Latest Flash Info & Articles

Article: Free Tep Vanny: Two Years Too Long
Published on 14 August 2018audio available

Prominent land right activist Tep Vanny has been at the forefront of her community’s fight against forced evictions and rights violations in Phnom Penh’s Boeung Kak Lake neighbourhood. Her dogged determination has made her a powerful advocate for justice, not only for the upheaval faced by her own community but for all Cambodians.

Cambodian authorities shut down Vanny’s activism two years ago and have kept her behind bars since then on a series of trumped-up charges and convictions in trials devoid of any credible evidence. She is serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence at Phnom Penh’s infamous Prey Sar prison, also known as Correctional Center 2 (CC2).

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Flash Info: Supreme Court Upholds Mother Nature Conviction
Published on 13 July 2018audio available

This morning, the Supreme Court upheld the convictions of Sun Mala, Try Sovikea and Sim Samnang, three former activists with the now-disbanded environmental NGO Mother Nature. The activists were arrested almost three years ago, on 17 August 2015, amid a campaign calling for an end to allegedly unlawful and destructive sand dredging in Koh Kong.

The activists originally stood trial in Koh Kong as perpetrators charged under Article 424 of the Criminal Code for allegedly threatening to cause destruction, defacement or damage to property. But the trial judge altered the charges at the last minute to convict them as masterminds behind the offence, a verdict later upheld by the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court hearing last Friday further violated fair trial rights, as the burden of proof was reversed and no evidence was presented by the prosecution.

The Supreme Court’s decision upholds their 18 month sentence, around eight of which are suspended. This puts the three activists at risk of re-imprisonment for the remainder of their sentences, if they are convicted of any other offence in the next five years. They were also ordered to pay 100 million riel ($25,000) compensation and a two million riel ($500) fine. Under Cambodian law, failure to pay fines and compensation can result in further imprisonment.

Flash Info: Koh Kong Land Protesters Back in Phnom Penh
Published on 27 June 2018audio available

This morning, around 200 villagers representing 317 families affected by land disputes related to sugar land concessions in Chi Kha Leu, Chi Kha Kraom, Dang Peng and Kandoul communes, Koh Kong province marched through Phnom Penh to demand land and compensation. They are currently being blocked by security forces on Sihanouk Boulevard.

Yesterday, the villagers were forced to walk part of the way from Koh Kong to Phnom Penh after being blocked by police and military police led by the Koh Kong deputy governor. They arrived at the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) yesterday evening, when community representatives met with representatives from the ministry before walking to Samaki Raingsey pagoda where they stayed overnight.

This is the third time that the villagers have been blocked in their efforts to reach the ministry. On 5 June, members of the communities had their vans stopped in Koh Kong by police and were forced to walk for hours through heavy rain towards the capital. On this occasion, after protesting in front of the Ministry of Land, officials promised some families monetary compensation and land by 20 June 2018. Last month, around 200 people from these communities were blocked and violently shoved by security forces in Phnom Penh as they attempted to walk from Samakki Raingsey pagoda to the MLMUPC. Many villagers were carrying babies and small children.

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Flash Info: Koh Kong Land Protestors Petition Ministry
Published on 5 June 2018audio available

(Updated 14.00 following land ministry meeting)

Despite attempts to prevent them travelling to Phnom Penh, more than 200 villagers from Koh Kong communities seeking compensation for a decade-old land grab rallied outside the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction early on Tuesday morning.

They were met by Koh Kong deputy governor Orn Pheareak who asked them to return to their province to discuss a solution. Community representatives also met land ministry officials and were given a letter pledging to measure land for 585 families by 20 June 2018.

The communities were forced to walk much of the way to Phnom Penh when police stopped the buses they were travelling in during the early hours of Monday morning. They only arrived late at night and fearing further harassment from security forces, the group gathered before daybreak on Tuesday morning to petition the land ministry.

Last month, the villagers faced police road blocks and were violently shoved and jostled as they attempted to walk to the ministry from a pagoda where they had stayed overnight.

The communities from Chi Kha Leu, Chi Kha Kraom, Dang Peng and Kandoul communes have petitioned the ministry and provincial authorities for over a decade for compensation for land they lost to two Economic Land Concessions linked to the Thai sugar company KSL and ruling party Senator Ly Yong Phat.

Some affected community members were granted compensation in March but hundreds more families are still seeking a fair settlement and have continued to travel regularly to the capital to lobby for government intervention.

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Flash Info: Land Protesters Blocked in Koh Kong Continue on Foot to Capital
Published on 4 June 2018audio available

Police have attempted to block about 300 villagers from Koh Kong province from travelling to Phnom Penh to demand compensation for a decade-old land grab. The police, led by a District Deputy Governor, stopped the communities’ buses in Sre Ambel district early on Monday morning.

Instead the community groups set out on foot, determined to make the 150 km trip to the capital. Along the way, they have encountered military police forces and have been pressured by authorities to return to their province.

The communities from Chi Kha Leu, Chi Kha Kraom, Dang Peng and Kandoul communes have petitioned the ministry and provincial authorities for over a decade for compensation for land they lost to two Economic Land Concessions linked to the Thai sugar company KSL and ruling party Senator Ly Yong Phat.

