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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Kandal
Land rights and forced evictions
Several excavators were deployed on 8 February 2022 to start clearing the rice fields and wetlands of citizens affected by the construction of the New Phnom Penh airport in Kandal province, although the land dispute in which they are embroiled with Overseas Cambodia Investment Corp (OCIC) has not yet been resolved. The Kandal Stung district governor also dispatched police and military officials, stating the necessity to prevent any fighting and to ensure that the instructions provided by local authorities to carry out the work are implemented. Various villagers whose lands are affected by the airport construction have refused the compensation offered by the OCIC company, deeming it largely insufficient, and have unsuccessfully petitioned relevant ministries and protested to demand fair compensation on several occasions throughout 2021, which led to the arrest and charging on nine villagers in September 2021.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Following two peaceful gatherings of the Friday Women on 5 and 6 February 2022 at which they wore doctor uniforms to draw attention to the lack of medical care received by their husbands and relatives in prison, the Phnom Penh's Boeun Tumpun II police summoned one of the Friday Women's representatives, Prum Chantha, to the police station. Prum Chantha was forced to sign an agreement promising that the Friday Women would stop wearing doctor uniforms at their protests. The police stated that this practice was against the medical profession as none of the Friday Women were doctors.
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Phnom Penh
Disproportionate measures or punishments for breaches of the COVID-19 law
The Phnom Penh Municipal Governor issued a directive ordering citizens who test positive for COVID-19 through self-testing to inform the authorities or otherwise face legal action of fines or imprisonment under the COVID-19 law. The notice also encourages anyone who hears of any positive cases to report them to local authorities. The Phnom Penh Administration stated that this decision was made to control COVID-19 home treatment more efficiently and prevent the further spread of the virus in the community.
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
On 2 February 2022, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced a former CNRP and Prey Lang activist, Voeun Veasna, to two years imprisonment for incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code and fined him two million riels. His conviction stems from statements he made on Facebook in which he criticized the government. It appears that during the conclusion of the proceedings, Veasna did not have a lawyer representing him because the court failed to notify the defense lawyer of the hearing. The presiding judge only deliberated for 15 mintues before sentencing Veasna to two years imprisonment. Veasna refused to thumprint the court documents. Veasna was previously residing in Thailand but was deported at the end of 2021 after he allegedly criticized the Cambodian government on Facebook.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Throughout February 2022, the NagaWorld strike continued with several rights violations recorded. On 4 February, the Ministry of Health visited the strike site and ordered all strikers to get tested for COVID-19 and threatened legal action against strikers who did not comply with the order. On 5 February, the Ministry of Health transported the strikers via bus to the Koh Pich testing center where six strikers were subsequently arrested for obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures (Article 11 of the COVID-19 Law), with three of them later charged under Article 11 of the COVID-19 law. Later that day, an additional three strikers were arrested for unclear reasons. On 6 February, the Phnom Penh police issued arrest warrants against four more NagaWorld strikers citing to Article 11 of the COVID-19 Law and they were required to appear before the Phnom Penh Municipal Court by 19 February. The strike was then suspended until 21 February to comply with the Ministry of Health quarantine guidelines. Meanwhile, the strikers had to get tested for COVID-19 several more times during their quarantine period and on 7 February, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court denied bail to the eight imprisoned NagaWorld union leaders. On 15 February, the Phnom Penh City Hall issued a statement saying that NagaWorld strikers were not permitted to gather in public spaces and must move their protest to Freedom Park, or else face legal action. On 21 February, the strikers attempted to resume their protests but were met with force by authorities who violently shoved them into buses by hitting, dragging, and punching the strikers, and carted them to the Prek Pnov quarantine center on the outskirts of Phnom Penh to get tested for COVID-19 where they were held in squalid conditions. The authorities refused to allow the strikers leave the quarantine center unless they signed a contract promising not to continue striking. The stirkers continued to strike daily but were repeatedly and violently forced into buses to be taken to Prek Pnov until 27 February, when the strikers announced they would move their strike online for a few days to comply with another order issued by the Ministry of Health to quarantine. See CCHR's Nagaworld timeline for more details.
