Prominent Rights Advocate Summoned for Court Questioning [-Corrupt officials are released while human rights defenders are summoned]

Chan Soveth (Photo: Ir Channa, RFI)

He is accused of aiding Bun Rotha, a village activist who helped organize a land protest in Kratie province in May.

14 August 2012

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

PHNOM PENH - Chan Saveth, a senior investigator for the rights group Adhoc, has received a summons from Phnom Penh Municipal Court to answer questions related to allegations he helped an alleged secessionist leave the country.

He is accused of aiding Bun Rotha, a village activist who helped organize a land protest in Kratie province in May that authorities have claimed was an uprising against the government.

That protest, which led to a violent crackdown by the authorities, and an alleged secessionist movement associated with it have been cited in the detention of Mam Sonando, the owner of Beehive Radio.

Chan Saveth, who is 44, said he appears to have been charged with crimes already, though the specific crimes remain unclear. “Based on the subpoena my wife read to me, it means I have been charged already, on what crime I don’t know,” he told VOA Khmer by phone.

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