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
Disproportionate measures or punishments for breaches of the COVID-19 law
On 8 May 2021, 42 vans were impounded and 55 drivers and 49 factory workers were arrested and detained for trying to leave a red zone in Phnom Penh (Chaom Chao I commune,Por Sen Chey district) in violation of the lockdown order. They were detained at a school in the district’s Kork Kanchhan commune where they were required to quarantine for 14 days. They reported having attempted to leave the red zone due to the harsh conditions in the capital's red zones during lockdown, especially food shortage. The driver were later ordered to pay a fine of 2 million riel ($500) each for transporting passengers despite COVID-10 travel bans, which led them to protest against the fines as they claimed that they could not afford to pay them.
Phnom Penh Post | CamboJa | VOD | CamboJa | Post Khmer
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Banteay Meanchey
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
In detention since February 2021 in connection with a case of theft, 21-year-old Pin Kimseng was found dead on 3 May 2021, after being sent to the hospital by prison officials for treatment. While the death certificate delivered by the hospital indicates that Pin died of pneumonia, his mother claims that her son was tortured to death in custody. She reported that Pin was in good health while in detention and had never had pneumonia in the past. Furthermore, she noticed signs of physical assault on her son's body, including a swollen head, bleeding ears, and a broken neck. The General Department of Prisons of the Ministry of Interior denied the torture claims, insisting that the victim died of pneumonia and citing alleged drug use issues. In search of justice for her son, Pin's mother reached out to a local NGO for assistance in filing complaints to relevant governmental institutions and courts. She also reported having been contacted by Cambodia's National Committee Against Torture, which promised to investigate her son's death in custody.
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Phnom Penh
Convictions of human rights defenders
On 5 May 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, Thon Ratha, Long Kunthea, Phuon Keoreasksmey and Chea Kuntin, five activists of the Mother Nature Cambodia environmental group - of which two were tried in absentia - for incitement to commit a felony or disturb social order under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. They were sentenced to between 18 and 20 months' imprisonment and ordered to pay fines of $1,000. The activists were arrested in September 2020 and charged after attempting to organize a peaceful one-woman march to the Prime Minister's residence in order to raise awareness of the environmental impacts of the filling-in of the capital's largest lake, the Boeng Tamok lake.
CamboJa | VOD | Cambodianess | RFA | VOA
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
On 4 May 2021, the Ministry of Information issued a statement ordering journalists to immediately stop reporting from the red zones and other restricted areas during the capital's lockdown due to a COVID-19 community outbreak. The ministry stated that journalists had reported from red zones and banned areas such as treatment centers and hospitals and that their reporting was confusing the public and provoking social chaos, which could lead to the further spread of COVID-19. He added that journalists who would continue their reporting would face legal action. The order came shortly after various residents living in red zones complained about food shortages and appealed to the Government for essential aid on social media.
RFA | Khmer Times | ASEAN Post
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Kak Sovanchhay, the 16-year old son of a jailed senior CNRP member, was attacked by two assailants on a motobike while traveling with his mother, who threw a brick at his head, causing severe injuries. Kak and his mother went to public hospitals to treat his head wounds but they were refused treatement. They ultimately got treatement at a private clinic who stitched up Kak's wound. The mother believes that she was the target of the assault as she is an active member in the Friday Women protests. She reported having gone to a local police station in Phnom Penh to file a complaint but the police station refused to take her case, stating that they did not have sufficient resources to work on it. The Phnom Penh Municipal police said they were investigating the incident but claimed that they could not identify the suspect because security cameras installed in the house near the scene were too far away but that they would look for other cameras in the area and build a case.
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
On 26 April 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued an arrest warrant for former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy for "obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures" under Article 11 of the COVID-19 Law and for incitement under Article 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. The arrest warrant was a response to a video clip Rainsy posted to his Facebook page on 24 April 2021, shortly after the government announced the extension of the lockdown for a third week. In the video, he notably called on citizens to stop obeying the lockdown and leave their homes and return to work as normal if the government was not lifting the lockdown measures, explaining that such measures were causing people to suffer under harsh restrictions.
VOD | Fresh News Asia | RFA | VOA | Phnom Penh Post
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Phnom Penh
Disproportionate measures or punishments for breaches of the COVID-19 law
On 21 April 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, with the assistance of the Police Force of the Anti-Technology Crime Department of the General Commission of the National Police, arrested two men, Pin Neath and Ho Chim, who posted a TikTok video of them in a car with alcohol, in violation of the government's ban on alchohol and lockdown set to curb the spread of COVID-19. The two men were brought to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police station for questioning.
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Phnom Penh
Disproportionate measures or punishments for breaches of the COVID-19 law
Video clips started circulating around the internet which shows authorities whipping and beating pedestrians with bamboo sticks or other sticks if seen leaving their houses or walking on the streets despite the lockdown in Phnom Penh and Takhmao city, Kandal province. This most stringent enforcement occurred in the capital's "red zones" but police in other zones have also been recorded beating pedestrians with sticks. The Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief has denied that police are beating people, stating that the authorities are just "pretending" to whip people to get them to stay indoors and comply with lockdown measures.
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Kampong Cham
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
A 50-year-old man, Yun Seang Hy, otherwise known as Pros, was taken into custody by the Kampong Siem district police in Kampong Cham province after he shouted at the authorities who broke up a gathering of people drinking. Pros was allegedly drunk and shouting at the authorities who then took him to the Romchek Administrative Police Station for questioning and to educate him about his actions. He was released that same night but as he walked away from the police station he shouted insults at the police stating, "The dogs are the police, the police are stupid." The police then arrested Pros and on 20 April 2021, the Kampong Cham Provincial Court sentenced him to one year in prison under Article 11 of the COVID-19 Law for "obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures" and for "insult" under Article 502 of the Criminal Code.
