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Senior US Diplomat Urges Release of Mam Sonando, Return of Sam Rainsy
A top State Department diplomat on Tuesday met with government officials in Phnom Penh, including Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, to press improvements of human rights and democracy. Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State in charge of human rights, democracy and labor, urged the government to release Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando and allow for the return of opposition leader Sam Rainsy ahead of elections scheduled for July, among other suggestions for the improvement of the country’s deteriorating rights environment.
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CCHR Briefing Note on Judicial Reform in Cambodia
Today, 18 February 2013, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights ("CCHR") is releasing the second in a series of four Briefing Notes, one per week for the next month. Each will examine key issues related to human rights in Cambodia: political and electoral reform; judicial reform; freedom of expression; and land reform. The attached Briefing Note - on judicial reform - outlines the current state of the judiciary in the Kingdom of Cambodia (“Cambodia”), analyzes shortcomings in the functioning of the judiciary and courts, and offers recommendations for reforms which would substantially benefit the functioning of the judiciary and facilitate greater judicial independence in Cambodia. This Briefing Note identifies four main areas of judicial reform to strengthen the independence and integrity of the judiciary: 1) Draft laws should be fast-tracked and enacted and necessary amendments should be made to existing laws to ensure that they can be properly enforced and have real impact upon the way in which the legal and judicial systems operate; 2) Community education should be provided and information disseminated to ensure that citizens are aware of their legal rights; 3) Improvements should be made in legal training and resources to produce skilled and knowledgeable lawyers who are experts in their field and fully competent members of the judiciary; and 4) An immediate and unconditional commitment should be given from both the Royal Government of Cambodia (the “RGC”) and the judiciary that the courts will not be misused as political tools to silence dissent and stifle debate. Please find the Briefing Note attached in Khmer and English. For more information, please contact CCHR President Ou Virak via telephone at +855 (0) 12 40 40 51 or e-mail at [email protected] or Senior Consultant Robert Finch via telephone at +855 (0) 78 80 99 60 or e-mail at [email protected].
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Defense Teams Argue for the Hearing of Entire Case 002, Severance of Case against Khieu Samphan
On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia heard a second day of arguments concerning how it should proceed in the trial of senior Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan.[2] The trial has effectively been on hold since the Supreme Court Chamber ruled that the manner in which the Trial Chamber had severed the overall case against them — known as Case 002 — into smaller trials covering discrete charges was invalid and that the Trial Chamber had to reconsider the question of scope in its entirety. Today all defense teams put their proposals for the way forward before the Court, sparking contentious debate in the courtroom. Both Mr. Chea and Mr. Sary’s defense teams argued that in fact, the Trial Chamber should hear Case 002 in its entirety, in stark contrast with the Office of the Co-Prosecutors’ (OCP) suggestion that the Trial Chamber continue to use the scope of the initial trial but with S-21 added to its purview. The Khieu Samphan Defense Team, meanwhile, suggested that perhaps it should not be the subject matters severed but rather the persons tried, arguing that the case against Mr. Samphan be separated from those of the two less healthy co-accused persons.
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Nuon Chea Released From the Hospital Again
Elderly Khmer Rouge defendant Nuon Chea was released from the hospital yesterday after a 17-days saty, the Khmer Rouge tribunal said.
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CPP Promise Oversight on Royal Group’s Dam
The government has promised to monitor the progress of local conglomerate Royal Group in its implement of $781 million dam project in Stung Treng province, that has been guaranteed by the government, CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said yesterday.
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Defense Teams Argue for the Hearing of Entire Case 002, Severance of Case against Khieu Samphan
On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia heard a second day of arguments concerning how it should proceed in the trial of senior Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan.[2] The trial has effectively been on hold since the Supreme Court Chamber ruled that the manner in which the Trial Chamber had severed the overall case against them — known as Case 002 — into smaller trials covering discrete charges was invalid and that the Trial Chamber had to reconsider the question of scope in its entirety. Today all defense teams put their proposals for the way forward before the Court, sparking contentious debate in the courtroom. Both Mr. Chea and Mr. Sary’s defense teams argued that in fact, the Trial Chamber should hear Case 002 in its entirety, in stark contrast with the Office of the Co-Prosecutors’ (OCP) suggestion that the Trial Chamber continue to use the scope of the initial trial but with S-21 added to its purview. The Khieu Samphan Defense Team, meanwhile, suggested that perhaps it should not be the subject matters severed but rather the persons tried, arguing that the case against Mr. Samphan be separated from those of the two less healthy co-accused persons.
