Taking to the Streets: Freedom of Peaceful Assembly in Cambodia

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Taking to the Streets: Freedom of Peaceful Assembly in Cambodia TAKING TO THE STREETS FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY IN CAMBODIA Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations. First published in 2015 by Amnesty International Ltd Peter Benenson House 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW United Kingdom © Amnesty International 2015 Index: ASA 23/1506/2015 Original language: English Printed by Amnesty International, International Secretariat, United Kingdom All rights reserved. This publication is copyright, but may be reproduced by any method without fee for advocacy, campaigning and teaching purposes, but not for resale. The copyright holders request that all such use be registered with them for impact assessment purposes. For copying in any other circumstances, or for reuse in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the publishers, and a fee may be payable. To request permission, or for any other inquiries, please contact [email protected] Cover photo: 22 December 2013: Thousands of demonstrators, including Buddhist monks and opposition party supporters, march in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom 2013 amnesty.org CONTENTS GLOSSARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. 5 1. PROTESTS ON THE RISE ........................................................................................ 11 1.1 DIVERSE VOICES AND ISSUES .......................................................................... 14 1.2 WEAK INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIAL CHANGE ...................................................... 21 2. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................... 23 2.1 FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY - INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS ............... 23 2.2 FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY - NATIONAL LAW ....................................... 26 3. ARBITRARY RESTRICTIONS ON PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY ............................................ 30 3.1 THE LAW: EXCESSIVE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ....... 30 3.2 NEGATIVE RESPONSES TO NOTIFICATION ......................................................... 33 3.3 OBSTRUCTION AND DISPERSAL OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLIES ............................. 37 3.4 RESTRICTIONS ON MEETINGS, TRAININGS AND FORUMS ................................. 40 4. UNNECESSARY AND EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE ..................................................... 47 4.1 INTERNATIONAL LAW AND STANDARDS ON THE USE OF FORCE AND FIREARMS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ......................................................................... 49 4.2 NATIONAL LAW AND STANDARDS ON THE USE OF FORCE AND FIREARMS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ...................................................................................... 50 4.3 USE OF FORCE BY AUXILIARIES OF THE STATE ................................................. 51 4.4 TARGETING OF JOURNALISTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS ........................ 59 4.5 PUNITIVE FORCE IN CARRYING OUT ARRESTS .................................................. 62 4.6 MISUSE OF EQUIPMENT AND USE OF INAPPROPRIATE WEAPONS ..................... 65 4.7 UNJUSTIFIED USE OF LETHAL FORCE ............................................................... 67 5. IMPUNITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ......................................................... 77 5.1 LAW AND STANDARDS ON ACCOUNTABILITY FOR UNNECESSARY OR EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE ...................................................................................................... 78 5.2 LAW AND STANDARDS ON RIGHT TO A REMEDY ............................................... 81 5.3 INADEQUATE CONSIDERATION OF COMPLAINTS ............................................... 82 5.4 LACK OF TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION .......................................................... 86 5.5 FAILURE TO ENFORCE CONVICTION OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ....................... 92 6. JUDICIAL HARASSMENT ........................................................................................ 95 6.1 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND STANDARDS .................................. 97 6.2 NATIONAL LAW AND STANDARDS ..................................................................... 99 6.3 ARBITRARY ARRESTS AND DETENTIONS ........................................................ 101 6.4 FABRICATED OR TRUMPED UP CHARGES ....................................................... 103 6.5 FLAWED OR UNFAIR TRIALS .......................................................................... 108 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................. 