Adhoc Cambodia

ADHOC LETTER: ADHOC Provincial Coordinator Threatened with Charges of Defamation

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) is deeply concerned about potential defamation charges being brought against Soum Chankea, its Provincial Coordinator in Banteay Meanchey province. On 9 February 2012, Soum Chankea was summoned by the Prosecutor’s office in Sisophon, following a complaint lodged by Oum Socheath, head of the Banteay Meanchey branch of the Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and Coordinator of the UNDP-CMAC mine clearance program. [...] Oum Socheath accuses Soum Chankea of defamation following ADHOC’s intervention in a gender-based violence case.

ADHOC Provincial Coordinator Threatened with Charges of Defamation Following Intervention in Gender-Based Violence Case

Phnom Penh, 13 February 2012 ― The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) is deeply concerned about potential defamation charges being brought against Soum Chankea, its Provincial Coordinator in Banteay Meanchey province. On 9 February 2012, Soum Chankea was summoned by Yin Sokuntheavy, Sisophon Sub-Prosecutor, following a complaint lodged by Oum Socheath, a CMAC (Cambodia Mine Action Centre) officer working in Banteay Meanchey province. The questioning will take place on 20 February 2012. The Prosecutor will then decide whether charges are officially brought against Soum Chankea. These include “slanderous denunciation,” an offense punishable by 1 month to 1 year in prison and a 100,000 to 2 million riels fine (article 311 of the Penal Code).Oum Socheath accuses Soum Chankea of defamation following ADHOC’s intervention in a gender-based violence case.

Peaceful Land Dispute Protesters Threatened by Armed Soldiers outside Kampong Speu Provincial Court

People protested infront the Kg Speu Court

Phnom Penh, 13 February 2012 ― RCAF troops from an unidentified unit were deployed last Thursday to quash a land-related peaceful protest outside Kampong Speu Provincial Court. Villagers from Omlaing commune, Thpong district, Kampong Speu province, gathered to submit a petition to the court demanding the release of Chum Srey Nuon, a villager arrested on 15 December 2011 and detained on charges of illegal occupation of land. They asked the court to drop the charges and protested against harassment by the authorities, as 49 villagers have been summoned by the court since 2010.

PRESS RELEASE: ADHOC Urges the Cambodian Authorities to Shed Light on the Circumstances of Kratie Shooting and to Uphold Citizens’ Fundamental Right to Protest

Phnom Penh, 6 February 2012 ― The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) welcomes the arrest of two private security guards employed by TTY rubber company, who are suspected of having deliberately opened fire at unarmed villagers during a protest over a land dispute in Snoul district, Kratie province, on 18 January 2012.

Peaceful demonstration of Borey Keila and Boeung Kak residents cracked down by police in front of Phnom Penh City Hall

Over one hundred Borey Keila (BRL) and Boeung Kak Lake (BKL) residents who were peacefully protesting in front of Phnom Penh Municipality this morning were cracked down by approximately eighty police officers. The protesters began demonstrating at 8am and asked the Phnom Penh Governor to meet them face to face in order to discuss a solution to the Borey Keila and Boeung Kak issues. BKL residents demanded that City Hall officials help them to obtain a more significant compensation for their eviction. As for BRL residents, they asked the Municipality to allow them to continue living in their settlements, or if this was impossible then to intervene to ensure adequate compensation in case of eviction.

Conflict involving TTY Company

On January 18 at 9.30 am at the border of Srekh Tum Commune, Koa Sey Mar, Mondulkiri province and Kra Njoung Senchey, Pith Nou Commune, Snoul District Kratie province, security forces employed by TTY Company, which is said to belong to Na Marady, were given orders to fire on a group of protesters.

ADHOC Plays Important Role in organising National Consultation Workshop on Understanding of ASEAN and ASEAN Civil Society

Today in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) hosted the National Consultation Workshop on Understanding of ASEAN and ASEAN Civil Society with a view to preparing Cambodian civil society members for the upcoming ASEAN Summit 2012, to be hosted in Cambodia. ADHOC, currently chairing CHRAC, played a large role in coordinating this event. The consultation served to further educate Cambodian Civil Society on ASEAN, and to select members of seven committees that will be responsible for organising and facilitating the ACSC/APF 2012, which will take place alongside the ASEAN Leader Summit.

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