Adhoc Cambodia

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

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

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.

STATEMENT: Human Rights Day 2012: All Cambodians Have a Right to Participate in Public Life

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day 2012, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) and the Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC) organized a peaceful march this morning from Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium to the capital’s Freedom Park. ADHOC and partner organizations also organized marches in Stung Treng and Kampong Chhnang cities, and supported community-organized events in Battambang, Kampong Speu and Preah Vihear provinces. Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December, the day on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948.

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

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

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.

ADHOC Endorses the Joint Statement of the 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People Forum (ACSC/APF) 2012 Phnom Penh, 16 November 2012

The ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF) 2012 took place on the 14-16 November 2012. The event, attended by over 500 delegates, included not only participants from ASEAN member states but also representatives invited from African Union, European Union and a delegation from the USA.

A key discussion that took place over the course of the event was ASEAN member states’ failure to produce an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration that matches or even exceeds existing international human rights standards. As such, we the delegates of the ACSC/APF, refuse to endorse the Declaration and instead, will continue to use standards set in international human rights instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to measure progress in the region.

STATEMENT: A Cambodia that Tolerates Dissent Sends the Right Message to President Obama

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) expresses its condemnation at the arrest today of eight community activists in Thmar Kaul Village, Po Sen Chey District, Phnom Penh. The community activists are guilty of nothing more than exercising their legitimate right to freedom of expression, and coming in the wake of intimidation and harassment of civil society groups attempting to organize and hold meetings ahead of the upcoming ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh, the arrests and detention of these community activists is yet another example of the Cambodian authorities’ disregard for human rights. The Cambodian authorities have expressed a desire to show the “good” face of Cambodia to the world, however, their intolerance of dissent and willingness to use the police to stifle freedom of expression instead demonstrates little more than the shrinking democratic space in the country.

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