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Defense Teams Argue for the Hearing of Entire Case 002, Severance of Case against Khieu Samphan
On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia heard a second day of arguments concerning how it should proceed in the trial of senior Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan.[2] The trial has effectively been on hold since the Supreme Court Chamber ruled that the manner in which the Trial Chamber had severed the overall case against them — known as Case 002 — into smaller trials covering discrete charges was invalid and that the Trial Chamber had to reconsider the question of scope in its entirety. Today all defense teams put their proposals for the way forward before the Court, sparking contentious debate in the courtroom. Both Mr. Chea and Mr. Sary’s defense teams argued that in fact, the Trial Chamber should hear Case 002 in its entirety, in stark contrast with the Office of the Co-Prosecutors’ (OCP) suggestion that the Trial Chamber continue to use the scope of the initial trial but with S-21 added to its purview. The Khieu Samphan Defense Team, meanwhile, suggested that perhaps it should not be the subject matters severed but rather the persons tried, arguing that the case against Mr. Samphan be separated from those of the two less healthy co-accused persons.
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First Child Rape-Murder of the Year Reported
A 10-year-old girl was raped and strangled to death in the dining hall of Buddhist pagoda in Prey Veng province on Monday, marking the first child rape-murder to be reported so far this year.
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GMAC president rejects unreasonable wage demand
PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia President Van Sou Ieng said Tuesday that demands to boost the minimum wage from $61 to $150 a month were unreasonable. Van said "no place" would agree to such a wage increase. "We increase salaries based on inflation which is between 5 and 10 percent a year. The price of goods doesn’t increase by 100 percent," he said. "Investors will turn to other countries such as Myanmar if they fear investing in Cambodia because of so many strikes."
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Boeung Kok residents to petition visiting US official
PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Residents of property development site Boeung Kok said Tuesday they would petition a visiting US assistant secretary of state over jailed land activist Youm Bopha. Michael Posner, assistant secretary of state on democracy, human rights and employment, was to hold a news conference late Tuesday after meeting Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.
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GMAC president rejects unreasonable wage demand
PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia President Van Sou Ieng said Tuesday that demands to boost the minimum wage from $61 to $150 a month were unreasonable. Van said "no place" would agree to such a wage increase. "We increase salaries based on inflation which is between 5 and 10 percent a year. The price of goods doesn’t increase by 100 percent," he said.
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KemSokha khmer
Kem Sokha Speach about khmer
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Report Outlines Myriad Concerns for July Polls
Ou Virak, head of the center, said the report shows a decrease in political participation that has dropped from about 90 percent in the past to 60 percent in the last election. “It reflects the will of the population,” he said. “Meaning, they do not have confidence in the outcome of the elections, and it was not neutral.”
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Government says democracy not in Sam Rainsy's pocket
His remarks followed comments by Cambodian Center for Human Rights President Ou Virak who accused the government of being stubborn.
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Human Rights Group Shortlists Sonando for Award
Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said that his group and the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch were among those who nominated Mr. Sonando. “He should be awarded because he has contributed a lot to human rights protection, including with the courts,” he said.
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Human rights group seeks bigger role for women
PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) – The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) urged political parties Thursday to promote the role of women in political and social affairs. "I want to see women work as ministers at the ministries of Interior and National Defense like other democratic countries," president Ou Virak told reporters. He noted that women accounted for only 18 percent of commune councillors.
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Cambodia's king is dead, long live the PM - By Didier Lauras
“Hun Sen is now more powerful than ever,” said Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR). “For anything happening in the country, all fingers are pointed to Hun Sen. That is what happened in the old days with Sihanouk.”Since 2008, Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (PPC) has held 90 of the 123 seats in the lower house of parliament, and there are few doubts that he will win elections in July. His ambitions echo those of Sihanouk who remained in power -- or close to it -- for some six decades from independence to peace, the golden age of the 50s and 60s but also civil war and two million deaths under the Khmer Rouge. “Hun Sen could be a kind of Sihanouk without the title. He has overcome all times and all changes,” Tertrais said. “Sihanouk has spent 63 years in power, or interested in power,” he added. “This may well be a model for Hun Sen who became a minister at age 27 and is now aged 60. He still has a long time ahead of him.”
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Monks Take Center Stage as Sihanouk Rituals Continue
Ou Virak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said Sihanouk’s passing was a time to remember some of his politics, especially his abdication, during which he peacefully handed the throne to his son. “This is something that politicians should learn from,” he said. Sihanouk was lauded for his ability to maintain national unity during tumultuous times, but politics these days have become divisive, Ou Virak told “Hello VOA” Monday. But people should now feel empowered to exercise their democratic rights, especially in the July parliamentary elections, he said.
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Au Cambodge, une monarchie de façade
La dépouille du roi père, Norodom Sihanouk, sera incinérée lundi 4 février à Phnom Penh. Bien que très respectée par les Cambodgiens, l’institution royale n’exerce aucun pouvoir. Le pays est dominé par le parti du premier ministre Hun Sen. Depuis plus de trois mois, des Cambodgiens de tous âges viennent de tout le pays se recueillir devant le palais royal à Phnom Penh.
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Ratanakkiri Court hears evidence in journalist murder case.
The Ratankkiry Provincial Court yesterday tried a military police captain and his wife for the September murder of journalist Hang Serei Odom, whose badly bludgeoned body was found dumped in the trunk of his car in September.
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