FORUM-ASIA welcomes the release of five detained Cambodian activists. Yeng Virak, Director of the Community Legal Education Centre, was released on bail on January 11, 2006. On January 17, Kem Sokha, President of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR), Pa Guon Tieng, Director of (CCHR), Rong Chhun, President of the Teacher's Association, and Mam Sonando, journalist and owner of Beehive Radio Owner, were all released on bail and are pending trial.

However, we emphasize that freedom of expression and the promotion and protection of rights are inherent and inalienable human rights of all people, and enshrined under Cambodia's Constitution.FORUM-ASIA welcomes the release of five detained Cambodian activists. Yeng Virak, Director of the Community Legal Education Centre, was released on bail on January 11, 2006. On January 17, Kem Sokha, President of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR), Pa Guon Tieng, Director of (CCHR), Rong Chhun, President of the Teacher's Association, and Mam Sonando, journalist and owner of Beehive Radio Owner, were all released on bail and are pending trial.

However, we emphasize that freedom of expression and the promotion and protection of rights are inherent and inalienable human rights of all people, and enshrined under Cambodia's Constitution.

Both the Cambodian government and judiciary should demonstrate their commitment to implementing their international human rights obligations. This can be done by immediately dropping all charges of defamation against the five Cambodian activists mentioned above, in addition to all others who are unable to return to Cambodia due to similar charges.

Advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Mr. Om Yieng Teang, publicly stated on January 17 that the release was a "gift to US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Christopher Hill on the day of the US Embassy inauguration." The releases of the activists are not "gifts" to be given to persons on diplomatic occasions but should be carried out with due process.

The Cambodian government is obliged to respect human rights as enshrined in the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Cambodia has ratified, and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998) adopted by all UN member states including Cambodia.

The comments made on the arrests of Kem Sokha and Yeng Virak by Ambassador Chem Widhya, Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations, in the New York Times on January 15, do not provide adequate legal justification for the arrests. Defamation charges should not be used to suppress freedom of expression, and libel laws should not be misused regarding legitimate political expression.

The Cambodian authorities should also stop charging, arresting and detaining villagers, community leaders, activists, as well as those filing legalcomplaints to the courts regarding land grabbing. They should drop all charges and release all who are not in any way proven to have committed crimes.

For further information, please contact:

Anselmo Lee, Executive Director (+66 1 868 9178) ([email protected])
Manis Igawa, Cambodia Country Program (+66 2 391 8801) ([email protected])
Ruki Fernando, Human Rights Defenders Program (+66 4 099 1538) ([email protected])

For background info and updates on this issue, see: Freedom of Expression Losing Ground, a campaign page by LICADHO, a Cambodian Human Rights NGO. LICADHO is a member of FORUM-ASIA.