Free Mrs. Yorm Bopha! Apply the Rule of Laws!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Cambodia’s green retreat [... that is slowly shrinking]

Top: Koh Kong remains rich in natural resources, beautiful waterfalls and mountain views. Bottom: Cambodian children at play are among the local villagers travellers will meet.

Tourists can enjoy the traditional style of living in a homestay lodge.

Guests can jump from their own private floating villa into a crystal-clear jungle river.

Jungle resorts in Koh Kong offer an authentic and welcome eco-tourism experience in a country where dredging and dam-building are wreaking havoc.

18 Feb 2013

Bangkok Post

With the tourist trail expanding across the key provinces of Cambodia, there is certainly a fair share of places from boutique hotels to high-end resorts for visitors to crash, but it is perhaps the eco-conscious options that are drawing the most attention from travellers.

Like Thailand 40 years ago, the rapid pace of new developments in the tourism sector has led some people to focus their attention on the remaining natural assets. A new class of visitors is hiking past the main attractions of Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh and toward little-seen frontiers yet to be touched by the mainstream. Koh Kong province is where many of them go.

The heart of the Cambodian jungle, Koh Kong is full of stunning wildlife and equally impressive waterfalls and rivers, all running through the beautiful Cardamom Mountains. Visitors can choose to either stay in town on the cheap or book resorts located in centre of it all, kayaking passed untouched mangroves, exploring the local fishing villages, or hiking nature trails in the tropical rainforest.

Others will choose yet to take a boat ride out to the pristine and virtually vacant beaches of Koh Kong Island or take to the rapids of O’bak Retes.

Koh Kong is undoubtedly filled with appeal for any nature enthusiast, but for all of its beauty the area is also the location of ongoing and rampant ecological crimes. Endless sand dredging threatens to collapse the river banks, while invasive construction on Chinese-funded hydropower dam projects has taken hold in the province. They are a sombre reminder to visitors that choosing to participate in ecological tourism is just as important as enjoying it.

The first step is choosing environmentally conscious accommodations. Luckily there are at least two.

4 RIVERS FLOATING LODGE

Located along the Tatai River, 4 Rivers Floating Lodge offers a quiet and relaxing experience with the jungle. Imagine jumping from your own private floating villa into one of the crystal-clear freshwater jungle rivers with little else than the towering trees and the sounds of the water and rich birdlife to keep you company.

With luxurious accommodations, you can grab a kayak or fishing rod and enjoy the calm current of the river. There are also guided tours to nearby mangroves and nightly boat rides to admire trees filled to the brim with fireflies. But that is only part of it.

In an effort to keep close ties with the local communities, the staff work hard to make sure they acquire as much of their food and supplies from local merchants. They also keep in constant contact with local authorities and conservationists to make sure that the area stays as pristine and untouched as possible.

“ [Conservation is] very important. We have guests who are really eco-nuts to the extreme, but it is not easy to teach the local people to not throw rubbish in the water,” said Anna Pawlik-Szocs, general manager of 4 Rivers Floating Lodge.

She and her husband opened the 12-tent resort in 2009 with a $2-million investment.

“Right now, we are trying to figure out how we can cut energy costs, so we are trying to build a floating structure to install solar panels, which need to be heavy and stable enough to float,” she said.

On the 4 Rivers floating village tour, you get a chance to meet local fishermen and their families, as well as see their community and purchase local crabs, which the resort’s staff will then prepare for you at supper.

But if seafood is not your first choice, then 4 Rivers prepares a lovely three-course menu each night with various healthy food choices featuring some great Khmer-fusion and western meals including caprice salad, prawns in Koh Kong sauce or a succulent steak with the always crowd-pleasing Kampot peppers.

RAINBOW LODGE

Another option also located on the Tatai is a fantastic eco-resort called Rainbow Lodge. Embedded in the heart of the jungle only a hundred metres from the river, these land-side bungalows are surrounded by jungle. Sit on your own private porch and swing from a hammock with a drink as the sun sets over the noisy and frenetic jungle.

With its own solar panels, the lodge generates its own electricity, and without refrigeration, the meals you eat are all natural and fresh with vegetables and meat bring brought in from the local towns.

“Because [the lodge is completely immersed] in nature is a definite plus point for visitors since there are lots of opportunities for doing adventurous activities, relaxing, and involvement with the local community. It is just a nice place where people can come to get away,” said Lois Woodward, a manager at Rainbow Lodge.