113 GLOSSARY ACSC/APF ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum ADHOC Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association AGPA ASEAN Grassroots People’s Assembly ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations CCFC Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community CCHR Cambodian Center for Human Rights CCIM Cambodian Center for Independent Media CCPC Code of Criminal Procedure of the Kingdom of Cambodia CNRP Cambodian National Rescue Party, the main opposition party which won 55 of 123 seats in the July 2013 national elections CPN Community Peacebuilding Network CPP Cambodian People’s Party, the ruling party which won 68 of 123 seats in the July 2013 national elections CYN Cambodian Youth Network Freedom Parks Introduced under the 2009 Law on Peaceful Demonstrations as areas designated for “peaceful assembly or public expression” ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ICPED International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance IDEA Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association ILO International Labour Organization LAC Labour Advisory Committee, established under the 1997 Labour Law LEMNA Law on the Election of Members of the National Assembly LICADHO Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights LPD Law on Peaceful Demonstrations, enacted in December 2009 NGO Non-governmental organization NRPG Natural Resource Protection Group OHCHR Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Para-police State auxiliaries, also known as district or private security guards, involved in policing assemblies RCAF Royal Cambodian Armed Forces SR on assembly UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful and association assembly and of association SR on Cambodia UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Cambodia SR on summary UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions executions SRSG on HRDs UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights UN United Nations UN Basic UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Principles Enforcement Officials UN Code of UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials Conduct UN Convention UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or against Torture Degrading Treatment or Punishment UN Principles on UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra- Summary Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions Executions TAKING TO THE STREETS 5 FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY IN CAMBODIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY “After they beat me on the back I became like a dead fish. They held me in a standing position and then jumped and gave me a hard kick in the chest. Then they were all standing around me in order to block photographs from journalists. They made a circle, with me in the middle, and punched and beat me some more.” Yong Sok Chea, a 17-year-old garment worker arrested and beaten by gendarmes on Veng Sreng Street, Phnom Penh on 2 January 20141 At the end of 2013, a series of demonstrations erupted in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, culminating in late December in several mass protests over disputed national election results and calls for a higher increase in the minimum wage paid to garment workers.2 Supporters of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), the main opposition party, converged with thousands of striking workers and other disaffected groups. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Phnom Penh to demand changes to Cambodia’s political, social and economic status quo. In early January 2014, with the demonstrations gaining momentum and a planned CNRP-led march expected to attract perhaps hundreds of thousands of people, the authorities and security forces used unnecessary and excessive force to end the demonstrations. On 2 January 2014, military soldiers violently clashed with striking workers at Yakjin (Cambodia) Inc. factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh; and on 3 January, four people were shot dead when security forces opened fire on demonstrators on the capital’s Veng Sreng Street where an assembly had turned violent. A fifth individual – 16-year-old Khem Saphath – was last seen lying on that street with an apparent gunshot wound to his chest and remains 1 Interview with Yong Sok Chea, 11 July 2014. 2 On 24 December 2013, the government announced that the minimum wage in Cambodia’s garment sector would be increased from US $80 to US $95 per
Recommended publications
  • Cambodia Prepares for New Fight: the Intellectual War Against Drugs and Crime
    ODCCP Eastern Horizons News on the fi ght against drugs and crime No. 8 in East Asia and the Pacifi c December 2001 Cambodia Prepares For New Fight: The Intellectual War Against Drugs And Crime Myanmar Stars Against Drugs International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Traffi cking A Time For Leadership In The Fight Against The HIV Epidemic Business And Labour Responds To HIV/AIDS Targetting Illicit Profi ts Goes To Scale The Marginalisation Of Substance-abusing Street Children FIGHTING AGAINST DRUGS Cambodia Prepares for New Fight: THE INTELLECTUAL WAR Against Drugs and Crime P.M. Hun Sen met ODCCP delegation on 26 September Following the terrorist attacks of 4 to the deep-sea port of Sihanoukville and September 11, 2001, in the U.S.A., the Road Number 5 to Northwest Cambodia borders of Afghanistan have been closed and onwards to Thailand, are all likely to to all forms of trade, both legal and see a dramatic increase in illicit drug move- illegal. Consequently, it is possible that ments in the coming months as the impact the production and traffi cking of illicit of Afghanistan’s isolation hits hard on the drugs in the Golden Crescent, which drug production and traffi cking gangs. The includes Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, on-going rehabilitation of the road linking will move to other areas of the world, in Phnom Penh with Koh Kong and the Thai particular to the Golden Triangle. Province of Trat is also certain to see a large increase in the fl ow of drugs. he Golden Triangle, which encom- passes Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and At a meeting held in Phnom Penh with the Yunnan Province of China, has UNDCP Representative for East Asia and T used with permission.