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Takeo
Disproportionate measures or punishments for breaches of the COVID-19 law
Four men were arrested and sentenced to one year in prison and fined $250 each under the COVID-19 Law for having loud parties at their homes in violation of the government's alcohol ban and ban on gatherings set to curb the spread of COVID-19. They were charged with "obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures" under Article 11 of the COVID-19 Law. The four men allegedly played loud speakers in their homes and distrupted neighbors, which prompted local authorities to investigate the scene and arrest the men. The authorities then conviscated loudspeakers, microphones, and "other materials" they found at the house.
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Phnom Penh
Disproportionate measures or punishments for breaches of the COVID-19 law
Authorities arrested a military officer, Khieu Chan Sopheaktra, after he purportedly violated COVID-19 measures by driving a motorbike into a lockdown roadblock barricade. Following the incident, the officer also beat the local authorities and caused them injuries. The Phnom Penh Municipal Police Spokesman stated that they will question the suspect then forward to case to the court for charges under Article 11 of the COVID-19 Law, "obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures."
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Phnom Penh
Disproportionate measures or punishments for breaches of the COVID-19 law
On 19 April 2021, six individuals were arrested by Phnom Penh Municipal Police for gathering and drinking outside at around 6 p.m. in violation of the government's alcohol ban and lockdown. The individuals were arrested under Article 11 of the COVID-19 Law, "obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures". However, no charges have been brought against the individuals yet and the authorities have not yet confirmed whether they will send the case to court. The six were brought to the Russey Keo police station for questioning.
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Phnom Penh
Disproportionate measures or punishments for breaches of the COVID-19 law
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced a man, Dara Rath Sokun, to one year inprison for cutting off a barricade tape in a lockdown area in Phnom Penh's Tuol Kork district. This is the first case where someone has been tried and convicted under the new COVID-19 Law. Sokun was originally arrested on 15 April over this incident and he was charged under Artices 4 and 11 of the COVID-19 Law, "administrative and other measures realted to COVID-19" and "obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures."
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Kampong Cham
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
A 34-year old glass cutter, Nov Kloeung, was arrested in Kampong Cham after he posted a TikTok video in which he allegedly critized and insulted government leaders, particularly the Prime Minister, over their response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia. Nov Kloeung, was arrested for incitement to commit a felony under Articles 494 and 495 and insult under Article 502 of the Criminal Code. He was also charged with obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures under Article 11 of the COVID-19 Law. He faces a prison sentence of six months to three years and a fine from $500 to $2,500.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Phnom Penh Municipal Police arrested a construction worker, Korng Sambath, for posting a TikTok video in which he allegedly claimed that “there were people dead after using the Chinese vaccine". The authorities considered his post to be “fake news” about COVID-19 and the vaccine, which caused "social pollution". Sambath was later sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning and charged with obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures under Article 11 of the COVID-19 Law.
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Kampong Speu
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Pann Sophy was arrested for posting a TikTok video clip in which he said that “Chinese vaccines are uncertain". Police said this comment "defamed" Chinese vaccines and amounted to fake news aimed at inciting and triggering confusion among the public. The Prime Minister added that he would not tolerate anyone inciting distrust in the Government's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. He was subsequently charged with incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code and with obstructing the implementation of COVID-19 measures under Article 11 of the Law on Measures to Prevent the Spread of Covid-19 and other Serious, Dangerous and Contagious Diseases. Pann Sophy was sent to pre-trial detention.
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Battambang
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Pich “Sna” Theareth died in police custody on 3 April, following his arrest for allegedly killing his wife. His body showed signs of torture, such as blood coming out of his ears, a swollen head, bruises on his arms, legs and thighs, and both ankles marked by electric scars. Very shortly after Pich’s death, his body was cremated thereby erasing the evidence, though photos of his body continue to circulate on social media. In June, an Interior Ministry investigation refuted a string of explanations put forward by the Battambang police to explain his death. The police first said that Pich "Sna" Theareth had been beaten by villagers, then that he had been in a traffic accident, before finally saying that he died of a drug overdose. The investigation refuted these explanations: it found that Pich "Sna" Theareth was uninjured at the time of his arrest, that his motorcycle showed no sign of accident and that no drug test was conducted. The Interior Ministry requested a National Police investigation into whether there was “mild or severe” torture behind the man’s death. Sangke district police chief Sun Sovan rejected the accusations of torture, and said he did not know the report’s conclusion.
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Siem Reap
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Two journalists were physically assaulted by a group of 6-7 people while attempting to investigate and report on a potential gambling location in Khnar Po commune, Sot Nikum district. The victims are Chhit Savy from BTV and Prak Kok Peng from the National Liberation News.
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Battambang
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
A farmer, Huon Borey, was arrested by the Battambang Provincial Police for making a Facebook post showing a picture of Prime Minister Hun Sen and using derogatory words against him. He was taken to the Provincial Court for further legal action.
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Stung Treng
Land rights and forced evictions
On 30 March, 53 Pnong families in Kbal Romeas commune, Sesan district reported encroachment on their community land by provincial authorities for the development of private company hydropower plant in an on-going land dispute. The land encroached has been reported by the community as ancestral farmland. Stung Treng representatives claim the community land was never registered as such. The land is used by the community for hearding cattle, cultivation, non-timber forest products, vegetables and resin for their economic viability.