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
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court indicted a Candlelight Party official, Nev CM, for incitement to cause serious social chaos. The charges relate to activities committed in mid-July 2023 before the national elections.
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Phnom Penh
Land rights and forced evictions
Chbar Ampov district authorities asked more than 200 families living along the Prek Pra Canal in Champouk K'aek village and O'Andong village, Prek Thmey commune, to leave their homes and move to a new location (more than 6 kilometres away) so that work can be done on the canal. Some residents have not yet agreed to relocate because the land at the new site is smaller. However, others have been forced to abide these demands because they have no other option.
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Koh Kong
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
The Koh Kong Coast Guard banned approximately ten Mother Nature Movement activists from visiting the waterfall behind Avalatan village in Koh Kong province. The Coast Guard did not specify a reason for the ban.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
Environmental activists protesting plastic pollution were harrassed by police during their march to submit their petition to Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment. Plainclothes officers blocked the way of the 20 activists, pushed them, snatched their phones, and attempted to confiscate their banners.
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Kampot
Land rights and forced evictions
Over 100 hectares of Prek Tnaot villagers' farmland was demolished. Villagers were shocked to learn that the title deed for the land which their families had lived and worked on for generations was owned by a group of wealthy and powerful people. Civil society organisations have urged provincial authorities to expedite an investigation as they suspect corruption was involved.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
The Phnom Penh Appeal Court upheld the convictions of eight current and former unionists from the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU). Nine activists, including the leader of the NagaWorld Union, Chhim Sithar, were convicted of incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in May 2023. Eight of the activists appealed the verdict. Sok Kongkea, who received a suspended sentence, did not appeal the lower court’s verdict. The Phnom Penh Appeal Court deliberated for 30 minutes, upholding the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's judgement in full.
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Koh Kong
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
Authorities in the Sre Ambel district of Koh Kong province stopped a community land vehicle from travelling to the Sihanoukville Provision Court of Appeal for a hearing of prominent land activists who summoned for questioning on defamation charges and inciting social unrest. (note: the summons stems from the initial incident dated 15 August 2023 in this timeline)
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
At the signing of an alliance agreement between the Cambodian People's Party and the other 27 political parties, former Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened NGOs, warning he will not tolerate a "color revolution"
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced exiled opposition leaders from the now banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam Rainsy, Mu Sochua and 10 other activists to prison terms in a case connected to social media comments made in 2021. They were all convicted of incitement and conspiracy to commit treason. The social media comments were made on Facebook in early 2021 in relation to whether Cambodians should temporarily stop paying loans as the COVID-19 pandemic slowed business activity around the country. Another set of Facebook comments stemmed from a news story about high-ranking officials buying citizenship in Cyprus. Former parliamentarians Sam Rainsy, Mu Sochua, Eng Chhai Eang and Ho Vann were sentenced to eight year prison terms, fined 4 million riel and banned from running for political office for five years. The court also issued an arrest warrant for the four exiled CNRP leaders. The other activists in the case received five year prison sentences. However, activist Roeun Veasna, had his five-year prison term suspended.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
Thach Setha, a vice president of the Candelight Party who was previously convicted of issuing fraudulent cheques in September 2023, was convicted and sentenced to three more years of imprisonment for alleged incitement to commit a felony and incitement to discriminate on the basis of race, religion or nationality. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court also ordered Thach Setha to pay a fine of 4 million riel.
The Diplomat | CamboJA | AP
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Kampong Speu
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
Seven members of the Udom Sre Pus Community Forest Protection Community were summoned by the Kampong Speu Provincial Court to testify on charges of causing damage by intentional aggravated assault, threatening to kill and insulting. They are being sued by military official Eam Mao.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
The Minister of Interior and Deputy PM Sar Sokha issued a letter rejecting a second application made by application by a group of 80 students and intellectuals to form a political party. The first request was rejected on 12 September 2023.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court barred three activists from the environmental group Mother Nature Cambodia from traveling to Sweden next month to receive the prestigious Right Livelihood Award. The three activists are currently serving suspended prison sentences for their advocacy work. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court deemed the travel 'unnecessary'.
VOA | The Cambodia Daily | The Cambodia Daily | RFA | Newsroom Cambodia
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
On September 21, 2023, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Thach Setha, vice president of the Candlelight Party, to 18 months in prison. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Thac Setha guilty of issuing several bounced checks in 2019. Thach Setha is facing two other charges (1) incitement to commit a felony; and (2) incitement to discriminate on the basis of race, religion or nationality. The trial on those charges has been held in recent weeks and the verdict is set for Oct. 18.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on freedom of expression assembly or association
On September 14, CamboJA published an article about the recent attack on a government critic, Ny Nak, which had taken place two days earlier. They reported that Ny Nak criticized the Minister of Agriculture, Dith Tina, on Facebook over the minister’s handling of a report on rice prices. The Ministry of Agriculture stated in a letter that CamboJA had defamed it, and instructed CamboJA “rectify these serious breaches of journalistic ethics” and “take steps to ensure that such malicious intentions and defamatory speculations do not recur in the future.” If the publication refused, the ministry said, it would take legal action and it could lead to the “same outcome as VOD.” CamboJA subsequently removed the name of the government minister from the article.
RFA | The Diplomat | VOA
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Banteay Meanchey
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
On 9 September 2023, the Banteay Meanchey police detained and questioned 23 Candlelight Party (CP) members for allegedly lying to people while collecting thumbprints to form a new political party. On 15 September 2023, 16 detainees were released after they signed a document stating they were not involved in the offense. On 14 September 2023, Banteay Meanchey Court charged the remaining seven CP officials with incitement and fraud under Article 494-495 and Article 377-378 of the Criminal Code. After being charged, the seven CP officials were sent to pre-trial detention. The charges carry between six months and two years in prison and fines of one million to four million riel. ** ** Note, there were 7 officials sent to pre-trial detention. News outlet missed to mention Mr. Him La.
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Phnom Penh
Violence against activists
Social activist Ny Nak was hit from behind by a motorcycle ridden by an unidentified man. The man proceeded to hit Ny Nak on the head with an iron rod in an attempt to kill him. Ny Nak is receiving emergency treatment at the hospital. Ny Nak had recently been critcising the government on social media.
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Koh Nhek, Mondulkiri
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
On 9 September 2023, the Banteay Meanchey police detained and questioned 23 Candlelight Party (CP) members for allegedly lying to people while collecting thumbprints to form a new political party. On 15 September 2023, 16 detainees were released after they signed a document stating they were not involved in the offense. On 14 September 2023, Banteay Meanchey Court charged the remaining seven CP officials with incitement and fraud under Article 494-495 and Article 377-378 of the Criminal Code. After being charged, the seven CP officials were sent to pre-trial detention. The charges carry between six months and two years in prison and fines of one million to four million riel. ** ** Note, there were 7 officials sent to pre-trial detention. News outlet missed to mention Mr. Him La.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court launched an investigation into two Boeung Ta Mok land activists on charges of intentional aggravated violence against public officials.