    [Show full text]
  • Prime Minister Sends Park Packing
    Phnom Penh Post - Prime Minister sends park packing A 2013 Cambodia National Rescue Party at Freedom Park. Vireak Mai Prime Minister sends park packing Wed, 7 December 2016 Lay Samean Freedom Park, the 1-hectare public square in the centre of Phnom Penh that the government in November 2010 designated as the city’s sole authorised zone for protests, is set to be moved next to a petrol warehouse along National Road 5, officials said yesterday. The relocation was first announced in a morning speech by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who said moving the protest zone to the outskirts would help beautify the city. Yet the opposition CNRP, which has made liberal use of the park in the past, criticised the decision. Speaking at the 18th Disabled Persons’ Day at Koh Pich, Hun Sen said he had been in contact with Phnom Penh’s governor about the effort to move Freedom Park somewhere less visible, adding that the relocation would have no impact on freedom of expression. “Recently, I called Pa Soche-atvong, because now we will perhaps not keep Freedom Park in the middle of the capital creating problems. [Interior Minister] Sar Kheng told Pa Socheatvong to look for a new Freedom Park,” Hun Sen told his audience. “It will possibly be on National Road 5, at Kilometre 6, and we will transform that location into a public park,” he said. “The gatherings will not be different from the current ones, since people don’t go to look there, they watch it via broadcasts or Facebook.” City Hall spokesman Mean Chanyada said authorities had not settled on the exact location along National Road 5 for the new Freedom Park but that a large Sokimex gas station not far from the Chroy Changvar bridge was the preferred location.
    [Show full text]
  • Corruption, Violence and Gender 1
    Corruption, Violence and Gender 1 Corruption, Violence and Gender A critical look at police behaviour and a path to reform in Cambodia Elizabeth Johnson 2 Corruption, Violence and Gender Corruption, Violence and Gender 3 This paper was presented at the 23rd World Congress of Political Science, International Political Science Association (IPSA), 19 July 2014, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Written by Elizabeth Johnson 4 Corruption, Violence and Gender Corruption, Violence and Gender 5 ©Krishan Rajapakshe 6 Corruption, Violence and Gender Corruption, Violence and Gender 7 Abstract I. Introduction A country still transitioning to democracy, Cambodia needs a reliable police force Cambodia has made significant development gains since the 1991 Peace Agreements to uphold the rule of law and instill confidence in the governance system among the were signed, following decades of turmoil.1 Greater numbers of children are accessing country’s people. To this end, significant donor and government resources have been primary education.2 The rate of diseases including tuberculosis and malaria has fallen.3 spent for initiatives creating new institutional rules and providing police training to boost The economy is growing at an annual rate of 7 per cent.4 capacity. In reality however, the police force is still perceived as one of the country’s most corrupt institutions. Moreover, acts of police brutality against civilians continue to occur, Despite these achievements, democracy remains limited.5 The institutions necessary to demonstrated during recent land eviction protests and demonstrations following the re- uphold a democratic system have insufficient capacity, resources and expertise.6 In par- lease of the highly contested results of the 28 July 2013 national election.
    [Show full text]
  • CAMBODIA: Opposition Leader Mu Sochua -- "It's Morally Wrong to Stay Complicit" with an Oppressor
    CAMBODIA: Opposition leader Mu Sochua -- "It's morally wrong to stay complicit" with an oppressor May 1, 2012 Contributors: Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth , ARHC An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission I wrote in my last article in this space of the accumulating circumstances that compel a change in the current leadership of Cambodia. In Cambodia, the rich are getting richer while one-third of the population lives on less than US$0.61 per day. Many survive on what they scavenge from garbage dumps only blocks from the lavish homes of the wealthy. Those who live in rural areas, too, are losing economic ground, and most are impoverished. Considering Cambodia's estimated annual population growth rate of 1.7 percent (compared with France, 0.5 percent or England, 0.2 percent) and the slow increase of Cambodia's GDP per capita, it would seem that Cambodians will continue to struggle against a tide of poverty for the foreseeable future. Odom, an unemployed university graduate in Cambodia, armed with World Bank statistics on Gross National Income per capita between 2007 and 2010, reminds me that Cambodia remains the poorest country among its neighbors: a Lao is on average richer than a Cambodian by a ratio of 1.24 to 1, a Malay, 10.51 to 1, and a Singaporean, 53.03 to 1; in 2010, a Thai had an income 1.4 time higher than the incomes of a Vietnamese, a Lao and a Cambodian combined. Martin Hutchinson's "Cambodia must solve two big problems for takeoff" (Reuters) asserts that "Feeding, educating and housing ever more Cambodians will be a challenge," but zeroes in on "Corruption as the real enemy" and cites Transparency International's Corruption Index ranking of Cambodia as among "the worst global slums." Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC), a founder of Western civilization, warns in Politics, "The passion for equality is at the root of revolution." An established general theory links inequality and violent rebellion.