Perhaps the most appealing feature here is that aside from being completely entrenched in the jungle, there is not a television or internet connection in sight, leaving little to distract you from a natural experience. In the mornings, grab a fresh pot of coffee and mull over a menu of several adventures that range from overnight hikes in the jungle to having drinks in a longboat as the sun sets.

“I would also say it is pretty unique in that there are only two places with mountain ranges in Cambodia and Koh Kong is one of those places,” she said.

“The Cardamom Mountains is one of the largest surviving rainforests now, so communities are very reliant on nature here. People [coming here] are looking for something different to do and want to experience that natural environment.”

NatAss debate quashed by CPP-controlled MPs

Cheam Yeap (bottom), chairman of the National Assembly’s Banking and Finance Committee, speaks while National Assembly President Heng Samrin presides over a meeting in Phnom Penh, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Photograph: Sen David/Phnom Penh Post

Parliamentary debate quashed

18 February 2013
By Stuart White and Sen David
The Phnom Penh Post

National Assembly President Heng Samrin shut down opposition members on Friday, abruptly cancelling a debate and calling to vote a draft law that opposition members say would have promised civil servants better compensation before being amended by the ruling party.

According to Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian Son Chhay, the original draft of the law had laid out housing, travel and fuel benefits for civil servants with the aim of subsidising their relatively meagre salaries, but Friday’s bill – which passed 85 to 94 – had been heavily redacted, making no mention of the benefits.

When the opposition protested the changes on the floor, however, Samrin promptly cancelled the formal debate, saying that most members of parliament agreed on the law already, and that Chhay could not “comment more, because you comment a lot during debates”.

Chhay said yesterday that under parliamentary procedure, the two sides each offer a brief summary of their positions before the actual debate begins – something that never happened Friday.

“After we mounted [our] overall view on the law, the speaker decided to skip the real part of the debate and vote on the law, and everyone raised their hand,” said Chhay, noting that he had never seen a debate cancelled altogether before.

The decision to strip the legislative processes out of later additions, he added, was also troubling.

“The [ruling party] changed that article to say that the government will determine the civil servant payment through a sub-decree, so my concern is that the government is not really using the law,” he said. “They are using sub-decrees to replace existing law.”

Koul Panha, executive director of the election monitoring group Comfrel, said that for the opposition, the current term of the National Assembly had been “stricter and stricter compared to the previous term” due to the diminished presence of royalist parties, which used to mitigate the CPP’s influence.

However, Nguon Nhel, first deputy president of the assembly, defended Samrin’s decision, saying on Friday that the president has discretion to lead the debate as he sees fit, and that Son Chhay’s preliminary argument was “enough”.

EU pledges support to Cambodia’s general election in July

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) — The European Union will support and cooperate with Cambodia in order to ensure a free and fair general election in Cambodia in July, Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain, Head of EU Delegation to Cambodia, said on Monday.

Cautain made his remarks during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace, Eang Sophallet, personal spokesman for the premier, told reporters after the meeting.

“Twenty-seven countries in the European Union will support and cooperate with Cambodia in organizing the forthcoming parliamentary election in order to ensure that the election will be free and fair,” Cautain was quoted by Eang Sophallet as saying to Hun Sen.

He did not say what ways of support the EU will provide to Cambodia for the election.

Cautain also hailed Cambodia for progressive steps in judicial reform through adopting several legal instruments including the Civil Code, the Penal Code and the Anti-Corruption Law; however, he said the country should expedite the passages of Law on Judges, Law on Lawyers and Law on Supreme Council of Judges.

Meanwhile, the premier said that the forthcoming election is held once in every five years and it is very important to push Cambodia towards development with democracy.

He also pledged to urge the passages of the above-mentioned laws as soon as possible.

Cambodia sets to hold a general election on July 28, the National Election Committee announced last month. Some 9.67 million Cambodians will be eligible to cast their ballots.

The Committee said that the election will cost about 21 million U.S. dollars, which is covered by the government.

In the last general election in 2008, the Cambodian People’s Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen won 90 seats in the National Assembly, followed by the Sam Rainsy Party with 26 seats, the Human Rights Party three seats, the Norodom Ranariddh Party two seats and the Funcinpec Party two seats.