Some affected community members were granted compensation on 22 March 2018 but several hundred more are still seeking a fair settlement.

Last month the communities also faced road blocks and were violently shoved and jostled by security forces in Phnom Penh as they attempted to walk – from a pagoda where they spent the night – to the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction. Many were carrying babies and small children when they were attacked.

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Flash Info: Former RFA Reporters Questioned on Additional Charges
Published on 31 May 2018audio available

Former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin were interviewed by an investigating judge at Phnom Penh Municipal Court today on charges brought under the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation.

The two men worked for RFA until the media outlet shut its Phnom Penh Bureau in September 2017, citing government repression and the forced closure of its FM radio broadcasts as part of an ongoing crackdown on critical media.

They were arrested and detained on 14 November 2017. Four days later they were charged with treason and sent to pre-trial detention in Phnom Penh's chronically overcrowded Correctional Centre 1 (CC1). The trafficking charges, which are part of a second separate case against the pair, were added later.

No evidence substantiating any of the charges has been made public.

On 18 May, Investigating Judge Pich Vicheathor extended their pre-trial detention period by a further six months.

Chin and Sothearin have been charged under Article 445 of the Criminal Code for activities which can “undermine national defence” and articles 38 and 39 of the human trafficking law. They face up to 16 years in prison if convicted.

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Flash Info: Koh Kong Families Harassed And Shoved on Way to Peaceful Phnom Penh Protest
Published on 18 May 2018audio available

Villagers from Koh Kong province seeking compensation for a more than decade-old land grab were violently shoved and jostled by security forces this morning as they attempted to walk to the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction. Many were carrying babies and small children when they were attacked.

More than 200 community members petitioned ministry officials on Thursday and stayed at Samakki Raingsey pagoda overnight. When they attempted to walk the 5 km stretch back to the ministry this morning about 40 police and para police blocked and shoved the crowd near the pagoda, in violation of their right to assembly and peaceful protest. After about four hours they were allowed to move, amid a heavy police presence. About a hundred armed police and security guards were stationed near barricades along the route.

The commmunites from Chi Kha Leu, Chi Kha Kraom and Dang Peng communes have petitioned the ministry and provincial authorities for years for compensation for land lost in 2006 to two Economic Land Concessions linked to the Thai sugar company KSL as well as ruling party Senator Ly Yong Phat.

Some Koh Kong communities were granted compensation on 22 March 2018.

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Article: LICADHO Clarifies Hacking Attack Report
Published on 17 May 2018audio available

Last week, LICADHO staff discovered a strange phenomenon when trying to access the Phnom Penh Post website. When going to the site, a malicious code impersonating Google (misspelled Gooogle) attempted to trick users into granting full access to their Gmail inboxes to an unknown third party called GTransfers.

LICADHO analysed the code which was hidden within a legitimate script file (theme.js) hosted on the Phnom Penh Post website and forwarded its findings to partners in the region. The tampering with the website was independently confirmed by cyber security experts - including industry leader FireEye - in an ABC article.

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Flash Info: Former RFA journalists await release or further detention decision
Published on 16 May 2018audio available

Two former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists charged with treason were brought to Phnom Penh Municipal Court today to decide whether their six months in pre-trial detention will be extended or if they will be released (update below).

Under Cambodian law, felony suspects can only be held in pre-trial detention for six months unless a judge rules that a further six month period is necessary for an ongoing investigation. No evidence substantiating the charges has been made public.

At a bail hearing in March, Presiding Judge Khim Pon said an investigation was still underway and that releasing the men could result in “serious damage”.

Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin worked for RFA until the media outlet shut its Phnom Penh Bureau on 12 September 2017, citing government repression and the forced closure of its FM radio broadcasts as part of an ongoing crackdown on critical media.

They were arrested and detained on 14 November 2017. Four days later they were charged with treason and sent to pre-trial detention in Phnom Penh's chronically overcrowded Correctional Centre 1 (CC1). Further unsubstantiated trafficking charges were later added.

They have been charged under Article 445 of the Criminal Code which covers providing information to foreign states or agents which can “undermine national defence”. If found guilty they face between 7 and 15 years in prison.

Investigating Judge Pich Vicheathor will announce his decision on 18 May 2018 at 08:00 am.

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Update 18 May 2018:

Investigating Judge Pich Vicheathor extended the pre-trial detention of former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists, Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin, today by a further six months.

The two men were arrested and charged with treason six months ago. Under Cambodian law felony suspects can be held in pre-trial detention for six months but the period can be extended twice if a judge deems it necessary for an ongoing investigation.

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Flash Info: Court of Appeal Upholds Insurrection Verdicts
Published on 10 May 2018audio available

This morning the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions of 11 CNRP officials and supporters convicted of insurrection offences related to a demonstration marred by clashes between para-police and demonstrators on 15 July 2014. The verdict, delivered in just three minutes, upheld prison sentences of between seven and 20 years.

