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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Banteay Meanchey
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Sisophon town authority prohibited a group of people from holding a memorial service in the house of Suon Sieb for political analyst Kem Ley on the basis that the villagers had not submitted a formal request. Ley was gunned down at a petrol station in Phnom Penh on 10 July 2016.
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Ratanakiri
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Ratanakiri provincial governor requested all Cambodian and foreign reporters to report to authorities with identification and to outline their intentions at the provincial department of information before they can report in the province.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Over 100 villagers, representing 197 families from Chi Khor Krom and Chi Khor Leu communes in Koh Kong province, clashed with authorities when protesting the rejection of their claims concerning a land dispute with Heng Huy Agriculture Group in front of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction. Some protesters suffered minor bruises but no one was seriously injured in the incident.
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Kampong thom
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Two teachers and former CNRP Kampong Thom provincial council members, announced that they will no longer participate in any political activity, especially related to the CNRP, in order to protect their career and personal safety. They had been warned that their teaching positions would be terminated due to their previous political acitivity.
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Kampong Thom
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Former CNRP official Sun Thun was assaulted by a group of unidentified men. The attack occured days after Thun announced that he would resign from politics if the government allowed him to teach again. However, he claims that local authorities told him that he would have to defect to the CPP before this could happen.
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Rath Rott Mony was sentenced to two years in prison by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of incitement to commit discrimination for his involvement in the production of a documentary about sex trafficking. Cambodian authorities claimed the documentary "contained fake news and damaged Cambodia's reputation."
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Kampong Chhnang
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
A Kampong Chhnang provincial judge ordered the detention of Ngin Veasna, 48, editor-in-chief of the Kraing Meas website, and his colleague Touch Din, and charged them with “public defamation and blackmail.” The two journalists published accusations that Oknha Tea Vichet, CEO of GTVC Speed Boat, had smuggled goods without paying taxes with the backing of powerful people.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng said that, whilst gathering to eat Khmer noodles to discuss politics and democracy is good, doing so to prepare for the return of the opposition leader to incite a colour revolution is “illegal.”
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Pursat
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Former CNRP activist Nem Nath was detained on charges of violating forest protection laws by Pursat provincial police. Other former CNRP affiliates Nuon Lim, Prak Rin, Mom Phy were all charged with the same crime.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court tried Yin Heng, a 23-year-old transgender man, who allegedly insulted all Khmers in a video clip posted on Facebook after his own assault by a group of men in February. Yin Heng was charged with incitement to discriminate under the Criminal Code. He faces up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $1,600 if convicted.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Qi Ming Xin Factory denied accusations that it sacked Moeun Yoeun, of Voice Khmer Youth Union Federation, and his colleagues, Houn Srey Lis, Oun Thearong, Thol Thim, Pet Hoeun, Ses Sophal and Sean Sokli, for planning to create a local union. The company claims that the unionists were fired because they encouraged other workers to protest.
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Kampong thom
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
35 former CNRP members in Kampong Thom province expressed concern for their safety after authorities monitored several of their gatherings and questioned them. Thai Thim, a former CNRP provincial councillor, claimed that some former CNRP members met on Wednesday for a meal, and were watched over by police. “We met at four different locations in Baray district to eat Khmer noodles, but two of the four locations were interfered with by 20 members of the authorities. The group was afraid and went to eat Khmer noodles at my home,” Thim said.
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Siem Rep
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Chhun Dymey (also known as Dymey-Cambo, or Lifetime Khmer); a 24 year old musician, deleted from Facebook and YouTube a rap song that was critical of Cambodia’s social issues, and announced that he will stop singing the song after officials visited his home in Siem Reap province and allegedly gave him a warning. The song, "Sangkum Nis" which translates as "This Society," listed numerous alleged social injustices including corruption, poverty, land disputes, shooting to kill and the oppression of innocent people.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Tea Banh stated that he does not have any connection with the “Gro Angel” Facebook account that used an image of him as its profile picture and posted content critical of the government. Ministry of Interior spokesman Chhum Socheat called for the owner of the “Gro Angel” page to be found and legal action taken against them.
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Battambang
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Former O’Char commune chief Sin Rozeth and five other former CNRP local officials were questioned by the Battambang provincial court on whether they had violated the Supreme Court ruling disolving the opposition party. Rozeth said the prosecutor focused his questions on two issues – who had come to her Khmer noodle shop for a gathering and whether she had incited people to go against the 2017 ruling of the Supreme Court.
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Phnom Penh
Legislative and institutional developments relevant to human rights
The Ministry of Information announced the preparation of amendments to the Press Law to ensure it was "in line with the current situation and the needs of the country."
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Over 1,000 people from various CSOs and unions marched on International Labor Day after the government eased restrictions on Labor Day marches. Marchers demanded a raise in the minimum wage for all labor sectors
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Battambong
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Five local officials of the former CNRP and two supporters were summoned for questioning for allegedly violating the Supreme Court ruling that dissolved the former opposition party in November 2017. The five officials were former O’Char commune chief Sin Rozeth, former commune chiefs Mok Ra and Khoun Chamroeun, Dim Saroeun, a former provincial council member, and Kong Bunhang an ex-provincial level party leader.
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Tbong Khmum
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Sou Yean, the former deputy executive committee chief of the former CNRP in Tbong Khmum province, was placed in pre-trial detention and charged with incitement to commit a felony in relation to comments made on Facebook about Prime Minister Hun Sen.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Phnom Penh Municipal Hall rejected the requests of eight major labour unions to march through Phnom Penh in celebration of International Labour Day, and instead only permitted them to organise an event in front of the Council for the Development of Cambodia.