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
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Prime Minister Hun Sen instructed the Ministry of Interior to investigate CCHR, suggesting that the group has ties to the CNRP’s alleged “revolution”. he stated, they “must close because they follow foreigners”. In response CCHR re-stated their independence from all political parties and requested that the government “enter into a meaningful dialogue” with their representatives to address the allegations. A week later, the Prime Minister told the news that investigations did not show any wrongdoing and that CCHR would be allowed to continue its operations.
PPP | Fresh News | VOA | PPP | Fresh News | VOA
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Four former CNRP members were detained for questioning as they rallied people in communes in Pur Senchey district to create a Women Federation Movement.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Ministry of Interior announced that CCHR and certain other civil society organizations would be monitored after accusations that they participated in a “revolution” during the Supreme Court hearing, on the dissolution of the CNRP.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Supreme Court dissolved the opposition CNRP on treason charges, on the basis of Kem Sokha's alleged actions, despite his trial have not taken place. The ruling was widely condemned by rights groups and the international community as seriously impairing the democratic process.
Khmer Time | VOA | PPP | Khmer Time | VOA | PPP
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Two former Radio Free Asia reporters, Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin, were arrested on 14 November 2017 and detained at Phnom Penh Municipal Police headquarters, with authorities confirming that the pair were under investigation for allegedly sending news reports to their former employer and radio broadcaster. On 18 November 2017 the pair were provisionally charged with espionage, a charge which carries a sentence of between 7 and 15 years. They were eventually released on bail in August 2018.
PPP | Khmer Time | VOA | PPP | Khmer Time | VOA
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Minister of Interior, Sar Kheng, asked provincial officials to create 'task forces' to monitor and prevent groups which may aim at toppling the government, asking such forces to 'crack down quickly' in such instances. As a result, CNRP activists were not allowed to travel to Phnom Penh to attend the Supreme Court's hearing about the dissolution of the CNRP.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Federation of Cambodian Intellectuals and Students was suspended for 60 days by the Interior Ministry for violating Article 24 of LANGO, requiring registered organizations to remain “politically neutral”, as a result of calling for peaceful demonstrations against the dissolution of the CNRP.
PPP | Khmer Time | VOD | RFA | PPP | Khmer Time | VOD | RFA
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s lawyer filed a lawsuit against former Deputy Prime Minister, Lu Lay Sreng, for defamation over comments made during a private phone conversation leaked to social media. In the conversation with Ky Lum Ang, who like Lay Sreng is a former Funcinpec official, he accused the royalist party of accepting payments in exchange for the seats they will receive if the opposition party is dissolved.
PPP | Khmer Time | PPP | Khmer Time
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Civil Society Organisations and approximately 100 people involved in land disputes, were prevented from marking World Habitat Day in Phnom Penh after the Municipal Governor Khuong Sreng sent a letter to citizen representatives saying the proposed celebrations posed a risk to security and public order.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
In a letter dispatched on 2 October 2017, the Ministry of Interior instructed provincial officials to urgently report any instances, in which activities were carried out by any NGOs or grassroots associations without prior notification, adding that authorities could stop any planned events if they affect “public order and national security”. The letter also stated that associations and NGOs wishing to conduct activities within the territory of a specific city or province have to inform the Ministry of Interior about the nature of the activity, no less than three days prior to it taking place.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Land rights NGO, Equitable Cambodia, was suspended by the Ministry of Interior for 30 working days over alleged violations of LANGO and the NGO’s own bylaws. The Ministry’s letter requested that Equitable Cambodia submit a bank account statement, its activity and financial reports, as well as its report regarding the land dispute with Phnom Penh Sugar company in Oddar Meanchey
PPP | VOA | Khmer Time | PPP | VOA | Khmer Time
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Kampong Speu
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Huy Oudom was arrested and charged under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code, which both relate to “provocation to commit crimes”, by Kratie Provincial Investigating Judge Than Khung, for singing and posting a song criticising Prime Minister Hun Sen back in 2013.
PPP | Khmer Time | PPP | Khmer Time
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Venerable Prum Thomacheat wrote a letter to the Ministry of Interior requesting that his name be removed as the head of environmental group, Mother Nature, and that the organisation be removed from the Ministry’s list. Co-founder, Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, stated that this decision was a result of the continued harassment of their activists. On 15 September 2017 the Interior Ministry removed Mother Nature from its list of registered NGOs.
