Cambodia - Harassment of human rights defender Venerable Loun Savath

On 24 May 2012, at approximately 10am, human rights defender Venerable Loun Savath was briefly arrested by policemen and army officers for his participation in a demonstration calling for the release of thirteen women from Boeung Kak Lake communities. Venerable Loun Sovath is a Buddhist monk and works for the defence of land rights, including speaking out against land grabs and evictions in Cambodia. He has also been active in his support for Boeung Kak Lake villagers, who are fighting against an eviction order to prevent the private development of the area. Venerable Luon Sovath is the recipient of the Hellman-Hammett Award and is a finalist for this year Martin Ennals Human Rights Award.

On 24 May 2012, Venerable Loun Savath attended a protest outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court calling for the release of thirteen women from Boeung Kak Lake, who had been detained without charge for 48 hours. Up to one hundred people were reportedly present at the protest. It is reported that Venerable Luon Sovath was forced into an unmarked Land Cruiser by police men and army officers. He was taken to Wat Botum Pagoda, where he was detained by police and officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Cults and Religion until he was released at 8pm. It is reported that he was forced to sign a document stating that he will no longer be involved in human rights work.

The thirteen women (Ms Kong Chantha, Ms Tol Sreypov, Ms Tep Vanny, Ms Pov Sophea, Ms Suong Samai, Ms Pan Chhunret, Ms Heng Nom, Ms Chan Navy, Ms Po Davy, Ms Nguon Kimleang, Ms Song Sreyleap, Ms Chheng Leap and Ms Nget Kun) have been active in leading protests against the eviction of Boeung Kak Lake villagers. They were convicted by Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of inciting others to take land illegally under Article 504 of the Penal Code and obtaining land illegally under Articles 34 and 259 of the Land Law Act, after being detained without charge for a period of 48 hours. Seven of the women have been sentenced to two years and six months in prison, five women have been sentenced to two years and one woman has been sentenced to a one year prison sentence.

Venerable Loun Sovath has received threats over the past number of years due to his human rights and land rights work in Cambodia. In 2011, the defender was banned from entering all pagodas in Phnom Penh. On 1 April 2011, Venerable Loun Sovath attended a peaceful gathering of NGOs, media and Boeung Kak Lake representatives in front of Phnom Penh municipal office. Police attempted to arrest the defender, however a large group of friends walked with him to prevent him being arrested.

Front Line Defenders is concerned at the detention of Venerable Loun Savath while he was attending a peaceful protest in support of Boeung Kak Lake villagers, and views this action as part of an ongoing campaign of harassment against the human rights defender.

Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Cambodia to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally cease all forms of harassment against Venerable Loun Savath;
2. Take all necessary measures to ensure that Venerable Loun Savath is free to carry out his legitimate and peaceful human rights work in Cambodia;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Cambodia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.