The timeline below offers a visual representation of some of the key human rights violations and restrictions which have occurred in the Kingdom of Cambodia from 2013-2023, and follows our previous timeline covering 1993-2012 which can still be accessed here. The incidents recorded on the timeline from 2013-2023 represent human rights violations by the Royal Government of Cambodia as well as third parties, cover a wide range of issues including extrajudicial killings, convictions of human rights defenders, land grabs, forced evictions, restrictions of the rights to peaceful assembly, association and expression, torture, arrests, arbitrary detention and legislative and institutional developments relevant to human rights. The information is gathered from the Khmer and English media, CCHR’s own Fundamental Freedoms Monitoring Project, and from the commentary and analysis of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working on these issues. Each entry is accompanied by a short description and provides links to media articles reporting on the event or to the work of CSOs active in the field. It should not be forgotten that the cases included in the timeline are those that have garnered the attention of the media or CSOs, and are as such particularly emblematic or high-profile. The timeline is therefore only representative of a small fraction of the actual number of human rights violations occurring in Cambodia.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Participants were shoved, banners were confiscated and groups of people were broken up by riot police and security personnel at a peaceful gathering commemorating the second anniversary of the Veng Sreng killings.
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Phnom Penh
Legislative and institutional developments relevant to human rights
The highly restrictive Law on Telecommunications is passed. Civil society groups warn that the law will impinge upon freedom of speech and individual privacy.
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Ratanakiri
Convictions of human rights defenders
Land rights activists Sout Soeun, Em Chan, and Chreuk Touck are sentenced to two years in prison at Ratanakiri Court. The sentences come in the context of a land dispute which began in 2012 when workers hired by a Phnom Penh businessman began clearing hundreds of hectares of land in Borkeo district, with the support of armed police.
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Opposition lawmakers Nhay Chamroeun and Kong Sakphea are beaten outside the National Asembly as a protest against CNRP deputy leader Kem Sokha descends into violence. Later investigations reveal members of the Prime Minister's Bodyguard as the attackers.
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Koh Kong
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Environmental activist and indigenous peoples representative Ven Vorn was arrested on charges of harvesting timber products without a llicence and destruction of evidence. The charges stem from Mr Vorn's construction of a small visitor center and meeting place for local activists in the Areng Valley.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Police and military police block demonstrators from reaching Prime Minister Hun Sen's house on World Habitat Day. The group had already marched peacefully from Dey Krahorm neighbourhood to the National Assembly, where a petition was delivered to lawmakers.
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Kompot
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Land rights activists Ly Kemthuy and Ly Kemheang are arrested following a protest in relation to a land dispute in Kampot province. The pair are demanding that families in Chhuk District's Decho Aphivat commune receive plots that were promised to them.
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Phnom Penh
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Khemarak University student Kong Raya is arrested after allegedly advocating a, “color revolution”, in a Facebook post. Senior Licadho investigator Am Sam Ath criticises the decision as Mr Raiya's post was, “just the expression of an idea”.
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Koh Kong
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Mother Nature activists Try Sovikea, Sun Mala, and Sim Samnang are arrested after refusing to appear for questioning in relation to their involvement in protests over sand dredging. Another Mother Nature activist, Meng Heng, alleges police read out the arrest warrant unclearly and confiscated the phones of those who had recorded the arrest.
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Koh Kong
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
40 supporters of arrested Mother Nature activists Try Sovikea, Sun Mala, and Sim Samnang, are prevented by authorities from entering Koh Kong City where they had planned to stage a protest outside the provincial court.
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Phnom Penh
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the arrest of opposition Senator Hong Sok Hour in relation to a Facebook post. The post depicted a fake Vietnamese-Cambodian Treaty in which Heng Samrin dissolved the border between the two nations.
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Daun Penh security guards attack land rights activists and journalists near Phnom Penh City Hall. The guards prevent journalists from interviewing activists and attempt to confiscate their cameras.