• Cambodia: Baseless Conviction of Government Critic Reflects Shrinking Space for Free Speech

    Cambodia: Baseless Conviction of Government Critic Reflects Shrinking Space for Free Speech

    The shocking and baseless conviction of government critic Mam Sonando reflects the deteriorating situation of freedom of expression in Cambodia, Amnesty International said today, after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Mam Sonando guilty of anti-state offences including instigating “insurrection” and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

    Read More
  • Phnom Penh Court Sentences Independent Radio Station Owner to 20 Years

    Phnom Penh Court Sentences Independent Radio Station Owner to 20 Years

    Phnom Penh (Oct. 1, 2012) – We, the undersigned civil society organizations, condemn the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s shocking conviction of independent radio station owner Mam Sonando today, and the draconian 20-year sentence that he received. At age 70, Sonando is likely to die in prison if he serves his full term.

    Read More
  • Joint Human Rights Defenders/Freedom of Expression Alert: Three Rights Workers and One Journalist Summonsed to Appear at Ratanakkiri Court on Charges of Incitement

    Joint Human Rights Defenders/Freedom of Expression Alert: Three Rights Workers and One Journalist Summonsed to Appear at Ratanakkiri Court on Charges of Incitement

    On 1 October 2012, Ou Virak, President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”), Pen Bonnar and Chhay Thy, provincial coordinator and investigator from the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (“ADHOC”), and Radio Free Asia (“RFA”) reporter, Sok Ratha, aka Ratha Visal, were summonsed by the deputy prosecutor at Ratanakkiri Provincial Court to appear for questioning on charges of incitement to commit a crime.

    Read More
  • Cambodia: Baseless Conviction of Government Critic Reflects Shrinking Space for Free Speech

    Cambodia: Baseless Conviction of Government Critic Reflects Shrinking Space for Free Speech

    The shocking and baseless conviction of government critic Mam Sonando reflects the deteriorating situation of freedom of expression in Cambodia, Amnesty International said today, after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Mam Sonando guilty of anti-state offences including instigating “insurrection” and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

    Read More
  • Conviction of Mam Sonando

    Conviction of Mam Sonando

    We are deeply concerned by the conviction and harsh sentence of Mam Sonando, a Cambodian independent broadcaster. Today the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for alleged insurrection. A number of observers in Cambodia have noted that the charges against him appear to have been politically-motivated, based on his frequent criticism of the government.

    Read More
  • Conviction of Mam Sonando

    Conviction of Mam Sonando

    We are deeply concerned by the conviction and harsh sentence of Mam Sonando, a Cambodian independent broadcaster. Today the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for alleged insurrection. A number of observers in Cambodia have noted that the charges against him appear to have been politically-motivated, based on his frequent criticism of the government.

    Read More
  • Phnom Penh Court Sentences Independent Radio Station Owner to 20 Years

    Phnom Penh Court Sentences Independent Radio Station Owner to 20 Years

    Phnom Penh (Oct. 1, 2012) – We, the undersigned civil society organizations, condemn the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s shocking conviction of independent radio station owner Mam Sonando today, and the draconian 20-year sentence that he received. At age 70, Sonando is likely to die in prison if he serves his full term.

    Read More
  • Cambodia: Baseless Conviction of Government Critic Reflects Shrinking Space for Free Speech

    Cambodia: Baseless Conviction of Government Critic Reflects Shrinking Space for Free Speech

    The shocking and baseless conviction of government critic Mam Sonando reflects the deteriorating situation of freedom of expression in Cambodia, Amnesty International said today, after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Mam Sonando guilty of anti-state offences including instigating “insurrection” and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

    Read More
  • Joint Human Rights Defenders/Freedom of Expression Alert: Three Rights Workers and One Journalist Summonsed to Appear at Ratanakkiri Court on Charges of Incitement

    Joint Human Rights Defenders/Freedom of Expression Alert: Three Rights Workers and One Journalist Summonsed to Appear at Ratanakkiri Court on Charges of Incitement

    On 1 October 2012, Ou Virak, President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”), Pen Bonnar and Chhay Thy, provincial coordinator and investigator from the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (“ADHOC”), and Radio Free Asia (“RFA”) reporter, Sok Ratha, aka Ratha Visal, were summonsed by the deputy prosecutor at Ratanakkiri Provincial Court to appear for questioning on charges of incitement to commit a crime.

    Read More
  • CCHR Slams Guilty Verdict for Mam Sonando as a Travesty of Justice and an Embarrassment to Cambodia’s Reputation

    CCHR Slams Guilty Verdict for Mam Sonando as a Travesty of Justice and an Embarrassment to Cambodia’s Reputation

    CCHR condemns in the strongest possible terms the guilty verdict brought against Mam Sonando today at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.He was found guilty of all the charges brought against him–under articles 28, 456, 457, 464, 504 and 609 of the Penal Code 2009 – including instigating an alleged insurrection in Kratie province in May 2012 and inciting people to take up arms against the state authority. He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and a fine of 10 million riel. Bun Ratha, who is also accused of instigating the same alleged insurrection, was sentenced in absentia to 30 years; two others were sentenced in absentia to 15 years; and three other defendants held in pre-trial detention were handed sentences of ten months, three years and five years. Seven others were handed suspended sentences ranging from ten months to five years.

    Read More
  • CCHR Slams Guilty Verdict for Mam Sonando as a Travesty of Justice and an Embarrassment to Cambodia’s Reputation

    CCHR Slams Guilty Verdict for Mam Sonando as a Travesty of Justice and an Embarrassment to Cambodia’s Reputation

    CCHR condemns in the strongest possible terms the guilty verdict brought against Mam Sonando today at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.He was found guilty of all the charges brought against him–under articles 28, 456, 457, 464, 504 and 609 of the Penal Code 2009 – including instigating an alleged insurrection in Kratie province in May 2012 and inciting people to take up arms against the state authority. He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and a fine of 10 million riel. Bun Ratha, who is also accused of instigating the same alleged insurrection, was sentenced in absentia to 30 years; two others were sentenced in absentia to 15 years; and three other defendants held in pre-trial detention were handed sentences of ten months, three years and five years. Seven others were handed suspended sentences ranging from ten months to five years.

    Read More
  • CCHR Slams Guilty Verdict for Mam Sonando as a Travesty of Justice and an Embarrassment to Cambodia’s Reputation

    CCHR Slams Guilty Verdict for Mam Sonando as a Travesty of Justice and an Embarrassment to Cambodia’s Reputation

    CCHR condemns in the strongest possible terms the guilty verdict brought against Mam Sonando today at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.He was found guilty of all the charges brought against him–under articles 28, 456, 457, 464, 504 and 609 of the Penal Code 2009 – including instigating an alleged insurrection in Kratie province in May 2012 and inciting people to take up arms against the state authority. He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and a fine of 10 million riel. Bun Ratha, who is also accused of instigating the same alleged insurrection, was sentenced in absentia to 30 years; two others were sentenced in absentia to 15 years; and three other defendants held in pre-trial detention were handed sentences of ten months, three years and five years. Seven others were handed suspended sentences ranging from ten months to five years.

    Read More

Generously Supported by

USAID logo
The asia foundation
East-West Management Institute
Open Society Foundations
GIZ logo