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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រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
"On 4 December 2024, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court upheld its default judgment against Mr. Morn Rithy, President of the Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers’ Federation (CTSWF). In May 2024, the court sentenced Morn Rithy in absentia to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of two million riels (approximately USD 500) for incitement to commit a felony and discrediting judicial decisions under Articles 494, 495, and 523 of the Cambodian Criminal Code. Morn Rithy was arrested and sent to Phnom Penh’s Correctional Center 1 on 7 May 2024, the same day the verdict was issued. The charges against Morn Rithy stemmed from a Facebook livestream in February 2022, during which he criticized the court’s decision to detain a worker from Jin Bei 2 Casino in Preah Sihanouk province. "
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
Phnom Penh Court of First Instance announced the closure of the investigation in the case of the National Forces Party adviser Mr. Rong Chhun, who is on bail for "failing to resign on a felony after being convicted of incitement to cause serious chaos to social security." The court notice detailing this was dated 19 November 2024, while Chun himself only received the information from the Justice Department on the morning of 2 December 2024.
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Stung Treng
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
"On the morning of 23 November 2024, six environmental activists and natural resource defenders were detained at Sre Sami Village, Talat Commune, Sesan District, Stung Treng Province. Those detained included Mr. Ouch Leng, Mr. Tat Odom, Mr. Out Latin, Mr. Heng Sros, Mr. Men Math, and another unidentified person. The six defenders were sent to Stung Treng police headquarters and remain in custody for questioning. Civil society organizations are closely monitoring the situation and call on the Cambodian government to ensure the safety and well-being of the detained individuals. "
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has charged and jailed two senior officials of the opposition Candlelight Party (CP) Mr. Pang Bun Sorn and Mr. Prak Chhorn over allegations of inciting discrimination against government leaders concerning the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA). They have been charged under Articles 494, 495, and 496 of the Criminal Code for “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest and incitement to discriminate.”
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Phnom Penh
Convictions of HRDs
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday sentenced Keut Saray, president of the Khmer Student Intellectual Association (KSILA), to four years in prison for alleged inciting villagers embroiled in land disputes to resist local authorities.
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Kampot
Restrictions on freedom of expression assembly or association
"Nine villagers and a monk were questioned by police and allowed to return home after signing a contract related to the dissemination of Paris Peace Agreements’ information in Kampot province. A civil society group noted that the space for freedom of expression and to assemble has tightened. Approximately 10 villagers, including a monk, gathered at a public park to mark the 33rd Paris Peace Agreements on Wednesday, in Kampot city."
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
"A media outlet friendly to the Cambodian government on Wednesday published a video of jailed journalist Mech Dara apologizing for his social media posts and asking for forgiveness after the award-winning reporter was brought to court for five hours of questioning. Fresh News posted the one-minute video, as well as two handwritten letters."
rfa | cambojanews | reuters | theguardian | bbc
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Kandal
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
"Kandal provincial court prosecutor summoned nine opposition parties officials, including Candlelight President Teav Vannol and Senator Sok Hach of Khmer Will Party to be questioned for alleged breach of trust. It is in connection with a disagreement over a candidate list’s rank number during the May provincial, municipal and district council level elections. Provincial court spokesperson Kha Denna confirmed that deputy prosecutor Va Sakada summoned them for questioning but said the case was still under investigation."
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Koh Kong
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
"An award-winning Cambodian journalist known for his reporting on human trafficking in the cyber scam industry was arrested on Monday. Mech Dara won a Hero Award last year for his investigations into exploitation at online scam compounds in Cambodia. The award, which recognises efforts against human trafficking, was presented by US secretary of state Antony Blinken."
nytimes | cambojanews | hrw | theconversation | theguardian | english.cambodiadaily
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Stung Treng
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
Reporter who revealed deforestation in Cambodia now charged with deforestation. Ouk Mao was accused of illegal logging in the northeastern province of Stung Treng. Mao is known in his community for having played a key role in exposing a land grab perpetrated by mining company Lin Vatey, which has ties to senior figures within the Cambodian military.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
Ms. Chhim Sithar, President of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU), was released on 16 September 2024, after serving a two-year prison sentence on incitement charges related to the peaceful strikes conducted by LRSU members. Following her unlawful detention, Sithar committed to continue advocating for labour rights with her colleagues.
