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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Mondulkiri
Land rights and forced evictions
On 04-Mar-24, teh Mondulkiri Provincial Court questioned 4 villagers from the Romnea commune and an ADHOC official after land brokers filed a complaint against them for submitting evidence of deforestation and land encroachment by the plantiffs. The villagers, who were accused of defamation and incitement, are dependent on the land for sustenance.
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Preah Vihear
Land rights and forced evictions
On 06 Mar 2024, Helmet-wearing police officers in Cambodia’s northern Preah Vihear province used tear gas and fired their guns in the air to disperse about 130 people who tried to stop the destruction of homes amid a land dispute with a large land concession company. 20 villagers were arrested and houses were burned down along areas Seila Damex Co. Ltd.claim are on concession land, which they plan to develop into a rubber plantation. This would affect about 300 families.
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Siem Reap
Land rights and forced evictions
On 29 Feb 2024, the Battambang Appeal Court quesitoned three villagers from the Angkor Wat area after the Apsara National Authority had accused them of incitment last year for allegedly posting a notice on the removal of illegal structures in Ampil commune’s Bakorng village.
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Phnom Penh
Land rights and forced evictions
On 27 Feb 2024, three people were injured in a clash between 40 Boeung Tamok residents and 50 district authorities after the residents atempted to stop the officers from digging the ground on which houses and market stalls stood. An ambulance was not allowed in despite the injuries incurred by community members. Prek Pnov district governor Thim Sam An said the “project would not stop until it is complete”
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Phnom Penh
Land rights and forced evictions
On 25 Feb 2024, district authorities ordered CSO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut to immediatley remove a photography exhbition they had set up outside a restaurant. There was no reason given for the orders, however the exhibition focused on the experiences of poor urban communities and themes of land insecurity.
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Phnom Penh
Violations of Free and Fair Elections Principles
On 20 Feb 2024, the National Election Committee banned opposotion activist Mr Rong Chhun, senior advisor to the National Power Party, from campaigning ahead of senate elections becuase of his 2021 criminal conviction stemming from his criticism of the government. Mr Chhun is a former member of the Candlelight Party, however joined the National Power Party after the Candlelight party were ruled ineligible from participating in the 2023 general elections.
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Kampong Speu
Restrictions on freedom of expression assembly or association
On 14 Feb 2024, Chea Chan, recently elected union leader at Wing Star Shoes factory, was charged with "conspiracy to commit theft" for an incident which allegedly took place two years ago. Authorities allegedly carried out the arrest without evidence or summons. The Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions state that the factory sught to limit union activity and fabricating charges in order to imprison Mr Chan.
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Preah Vihear
Land rights and forced evictions
On 15 Feb 2024, four indigenous Kuy residents from the M’lou Prey II commune recieved court summons for questioning after obstruciting development activity by a company on the land which the community lives and cultivates on. The Preah Vihear Provincial Court labelled the event, in which three villagers were injured after clashing with company workers, as "inciting people to illegaly occupy state land".
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Preah Vihear
Land rights and forced evictions
On 11 Feb 2024, Kuy indigenous community representative Pean Sophat stated M’lou Prey II villagers came together to stop three tractors from plowing the area which the villagers had cultivated for many years. Three villagers were injured in clashes which commenced between tractor the operators and residents after the gathering.
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Ratanakiri
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
On 07 Feb 2024, the Ratanakiri Provincial Court convicted environmental activist Mr Chhorn Phalla on defamation, insult and incitement charges. Mr Phalla was sentened to 1 year in prison and was handed a $2500 fine. He is an outspoken environmental activist who has advocated for the monitoring of deforestation. The court did not provide details on the alleged crimes.
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Banteay Meanchey
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or former opposition members
On 07 Feb 2024, the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court sentenced Mr Chao Veasna, a Candlelight Party official, to 3 years in prison, a 6 million riel fine, and a resitrction of his ability to stand for election for incitement. These allegations were based on Mr Veasna's involvement in a private chat on Telegram and on an accusation that he spoiled an election ballot.
rfa | cambojanews | rfa
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Kampong Speu
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
On 31 Jan 2024, two recently union leaders representing workers of the Shengbo Garment Factory Ltd, Mr Seak Thong and Mr Thon Thy, lost their jobs after resisiting pressure from the adminisitration to resgin from their union positons. On 03-02-24, over 100 garment workers protested and demanded reinstatement of the two workers.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or former opposition members
On 31 Jan 2024 Mr Hak Kosal and Mr Ma Chenda were arrested by police in Phnom Penh without being shown a warrant. The court accused them of fraud. Mr Kosal is executive committee secretary for the Chroy Changvar district, and Mr Chenda is the party executive director in Daun Penh district. Their arrests come shortly before the Cambodian senate election on 25th Feb.
ucanews | rfa | newsroomcambodia | rfa
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or former opposition members
On 30-01-24 Appeal Court Judges denied a request to lift visitation restrictions for former opposition party leader Kem Sokha, who in 2023 was sentenced to 27 years house arrest for treason. The court barred Sokha from meeting with non-family members, including his lawyers, without their permission. The appeal will undergo eight more hearings in the coming months.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or former opposition members
On 19-Jan-24 the Appeal Court upheld Candlelight party leader Thach Setha’s guilty verdict decision made by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for issuing 5 fake checks in 2019. Setha faces an 18 month prison sentence and was ordered to pay the plaintiff $33,400 in outstanding debt and an additional five million riel in compensation. Setha has maintained his innocence, and stated that the court's inability to show the original checks is proof that the evidence has been fabricated.
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Phreah Vihear
Land rights and forced evictions
On 16/Jan/24, M'lou Prey II commune authrorities submitted documents regarding alleged encroachment of land farmed by indigenous Kuy people. On 07/01/24, more than 100 Kuy people gathered in protest after 7 unidentified men with tractors attempted to clear the community's farmland on the grounds that it had been legally granted to them. The Chheb district deputy governer denied that such an agreement was made. Locals rely on the land for their livelihoods.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
On 15/Jan/24 seven Boeung Tamok residents recieved additional Court summons from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court after resisting attempts by authorities to demolish a partially built vegetable stall belonging to one of the residents. The individuals were alleged to have committed crime against public officials, however stall owner Kong Toeur claimed that no authorities were injured, and that instead authorities had beat her daughter.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
On 05/Jan /24 police arrested Mr Ny Nak, a government critic, on charges of incitement and defamation after he critisized the ministry of commerce in a facebook comment. Nak scrutinized a ministry of commerce statement which announed plans to register 10,000 new companies this year. He said that these new companies will include 'begging companies or illegal drug companies'. In responce a compaint was filed against Nak by Minister of Labour Mr Hung Sour. This comes after an attack on 12/09/24 where masked motorbike drivers equipped with batons severley beat Nak and hospitalised him for a week after he critisized a report on rice prices produced by Minister of Agriculture Dith Tina.
RFA | RFA | khmer.voanews | RFA
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
On 07/Jan/24 Cambodian authorities detained 13 activists from the Mother Nature Movement after they held a rally on the banks of the Chaktomuk River. Group members dressed in t-shirts and held banners which advocated for the protection of Koh Kong Krau. The 103 square kilometer island is known for its beauty, and the Ministry of the Environment issued a statement suggesting the Island would have national park status by 2021. However in 2023 Mongbay reported that Cambodian military facilitates logging on Koh Kong Krau, and in 2020 RFA reported that an ally of Hun Sen secured permission to begin development on the island. Police interogated the detanees and then released them.
RFA | news.mongabay | RFA
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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.