The verdict followed a protracted appeal process that first began in 2016 and was concluded by three days of hearings between 23 and 25 April this year. During these hearings live testimony was extremely limited. The plaintiffs were unable to identify the defendants as perpetrators and admitted other individuals had in fact written at least some of the original complaints.

Additional and virtually identical statements from almost 40 absent members of the Daun Penh para-police were read on to the record, which prevented any cross-examination by defence lawyers.

Video evidence submitted to the court confirmed that a number of the defendants were active in attempts to prevent violence and had personally protected injured members of the para-police.

Immediately following the verdict the 11 men were returned to CC1 to continue serving their sentences. They have spent more than 1,000 days in detention.

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Flash Info: Workers Celebrate International Labour Day Despite Restrictions
Published on 1 May 2018audio available

Workers and trade unions celebrated International Labour Day around Cambodia today despite restrictions on public gatherings and a ban on the traditionally held march in the capital. A large area around the National Assembly was cordoned off and guarded by mixed police forces.

A far smaller group than previous years rallied outside the Council for the Development of Cambodia under close surveillance from security forces. More than 600 workers, mainly from the garment and construction industry, held placards calling for workers rights, an end to harassment of trades unions and increased building site safety. Citing security concerns, Phnom Penh Municipality denied the organisers, the Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC) and their members, the right to march to the National Assembly.

Instead CLC union leaders delivered speeches on the theme of "Challenges of Trade Union Law Enforcement" calling for protection of workers’ rights and an end to union harassment. Several other smaller trades union groups delivered petitions to the Ministry of Labour and the National Assembly. Other events took place around the country in Ratanakiri, Kampot, Kampong Speu and Kampong Chhnang.

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Flash Info: Appeal Court Rejects New Bail Request By Former RFA Journalists
Published on 19 April 2018audio available

The Appeal Court rejected a bail request appeal today by two former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin. It was the second bail application by the two men who have been held in pre-trial detention on treason charges since 18 November 2017. The court justified the rejection by claiming they could attempt to flee.

Sothearin and Chhin were arrested on 14 November 2017 and charged under Article 445 of the Criminal Code which covers providing information to foreign states or agents which can “undermine national defence”. No evidence to support the charges has been made public.

The reporters worked for RFA’s Khmer language service until the US-funded media outlet shut its Phnom Penh Bureau on 12 September 2017, citing government repression and the forced closure of its FM radio broadcasts.

Supreme Court Judge Khim Pon rejected their first bail application in March on the grounds that an investigation was still underway and that releasing the men could result in “serious damage”. After that ruling the pair were also hit with new unfounded charges under the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation.

If convicted, the former RFA staffers face prison sentences of between 7 and 15 years. No trial date has been set.

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Flash Info: Cambodia Daily Defamation Case Postponed Again
Published on 12 April 2018audio available

Phnom Penh municipal court postponed the trial today of Deborah Krisher-Steele, publisher of the now defunct Cambodia Daily newspaper, who is charged with “public defamation”.

The charge was brought by the General Department of Taxation following comments accusing the authority of disclosing confidential information about a massive tax bill. The newspaper closed its office in Cambodia and laid off staff on 4 September 2017, after receiving the disputed US$6.3 million bill.

Today's adjournment was the second since the trial opened. Judge Seng Leang said the latest delay was needed due to the complexity of the case and to consider a defense request to summon a Fresh News staffer as witness.

After a brief hearing on 22 March 2018 the judge also suspended proceedings, citing key evidence that had not been correctly translated into Khmer.

A new trial date was not announced.

Flash Info: Banteay Meanchey community calls for release of arrested representative
Published on 27 March 2018audio available

About 50 villagers affected by land grabbing in Banteay Meanchey province protested today outside the provincial court to demand the release of their representative, Long Sokunthy, who was arrested yesterday.

Long Sokunthy was arrested and sent to Banteay Meanchey prison when authorities decided to enforce her 15 March conviction on charges of "infringement of private property" and "intentional damage" linked to the land dispute.

Sokunthy is a representative of 310 families seeking resolution of a conflict with tycoon Sam Phannarith, over 2,076 hectares of land located in Thnal Bat Village in Ou Chrov district, which dates back to 2004.

The community has filed repeated complaints and requests for intervention from provincial and national authorities. The protestors pledged to remain in front of the court until their representative is released.

Flash Info: Sam Sokha Sandal Throwing Conviction Upheld
Published on 22 March 2018audio available

Kampong Speu Provincial Court confirmed the conviction today of Sam Sokha on charges of “insult” and “incitement to discriminate” for posting a video to Facebook in which she throws a sandal at a Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) billboard.

Sokha was convicted in absentia and then deported from Thailand last month despite having registered there with the United Nations refugee agency. Her case was retried on 15 March 2018.

The video clip, posted in April 2017 – just two months before local elections – includes colourful language and criticism of Prime Minister Hun Sen. In the video she is seen throwing a sandal at photos of the prime minister and of Heng Samrin, Honorary President of the CPP and President of the National Assembly.

She received a two year sentence and was ordered to pay a five million riel (US$ 1,250) fine.