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Mondulkiri
Restrictions on freedom of expression assembly or association
A Bunong man was questioned by Mondulkiri police after he released a song describing the sufferings of indigenous people in land disputes in conjunction with World Indigenous Peoples Day. While indigenous people state their right to sing on International Day of Indigenous Peoples has been restricted, local authorities request that the songs be sung with clear information to avoid “problems” on social media. But indigenous people’s associations and human rights groups say that the recent questioning restricted indigenous peoples’ freedom of expression.
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Siem Reap
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
"An opposition Candlelight Party commune councilor in Siem Reap city was arrested on Wednesday, which the party claimed brought the total number of arrests of their members and activists in connection to the anti-Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Areas (CLV-DTA) to 10. Several Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA) members and Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP) forum participants remain in police custody for questioning, while a mother has sounded the alarm about her missing daughter, Sak Kanika."
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Banteay Meanchey
Restrictions on freedom of expression assembly or association
"The brother of a prominent overseas Cambodian activist was arrested at the Thai border as he attempted to leave the country just weeks after Senate President Hun Sen publicly threatened the activist’s family. Hay Vanna, a political activist who lives in Japan, told Radio Free Asia that his brother, Hay Vannith, was detained in Poipet in northwestern Cambodia on Aug. 16."
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Across Cambodia
Restrictions on freedom of expression assembly or association
Cambodia arrests 30 amid warnings over anti-CLV demonstrations. Authorities arrested more than 30 people across Cambodia over the weekend after a heavy security presence was deployed in major cities to stop planned protests against an economic cooperation agreement with Vietnam and Laos.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
Supreme Court Upholds Incitement Verdict Against Candlelight’s Thach Setha. The Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s verdict on opposition Candlelight Party vice president Thach Setha who was sentenced to three years’ jail and fined four million riel (about $1000) for incitement to disturb social order and discrimination. In February, the Court of Appeal in Phnom Penh sustained the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s conviction against Setha who violated Articles 494, 495 and 496 of the Criminal Code.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on freedom of expression assembly or association
New Professional Journalism Charter Speedily Implemented Only Days After Input Deadline. The Ministry of Information seemingly rushed the promulgation of the Charter for Professional Journalism on Tuesday, only days after the deadline for input by media associations with just a few suggestions included.
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Mondulkiri
Land rights and forced evictions
"Mondulkiri Bunong Community Protest Destruction of Rubber Trees by Environmental Rangers. Some 200 indigenous people protested to demand authorities expedite the issuance of communal land title after environmental rangers destroyed the rubber plants in their village farmland . Several rangers, police and local authorities destroyed over 500 rubber trees in Pech Chreada district’s Bou Sra commune on Thursday, stating that the community planted on state land within the protected area of Sre Pok Nam Lear wildlife sanctuary."
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Siem Reap
Land rights and forced evictions
"Five Run Ta Ek, Rolous Residents Questioned By Court Over Legal Suit By Apsara Authority. According to the summons issued by deputy prosecutor Ngel Sovanrith, the residents were questioned for “obstructing public officers, illegal detention, issuing threats, insults, conditions as well as attempting murder” in Ta Ek village, Run Ta Ek commune, Banteay Srey district, Siem Reap province on April 24. "
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
"The Phnom Penh Municipal Court granted an injunction order to stop Candlelight Party president Teav Vannol from transferring his properties to a third party after he lost the defamation suit brought by the government. A decision came one week after the court found Vannol guilty of defamation and ordered him to pay $1.5 million in compensation to the government."