    [Show full text]
  • Corporate Land-Grabbing & Fabricated Charges in Cambodia: What
    Corporate Land-Grabbing & Fabricated Charges in Cambodia: What Can Canadian Lawyers Do? Canadian Bar Association International Assistance Section Vancouver, BC, Canada Catherine Morris1 February 12, 2014 Speaking notes I have been invited to speak to your section about the work of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), a committee of Canadian lawyers who campaign on a pro bono basis for lawyers and other human rights defenders around the world who are threatened as a result of their advocacy. LRWC also conducts research and education to promote the independence of lawyers and judges and the integrity of legal systems. The best way for me to illustrate the work of LRWC is to tell you about some of my own work on Cambodia. I will discuss three cases in which LRWC intervened in Cambodia. I will conclude by summarizing what LRWC does around the world and mentioning two major challenges we face in our work. First, I will provide some briefly background about Cambodia. Background on Cambodia The first things that often come to mind about Cambodia are the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge period from 1974-1979 when close to a quarter of the population perished or was slaughtered. Canadian lawyers interested in Cambodia tend to focus on the Khmer Rouge tribunal that is working to hold top leaders of that regime accountable.2 While this is important, it will not be the focus of my talk today. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the Khmer Rouge period and its aftermath continue to form the violent backdrop for happenings in Cambodia today.
    [Show full text]
  • LEGAL ANALYSIS: the Case of the Kingdom of Cambodia V. Mu Sochua
    May 2010 LEGAL ANALYSIS: The Case of the Kingdom of Cambodia v. Mu Sochua LEGAL ANALYSIS: THE CASE OF THE KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA V. MU SOCHUA A Report by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) May 2010 Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) The CCHR is a non-political, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia. For more information contact: Cambodian Center for Human Rights #798, Street 99 Boeng Trabek, Chamkarmon Phnom Penh Cambodia. Email: [email protected] Tel: 023726901 Fax: 023726902 Web: http://www.cchrcambodia.org/ Table of Contents INTRODUCTION AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................. 1 THE FACTS ................................................................................................................................... 1 April 4 Speech by the Complainant............................................................................................ 1 Relevant past incidents ............................................................................................................... 2 Interpretation of the April 4 Speech .................................................................................. 2 The Applicant’s response to the April 4 Speech ................................................................. 3 Subsequent events .............................................................................................................. 3 THE LAW .....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Prisoners of Conscience/Human Rights Defenders at Risk 06 January 2006
    PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 23/002/2006 UA 06/05 Prisoners of conscience/human rights defenders at risk 06 January 2006 KINGDOM OF Kem Sokha (m), President, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) CAMBODIA Yeng Virak (m), Director, Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) Pa Nguon Teang (m), CCHR Acting Director/Radio Director Rong Chhun (m), President, Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association (CITA) Mam Sonando (m), Director, Beehive Radio Chea Mony (m), President, Free Trade Union of Workers Ea Channa (m), Deputy Secretary-General, Students’ Movement for Democracy Men Nath (m), President, Cambodian Independent Civil Servants Association Prince Sisowath Thomico (m), Secretary to former King Sihanouk Say Bory (m), Advisor to former King Sihanouk The Cambodian authorities are cracking down on critics of the government, taking legal action against them that appears to be politically motivated. The first five people named above have been arrested, and are facing trial on charges that carry sentences of up to five years' imprisonment. The authorities are seeking the second five. Other human rights defenders and perceived critics of the government are feared to be at risk of arrest, and many have gone into hiding or fled the country. This latest crackdown on freedom of expression was sparked by criticism of a controversial border deal reached with Viet Nam by Prime Minister Hun Sen in October 2005. Hun Sen said at the time that he would sue anyone who accused him of "selling territory", and since then a government lawyer has filed charges of "defamation", "incitement to commit a crime" and "disinformation" against civil society groups, people close to the former king, and human rights defenders.
