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LICADHO condemns the conviction and sentencing of 11 CNRP officials and supporters
July 21, 2015 - This afternoon, 11 officials and supporters of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) were convicted of charges relating to insurrection and sentenced to between seven and 20 years imprisonment. They were taken to CC1 prison immediately following the sentencing. Only one of the nine defense lawyers was present for today’s hearing after the eight other lawyers allegedly boycotted the trial. When judges unexpectedly called for closing arguments, the defendants requested a delay until their lawyers could attend. The judges denied the request and deliberated for just 15 minutes before returning with the verdicts and sentences. As they began to deliberate, police and military police entered the courtroom and the road outside the courtroom was simultaneously blocked.
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Statement by the Spokesperson on the Law on Associations and NGOs in Cambodia
"On 13 July a Law on Associations and NGOs passed through Parliament in Cambodia. The law touches on sensitive issues requiring in-depth consultation of all stakeholders. Regrettably, a number of important concerns were not sufficiently taken into consideration. The law has the potential to considerably restrict the activity of NGOs. In any country, a vibrant civil society is a prerequisite for the realisation of full social, economic and political potential. Associations and NGOs, both local and international, have contributed greatly to the rebuilding of Cambodian society. Development cooperation between the EU and Cambodia relies to a large degree on NGOs. Full respect of the constitutional provisions concerning pluralism and freedom of association and expression must be upheld."
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Civil Society Calls On Senate to Reject LANGO
July 14, 2015 - We, the undersigned civil society groups, condemn the Cambodian People’s Party’s unanimous approval yesterday of the repressive and unnecessary Law on Associations and Non-Government Organizations (LANGO) and call on the Senate to reject the law. The vote at yesterday’s extraordinary session of the National Assembly is a catastrophic development for civil society in Cambodia and is a major step in the government’s wider campaign to undermine democracy and restrict citizens’ rights and freedoms.
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Cambodia: Approved NGO law poised to hobble the work of civil society
Bangkok, Thailand --- The ICJ today condemned the approval by the Cambodian Peoples’ Party (CPP) of a law which aims to pose obstacles to and restrictions on the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to be officially registered in the country. In June and July 2015, the ICJ and other international human rights groups sent joint letters to the Government of Cambodia, including to Prime Minister Hun Sen and the President of the National Assembly, urging for the withdrawal of the draft law. Today, the Cambodian National Assembly unanimously approved the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (draft LANGO) promoted by the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) after 55 members of the opposition party, Cambodia National Rescue Party, decided to boycott the vote. All 68 members of the CPP, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, attended the plenary session of the National Assembly and voted in favor of the draft law.
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CCHR Calls for the Unconditional Rejection of LANGO
One day before the holding of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights urges the National Assembly to firmly reject the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (“LANGO”).
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CCHR urges the National Assembly to ensure meaningful consultations on the LANGO before a vote
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) urges once again the National Assembly to stop the rushed adoption process of the 5th draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (“LANGO”) and to ensure meaningful consultations with all relevant stakeholders before scheduling a vote meeting. According to the available information, the National Assembly is reportedly set to hold an extraordinary session on 10 July 2015 where the LANGO is to be discussed and is likely to be approved, despite none of the concerns expressed by civil society actors and other expert voices have been addressed or even given consideration.
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TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON CIVIL SOCIETY IN CAMBODIA
Transparency International strongly condemns a proposed law in Cambodia that has been criticised by domestic and international civil society organisations because it could greatly restrict the voice of the people. The Cambodian government is trying to quickly pass the Law on Association and Non-Governmental Organisations (LANGO) without properly consulting the public. Criticism is based on leaked drafts of the law as the government tried to keep the law’s contents secret until it was sent to the National Assembly. The proposed law is pernicious. It could be used to effectively stop the ability of NGOs to freely criticize government policies or public officials. It creates mandatory registration requirements for NGOs and gives the government the ability to disallow registration based on unclear criteria. The law also requires informal and grassroots organisations to register as NGOs or associations if they want to conduct activities, a real burden for them.
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CCHR welcomes the acquittal of a land activist in Koh Kong Province
CCHR welcomes the acquittal of Ms. Phav Nhieng, a community representative of the Preaek Chik village, Chi Kha Kraom commune, Srae Ambel district, Koh Kong province, involved in a heated land conflict with the Heng Huy Agriculture Group Co Ltd. Ms. Phav Nhieng was accused of poisoning and killing two cows belonging to the group, and charged with intentionally causing damage under article 410 of Cambodian Criminal Code.
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CCHR condemns the conviction of Ly Sreakheng, Mak Seavhoung and Ly Seavminh to suspended 6 months in prison
Yesterday, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of First Instance found Ly Sreakheng, Mak Seavhuong and their daughter Ly Seavminh guilty of using violence against a possessor in good faith of immovable property under Article 253 of the 2001 Land Law, and sentenced them to suspended 6 months in prison while acquitting Ly Bunheang. The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) condemns the convictions as grounded on insufficient evidence.
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Cambodia: Government is intimidating civil society
With regard to the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO), Mr. Uwe Kekeritz, Member of the German Parliament and Spokesperson for Development Cooperation expressed his concerns as follows: The draft LANGO presented by the government fails to meet the minimum international human rights standards. According to the content of the draft, the government aims to silence local and international civil society organizations that have been actively supporting Cambodian people in their struggle against land grabbing and human rights violations.
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