The Cambodian Human Rights Network Project
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Issue 3: December 2011 The Cambodian Human Rights Network Project Result Based Empowering A Quarterly Newsletter on Human Rights Activism www.cchrcambodia.org INTRODUCTION private person without title, under Articles 34 of This is the third issue of the Cambodian Center for the Cambodia Land Law. The people who came to Human Right’s (“CCHR”) Human Rights Network support the representatives came prepared for a Project (“the Project”) newsletter series. The purpose of the Project Newsletter is to provide interested long protest in the event the men were arrested. stakeholders with an update on the implementation The four men were placed under judicial and activities of the Project. Implementation of the supervision, under Article 223 of the Criminal Project includes a number of activities such as Procedure Code, but were released after increasing the capacity of Project participants through questioning. training on human rights, monitoring and documentation, advocacy, trial monitoring and - Community Joint-Statement on Land Issue: On 2 organizational development and the provision of September 2011, approximately 200 people, who assistance to Project participants in their execution of were Project participants, from six land activities in the promotion and protection of human communities in the districts of Varin, Chi Kraeng, rights. The Project is currently being implemented in Prasat Bakong and Banteay Srei in Siem Reap the provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and provincegathered in Tbaeng commune, Banteay Siem Reap. The Project seeks to link participants in the Srei district, Siem Reap province. The communities target provinces in order to create a culture of issued a joint-statement which criticized the cooperation amongst all Project participants. The negative way in which land issues are being ultimate aim of the Project is to place participants in a resolved by the authorities in Siem Reap. The position where they can act as change makers, carrying statement also criticized the eviction of human out activities in the promotion and protection of rights defender, Venerable Loun Sovath, from human rights. pagodas in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap provinces; decisions handed down by the Buddhist Supreme VISIBLE EFFECT FROM EMPOWERMENT Patriarch Non Nget and Siem Reap’s senior monk As previously stated, the Project’s goal is to empower Pich San. the participants through capacity building and the transferring of skills and knowledge. Through the training, participants are empowered to monitor and document human rights abuses and to advocate for the resolution of issues that arise in their communities. The following are some of the activities undertaken by Project participants in recent months: - Gathering in front of the Siem Reap court: On 6 October 2011, over 300 people from seven different land communities from across four Community forum organized by Project districts in Siem Reap province, who have participants participated in training, gathered at the provincial - Meeting to vote for Dounba Land Community court to show their support for four community representatives, Vich Vy, Pak Rin, Nia Kleuk and In Representatives: On 4 October 2011, with the Sin. The representatives are currently involved in a purpose of strengthening and improving the long running land dispute in Skun village, Tbaeng solidarity between groups struggling against land commune, Banteay Srei district, and were grabbing, a meeting was held in Dounba summonsed for questioning under the charge of commune, Kaos Krala district, Battambang being a new occupant on immovable property of province. The meeting was between 6 different land communities from the district and was held in Cambodia Criminal Code respectively. On 26 order to vote for representatives, four people were October 2011, the Siem Reap Court ordered that voted to represent the six communities. At the the 67 dismissed workers from Angkor Village meeting, Seng Somet, Srouch Heak, Im Sam Oeun Botanical Resort Hotel be restated to their original and Khoeun Sareth were voted as Dounba land positions. The court’s decision has not yet been community representatives. Following the vote, Im implemented but the workers plan to continue Sam Oeun and another five land activists in the their demonstrations until implementation is area were summoned for questioning at affected. Battambang Court First Instance under the charge COMMUNITY FORUMS of Article 410 of the Cambodia Criminal Code, Since our establishment in 2002, CCHR has conducted Intentionally Causing Damage. The charge resulted public forums throughout Cambodia providing from a protest by the communities against land communities with a platform to address concerns and grabbing which was carried out on 22 July 2010. ask questions to invited guest speakers; individuals The summons was dated 17 October 2011, two who are generally in a position to affect a positive days after CCHR held a public forum in the area. change in the lives of the people who attend the The six land activists received the summons on 25 forums or who are a position to provide expert October 2011, only two days before the date on guidance and advice. Under the Project, CCHR seeks to empower Project participants to conduct their own which they were expected before the investigating forums – known as Community Forums. In recent judge. Fortunately, due to the intervention and months, Project participants have conducted a number assistance from one Project participant and the of Community Forums to highlight issues affecting Project staff, the court accepted a request to delay their communities and to seek the resolution of human the date of questioning. However, the court rights concerns. The following are examples of ordered that the questioning would take place only Community Forums conducted by Project participants: a few days later, on 3 November 2011. After the - On 24 August 2011, the Independent Democratic two-hour questioning, with legal representation for Informal Economic Association (IDEA) provided by CCHR, the six charged land activists organized a Community Forum on Human Rights were allowed to return back home. and Working Conditions of Informal Workers in Poipet city, Banteay Meanchey province. - Tourism & Service Workers Federation: On 5 - On 2 September 2011, the fishery community of October 2011, the Cambodia Tourism & Service Kampong Kleang commune, Soutr Nikum district, Workers Federation (CTSWF), a number of Siem Reap province held a Community Forum members of which are Project participants, related to Fishery Law and fishery rights. organized a peaceful demonstration in front of the Angkor Village and Angkor Village Botanical Resort - On 15 October 2011, the Andoung Kantout community in Battambang Province organized a Hotel to protest the dismissal of 67 workers. The Public forum on Human Rights and Development. goal of the protest was to ensure that the dismissed workers could return to work. On 30 CONTACT August 2011 the Arbitration Council responded to Any suggestions, feedbacks, or more the protest and ordered the two owners of the hotel to reinstate the workers, but the owners For information, please contact us by: Tel : (855) 23 726 901 rejected this request. As a result of the advocacy Fax : (855) 23 726 902 process the authorities supported the protesters, Mail : PO Box 2515 ordering the hotel’s owners to find a proper Email : [email protected] solution for the workers. Related to this case, 35 workers including three of CTSWF leaders Morm CCHR is a non-aligned, independent, non- Rithy, Ran Ravann and Ly Linda were summonsed governmental organization that works to for questioning on 15 September 2011 at the Siem promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout the Kingdom of Reap Provincial Court under the charges of Cambodia. Incitement to Commit Felony and Intentionally Causing Damaging, Article 495 and 410 of the .