    [Show full text]
  • New Year's Babies Expected to Live Longer, Unicef Says
    WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3583 / 4000 RIEL PHNOM PENH POLICE GDT: TAX REVENUE EMERGENCY IMPOSED CEASE IMPOUNDING COLLECTION NEAR IN MALAYSIA TO CURB BIG MOTORCYCLES $3 BILLION IN 2020 SPREAD OF COVID-19 NATIONAL – page 2 BUSINESS – page 7 WORLD – page 10 Littered face New Year’s babies expected masks pose fatal hazard to live longer, UNICEF says for wildlife MASKS that helped save lives Long Kimmarita during the Covid-19 pandem- ic are proving a deadly hazard NICEF has estimated that for wildlife, with birds and nearly 1,000 babies were marine creatures ensnared in born on January 1 this year the staggering number of dis- in the Kingdom, and their carded facial coverings litter- Upredicted life expectancy of 81 years ing animal habitats. is significantly higher than the gen- Single-use surgical masks erations before them. have been found scattered Marking its 75th anniversary, around pavements, waterways UNICEF has dedicated this year to and beaches worldwide since “reimagining a better world for chil- countries began mandating dren”, noting in a press release on New their use in public places to Year’s day that an anticipated 371,504 slow the pandemic’s spread. babies would be born worldwide on Worn once, the thin protec- that day to inaugurate the new year. tive materials can take hun- Over half of those births were pre- dreds of years to decompose. dicted to take place in just 10 coun- “Face masks aren’t going away tries: India (59,995), China (35,615), any time soon – but when we Nigeria (21,439), Pakistan (14,161), throw them away, these items Indonesia (12,336), Ethiopia (12,006), can harm the environment and the US (10,312), Egypt (9,455), Bang- the animals who share our plan- ladesh (9,236) and the Democratic et,” Ashley Fruno of US-based Republic of the Congo (8,640).
    [Show full text]
  • VIA EMAIL [email protected] and [email protected] November
    Perseus Strategies 1775 K St. NW, Suite 680 Washington, D.C. 20006 Jared Genser and Brian Tronic [email protected] T +1 202.466.3069 VIA EMAIL [email protected] and [email protected] November 23, 2020 Ms. Rhona Smith UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais Wilson 52 rue des Pâquis CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland Ms. Irene Khan UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais Wilson 52 rue des Pâquis CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland RE: Request for URGENT ACTION – Forthcoming Trial of Cambodian-American Human Rights Lawyer and Advocate Theary Seng – November 26, 2020 Dear Ms. Smith and Ms. Khan, We are writing with this request for urgent action on behalf of our client, Theary Seng, a prominent Cambodian-American human rights lawyer and democracy advocate who has been summoned to appear in court for trial on November 26, 2020, to answer criminal charges of “incitement to create social disorder” and “conspiracy to commit treason.” Approximately 60 other people have also been summoned to appear on that day – most are members of the banned opposition and non-violent Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). The charges against Ms. Seng are politically motivated and directly connected to her political and social advocacy. Over the past 20 years, she has established herself as an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen, both domestically and internationally. Ms. Seng has been a leader in Cambodia’s civil society since 2006 and is widely known for her involvement in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.
    [Show full text]
  • GMAC Sues EU Court for Withdrawing EBA Scheme
    R 3508 E MB U N SSUE I MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL HUNGARIAN MAN INFLATION RATE FRANCe’s MACRON: EXPOSES 90 TO STILL 3% DESPITE ‘It’s CLEAR BELARUS COVID IN S REAP ‘sagging ECONOMy’ LEADER Has to go’ NATIONAL – page 5 BUSINESS – page 6 WORLD – page 9 Chikungunya outbreak suspected in Kandal Long Kimmarita in a remote area bordering Prey Veng ing, another one, who we have required Among the nearly 6,000 suspected Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng province, far from health centres, while to undergo treatment. Some others cases reported through dengue sur- advised people to exercise caution AT LEAST 100 people in Prek Russey the road to the village is difficult to trav- were just suspected to have it, and veillance systems nationwide, more and eliminate all mosquito shelters commune’s Peam Sdey village in Kan- el on due to recent flooding. some had a rash, but it has healed.” than 80 per cent were from Siem Reap, around their homes. dal province’s Lvea Em district have Authorities have arranged for those In a Ministry of Health press release Takeo and Preah Vihear provinces. He also suggested people sleep in sought medical assistance since Satur- suspected of having chikungunya to published on Sunday, spokesperson Or Statistics showed that 54 per cent mosquito nets and wear clothes day and are suspected of being infect- stay in a pagoda hall. Vandine said that since the outbreak of the cases involved adults, 31 per which cover the skin.
