexual intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people, human rights defenders and other groups, gathered together in Phnom Penh for the 2012 ASEAN Civil Society Conference / Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF) on 29-31 March 2012, to discuss issues under the theme “Transforming ASEAN into a People Centered Community”.

The growing awareness of ASEAN and its meetings and institutions by the region’s people is encouraging. However, we note with deep disappointment that during the ACSC/APF unacceptable restrictions were imposed on participants’ human rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Certain participants were continuously discouraged from attending the ACSC/APF, and workshops on land rights and on Burma/Myanmar were not allowed to take place.