Phnom Penh Post / Khmer Times / VOD Khmer | Cambodianess / VOD / VOD / Phnom Penh Post / RFI / Phnom Penh Post | CambojaNews | Camboja / VOD / VOD
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Kampong Chhnang
Restrictions on freedom of expression assembly or association
On 29 January 2022, two community representatives of the Lor Peang community, a community resident, as well as a one-year-old child were arrested and detained by the Kampong Chhnang provincial police and sent to the district court for questioning. The individuals are Oum Sophy, Snguon Nhoeun (community representatives), and Toun Seng and her grandson. Their arrests came after they filmed an argument with authorities and villagers were having over a disputed plot of land and posted it on Facebook without first asking permission from local authorities. The representatives were sent to the Bureau of Serious Crimes and questioned over the incident as well as over the broadcast of the argument related to the land dispute. Snguon Nheun and Oum Sophy were accused by authorities of exaggerating the land dispute on Facebook. However, the Choul Kiri District Police chief said that the authorities arrested the villagers in relation to the destruction of property of others, not for social media streams. After being detained for three nights, Oum Sophy and Snguon Nheun were released on judicial supervision indefinitely. Sophy and her Nheun were both charged with conspiracy to cause intentional damage. However, reports on this case differ, and one source reports that the pair have been charged with stealing property from the plaintiff, with one of them potentially charged with making a death threat, but it is unclear who may receive this charge. Additionally, Ms. Toun Seng was charged with intentional damage but was not released and remained in detention for further investigation on issues related to a land dispute in Choul Kiri district. Update: On 24 June 2022, Toun Seng was granted bail by the Supreme Court. She was released from prison a few days later, on 27 June 2022.
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Preah Sihanouk
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
On 28 January 2022, two land disputants in Preah Sihanouk were arrested and charged with violence and obstructing public officials from an incident stemming back to February 2021. The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court prosecutor signed and ordered an arrest warrant against the two individiduals, Soeung Phalla and San Sovireak. Phalla's wife stated that it wasn't clear why her husband was arrested but she believes it involves a land dispute between local families in the area and a company who had brought land excavators and began demolishing residents' homes. At the time, the residents had stopped the excavators, held the machines and lit spare tires on fire while demanding compensation for the demolished homes (approximately 10-20 of them). The two men remain in custody.
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Kampot
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Los Seng News publisher Los Seng, was placed under court supervision for six months over a live video report from two of his staff members. In November 2021, two LSN reporters covered a protest against the arrest of residents embroiled in a land dispute in Kampot, and interviewed residents who said that a four-year-old child was among those arrested. The two journalists were arrested and released an apology before being let go. They both were placed under court supervision. On 20 January, publisher Los Seng was questioned by the Kampot Provincial Court for incitement and insult in relation to the case. He was allowed to go home but placed under court supervision. He refused to make any additional comments out of fear for repercussions.
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Tboung Khmum & Kampong Cham
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
On 13 January 2022, after an opposition party - the Candlelight Party - installed a new sign on a public road in Tboung Khmum province in early January, local authorities ordered the party to take it down. They stated concerns over how the sign could affect traffic. However, this order was seen as an attempt to intimidate the party and hinder its efforts to advertise its ideas and activities. Similarly, on 16 January 2022, commune authorities prevented the Candlelight Party from installing their banner and lighting candles in front of a pagoda in Kampong Cham province, where many other party banners are already installed. The party has announced its intent to file a complaint to the Ministry of Interior and provincial authorities.
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Chhim Sithar, the president of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU), was violently arrested minutes after arriving to her union's strike in Phnom Penh. She was placed in a headlock by plainclothes police officers, manhandled and dragged to a waiting car. Two other union leaders, Sok Kongkea and Sok Narith, were detained separately that same day. All three were charged with incitement in an arrest warrant issued a day prior. They were sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court after their arrest.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Fourteen striking Naga World workers - including pregnant women - were arrested by police. Demands from strikers include better compliance with labor law and labor standards, the reinstatement of laid-off employees, and the release of their colleagues detained since the beginning of the strike.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Following the arrests of their union leaders, the NagaWorld strikers continued to strike daily, several violations recorded. Strikers were arbitrarily denied access to bathrooms nearby the strike site on multiple occasions despite various strikers being pregnant. In response, the strikers built makeshift toilets. They were also at times prevented by authorities from returning home until after dark and followed after leaving. Active NagaWorld employees who joined the strike also received "last" calls from the casino management, ordering them to stop striking and return to work. See CCHR's Nagaworld timeline for more details.
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Phnom Penh
Physical or judicial harassment or threats against journalists HRDs or opposition members
Ex-CNRP commune chief in Kampong Speu, Kim Tola, was arrested at the Phnom Penh International Airport over a recent conviction while about to travel abroad to meet with her husband. She was sent to the capital's Prey Sar Prison the next day. Kim Tola was convicted of incitement to commit a felony and sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in August 2022 alongside other ex-CNRP activists in a trial believed to be politically motivated. Tola stated that she did not know she was wanted by the police.