PPP | Khmer Time | VOD | Fresh News | RFA | PPP | Khmer Time | VOD | Fresh News | RFA
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Koh Kong
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Two environmental activists from NGO Mother Nature were detained by Koh Kong provincial police. The pair were taking photos in Kiri Sakor district of a boat suspected to be preparing to export illegal silica sand from, within the Koh Kong special economic zone. The sand dredging boat was appeared to be operated by the LPY Group, owned by Senator Ly Yong Phat. The activists were convicted of violating the right to privacy and incitement to commit a felony and sentenced to one year prison but with a 7-month suspended sentence. The activists were released in February 2018 after being detained for five months.
Khmer Time | LICADHO | RFA | PPP | Khmer Time | LICADHO | RFA | PPP
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Senior government official, Kao Kim Hourn announced that Cambodia would form a joint “think tank” with China to investigate the existence of “color revolutions”. This term is used to describe protest movements in other jurisdictions, including the Middle East. Hourn stated that the think tank would be used to gain understanding of why these revolutions occur and submit recommendations on political policy.
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
Radio Free Asia closed its Phnom Penh office on 12 September 2017 after nearly 20 years, following failed attempts to resolve a tax compliance issue and a licensing dispute with the Ministry of Information. The US-funded RFA said it would continue to operate out of Washington, DC, United States.
Khmer Time | Fresh News | PPP | Khmer Time | Fresh News | PPP
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The English language newspaper, the Cambodia Daily, which often publishes articles critical of public policy, covering topics such as social issues, corruption and human rights violations, was forced to close its doors after a dispute involving a $6.3 million tax bill. Around the same time, its deputy publisher, Deborah Krisher-Steele, and general manager Douglas Steele, were prohibited from leaving the country. Krisher-Steele faced accusations of defamation for claiming that the tax department violated the law by speaking publicly about the newspaper's debts. The tax department froze the bank accounts of World Assistance for Cambodia and Japan Relief for Cambodia; two NGOs linked to Bernard Krisher, the founder of the Cambodia Daily.
RFA | PPP | VOA | Khmer Time | RFA | PPP | VOA | Khmer Time
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Phnom Penh
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Kem Sokha, the leader of the opposition CNRP, was arrested at his home by more than 100 policemen, despite him holding parliamentary immunity, and in the absence of any arrest warrant. The authorities stated that Kem Sokha was arrested “in flagrante delicto”, based on “a video clip broadcasted by the Cambodian Broadcasting Network, based in Australia, and other evidence collected by the competent authority”, dating from 2013, and which evidenced a “conspiracy between Kem Sokha and the accomplices with foreign power, which harms the Kingdom of Cambodia”. He was subsequently charged with treason under Article 443 (conspiracy with foreign power) of the Criminal Code of Cambodia.
CD | Khmer Time | PPP | Reuters | VOA | CD | Khmer Time | PPP | Reuters | VOA
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Phnom Penh
Restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association
The Ministry of Interior filed a request before the Supreme Court, asking it to dissolve nine political parties, alleging that they had violated the Law on Political Parties by failing to submit their annual reports to the Ministry. The parties concerned were: the Khmer People Party, the Khmer Citizens Party, the Khmer Society Party, the Sangkum Thmey Party, the Khmer Nationalism Party, the Neang Neak Neary Khmer Party, the Freedom Light Party, the Woman Rescue Cambodia Party and the Liberal Unification Party. The Court immediately suspended four parties: the Neang Neak Neary Khmer Party, Freedom Light Party, Woman Rescue Cambodia Party and Liberal Unification Party; and a further 11 parties were given warnings, and granted between 15 and 90 days to submit various paperwork to the Ministry, under threat of legal action.
Khmer Time | PPP | Khmer Time | PPP
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Ratanakirri
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Two journalists who used to work for the Cambodia Daily, Aun Pheap and Zsombor Peter, were charged with “incitement to commit a felony” over their commune election coverage in Ratanakkiri. They argue that the questions they asked were routine elections coverage. Their lawyer was only notified of the charges later, on 5 October 2017.