    [Show full text]
  • Cambodia and Major Powers 173 CHAPTER 10 – Conclusion 199
    Table of Content EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 CHAPTER 1 – Civil and Political Rights 5 PART 1: Repression of Political Opposition 6 PART 2: Persecution of the Memorialization of Kem Ley 24 PART 3: LANGO and CSO Freedom 28 CHAPTER 2 – Media and Press Freedoms 40 PART 1: The Media Landscape 44 PART 2: Laws and Policies 48 PART 3: Criminalization of Press and Journalism 58 CHAPTER 3 – Labor Rights and Politics 71 PART 1: Key Policy Issues for Labor 72 PART 2: Trade Union Law 75 PART 3: The Tripartite National Council on Minimum Wage 80 PART 4: Right to Strike 84 PART 5: Status of Legal Prosecution of Unionists 97 PART 6: International Brands and Labor Associations 103 PART 7: Remedying Violence Against Unionists – Remembering Chea Vichea 106 CHAPTER 4 – The Legislative Branch 108 CHAPTER 5 – The Judicial Branch 118 PART 1: Lack of Justice 120 PART 2: Legal Reform 124 PART 3: Legal Aid 130 CHAPTER 6 – The Executive Branch 135 CHAPTER 7 – Democratic Elections 148 PART 1: 2019 Sub-national Elections 148 PART 2: 2019 Voter Registration 155 CHAPTER 8 – The EU and EBA Status 158 CHAPTER 9 – Cambodia and Major Powers 173 CHAPTER 10 – Conclusion 199 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Democracy in Cambodia was assessed on how to decline in 2019. The ruling party consolidated its hegemony over the political system, and there were no significant improvements in liberal pluralism. As outlined in this report, important reforms occurred in different areas; however, reforms were not sufficient in any areas to meet the standards of an established democratic system. Improvements were made to laws, but there are still significant problems with existing legislation.
    [Show full text]
  • Off the Streets RIGHTS Arbitrary Detention and Other Abuses Against Sex Workers in Cambodia WATCH
    Cambodia HUMAN Off the Streets RIGHTS Arbitrary Detention and Other Abuses against Sex Workers in Cambodia WATCH Off the Streets Arbitrary Detention and Other Abuses against Sex Workers in Cambodia Copyright © 2010 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 1-56432-661-6 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA Tel: +1 212 290 4700, Fax: +1 212 736 1300 [email protected] Poststraße 4-5 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 2593 06-10, Fax: +49 30 2593 0629 [email protected] Avenue des Gaulois, 7 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: + 32 (2) 732 2009, Fax: + 32 (2) 732 0471 [email protected] 64-66 Rue de Lausanne 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 738 0481, Fax: +41 22 738 1791 [email protected] 2-12 Pentonville Road, 2nd Floor London N1 9HF, UK Tel: +44 20 7713 1995, Fax: +44 20 7713 1800 [email protected] 27 Rue de Lisbonne 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33 (1)43 59 55 35, Fax: +33 (1) 43 59 55 22 [email protected] 1630 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 500 Washington, DC 20009 USA Tel: +1 202 612 4321, Fax: +1 202 612 4333 [email protected] Web Site Address: http://www.hrw.org July 2010 1-56432-661-6 Off the Streets Arbitrary Detention and Other Abuses against Sex Workers in Cambodia Maps .................................................................................................................................. 1 I. Summary ......................................................................................................................... 4 Key Recommendations .................................................................................................. 11 II. Methodology ................................................................................................................ 12 III. Sex Work in Cambodia ..................................................................................................14 Numbers and Origins ....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]