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Phnom Penh
Land rights and forced evictions
On 27 October, around 30 families were forcibly evicted from their houses in Phnom Penh to make way for the construction of the Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville expressway. While the Financy Ministry said that authorities “disseminated information and advised citizens almost 10 times” about compensation procedures, residents said that officials visited twice - without informing villagers that their houses would be destroyed - and later returned unannounced to demolish their homes. Residents were evicted despite not having accepted the government's compensation of 350$ per square meter when the market price is around 1200$. Residents said that several days before the demolition of their homes began, authorities tried to force them to accept the compensation, threatening them with administrative measures. Since their houses have been destroyed, many residents have refused to give interviews or speak out about their eviction, for fear that whatever compensation they might get would be withheld by authorities.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
On 1 November 2021, Kak Sovann Chhay, the autistic son of an imprisoned member of the CNRP and of a member of the Friday Women group, was convicted of incitement and insult to public officials by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Kak Sovann Chhay, a 16-year-old boy, was arrested and charged in June 2021 for private messages in which he insulted government leaders and for content shared on Facebook. The Court sentenced him to eight months in prison, with three months and 15 days suspended. He will also be on probation for two years during which he will be required to comply with several supervisory measures announced by the Court.
VOD | CamboJa | KhmerTimes | RFA
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
On 26 October 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted 14 youth activists and opposition members of incitement for their involvement in peaceful protests organized to demand the release of jailed prominent union leader Rong Chhun in 2020. The seven convicted youth activists are Hun Vannak, Chhoen Daravy, Eng Malai, Koeut Saray, and Tha Lavy, all members of the youth group Khmer Thavrak as well as Mean Prummony and Moung Sopheak, both members of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association(KSILA). All seven were sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, with part of their sentence suspended, as well as a 2 million riel fine. The seven convicted ex-CNRP members, whom four were tried in absentia, are Seng Meng Bunrong, Ho Vann, Ou Chanrith, Kong Saphea, Chhuo Pheng, Chum Pathy, and Kong Sam An. All were sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and a 4 million riel fine. A fifteenth defendant, Australian parliament member Hong Lim, was also tried on the same day and was acquitted by the Phnom Penh Court.
VOD | CamboJa | VOA | RFA | Cambodianess
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Phnom Penh
Land rights and forced evictions
On 22 October 2021, Mr. Chhouen Phalla, a land representative of over 200 families involved in a long-lasting land dispute with the Peng Huot Company in Phnom Penh's Ampov district, was arrested by the police in connection with his attempt to stop the company from pumping soil on the disputed land, which he and the affected families claim belongs to them. He was later sent to the Ministry of Interior and the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning. On 25 October, the court officially charged him for land encroachment and destruction of private property and placed him in pre-trial detention in Prey Sar prison. The affected families reported that they filed a complaint to the Ministry of Land Management at the end of September 2021 to demand a stop to their dredging activities on the disputed land.
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
On 23 October 2021, a group of around 20 Friday Women gathered in front of the French Embassy and submitted a petition requesting the French government to urge the RGC to fully implement its obligations under the Paris Peace Agreements. While attempting to submit the petition, the Friday Women were met with violence from security forces and Phnom Penh authorities who pushed and strangled the women and confiscated their banners. Three women were seriously injuried while the others were slightly injured with swolen faces and bruises on their heads, necks, arms, and legs. The authorities also yelled obscenities and threatening words at the women.
RFA | Camodianess | VOD
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Kampong Speu
Land rights and forced evictions
On 19 October 2021, military personnell began clearing community forest lands (the "Natural Mercy Forest") in the Phnom Oral Wildlife Sanctuary in Kampong Speu province with bulldozers. The community land originally spanned more than 2,000 hectares but after a private company encroached upon the land, only 800 hectares remain but the military has planned to clear more than 262 hectares of the remaining land by order of a sub-decree from the RGC. This land will then be distributed to 41 military families. If cleared as planned, dozens of villagers from Po Meas, Trapeang Krong, and Chrak Teak village will lose their livelihoods.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
In October 2021, the Interior Ministry denied the registration of a newly created opposition party, the Cambodian National Heart Party ("CNHP") under claims that it failed to fulfill the necessary criteria for registration under the Law on Political Parties. The interim president of the CNHP refutes these points and stated the party submitted all necessary documentation to the Interior Ministry by the deadlines. The Interior Ministry specifically claimed that the CNHP failed to define the rules of incoporation into the party's bylaws, stating that was the basis for their registration rejection. The CNHP later alleged that during the registration process they were under pressure to reveal the identities and backgrounds of the party president and founding members getting approval from the Ministry. The CNHP was also accused by the RGC of being linked to former CNRP opposition officials. The CNHP has been in the process of registring their party since June 2021.