សហគមន៍មានជម្លោះដីបិទច្រកចូលក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ជំរុញឲ្យដោះលែងសកម្មជន

ដោយ ញឹម សុខន និងអៀត ដារ៉ាវុធ ថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ទី18 កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ2013 ម៉ោង11:51

ប្រជាសហគមន៍ដែលមានវិវាទដីធ្លីតវ៉ានៅមុខសាលាឧទ្ធរណ៍ទាមទារឲ្យដោះលែងអ្នកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា (រូបថត ញឹម សុខន)

"ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋគ្រាន់តែការពារផ្ទះ ការពារសិទ្ធិខ្លួនឯង ត្រូវជាប់នៅពន្ធនាគារ តើយុត្តិធម៌នៅឯណាសម្រាប់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ សូមក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ជួយរកយុត្តិធម៌ឲ្យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋផង"។

ប្រជាសហគមន៍ដែលមានជម្លោះដីធ្លី នៅរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ជិត ១០០នាក់ នៅថ្ងៃចន្ទនេះ បាននាំគ្នាអង្គុយបិទច្រកចេញចូល ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ ជិតព្រះបរមរាជវាំង ដើម្បីជំរុញឲ្យស្ថាប័នពាក់ព័ន្ធដោះលែងសកម្មជនដីធ្លី គឺអ្នកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា ពីពន្ធនាគារ។

ការជំរុញនេះបានធ្វើឡើង បន្ទាប់ពីទណ្ឌិតជាង ៤០០នាក់ រួមទាំងបរទេសផង ត្រូវបានក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ដោះលែង និងលើកលែងទោស ក្នុងពិធីថ្វាយព្រះភ្លើងព្រះបរមរតនកោដ្ឋ សម្តេចសីហនុ នៅដើមខែកុម្ភៈនេះ។

ក្រុមអ្នកតវ៉ាទាំងនោះ មកពីសហគមន៍បឹងកក់ អតីតបុរីកីឡា ថ្មគោល។ ពួកគេមានកាន់ផ្កាឈូក ពាក់រូបសកម្មជនដីធ្លីនៅលើក្បាលគ្រប់ៗគ្នា និងលើកពុទ្ធរូប ស្រែកតាមឧបករណ៍បំពងសំឡេងបែរទៅរកក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ ដោយជំរុញឲ្យក្រសួងនេះ អន្តរាគមន៍ដោះលែងតំណាងពួកគេចេញពីពន្ធនាគារ។

ស្តាប់សំឡេង៖

ក្រុមអ្នកតវ៉ាអះអាងថា អ្នកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា សកម្មជនដីធ្លីនៅតំបន់បឹងកក់ គ្រាន់តែជាសកម្មជនដីធ្លី ដែលតស៊ូមតិដោយសន្តិវិធី ប្រឆាំងនឹងការបណ្តេញចេញតែប៉ុណ្ណោះមិនគួណាដាក់ទោសគាត់នោះទេ ៖ "ដោះលែងអ្នកស្រីយ៉ោម បុប្ផា ជាបន្ទាន់ គាត់គ្មានកំហុសទេ"។

តំណាងអ្នកភូមិអ្នកស្រី ទេព វន្នី អះអាង នៅកន្លែងតវ៉ាថា ការគ្មានវត្តមានសកម្មជនដីធ្លីនៅពេលលើកលែងទោស ជាភស្តុតាងមួយទៀតបង្ហាញថា ប្រព័ន្ធយុត្តិធម៌នៅកម្ពុជាមិនឯករាជ្យ ហើយមិនគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស និងសិទ្ធិរស់នៅរបស់ពលរដ្ឋ ដែលអ្នកស្រីថា ផ្ទុយនឹងអ្វីដែលរដ្ឋាភិបាល ធ្លាប់ផ្តល់សច្ចាប័នជាមួយអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិស្តីពីលិទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ៖ "អ្នកទោសដែលប្លន់ អ្នកទោសដែលសម្លាប់មនុស្ស អ្នកទោសដែលជួញគ្រឿងញៀន បែរជាមានឱកាស ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ លើកលែងទោសនៅពេលបុណ្យបូជាសពសម្តេចឪ តែចំពោះអ្នកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា គឺអត់មាន គឺវាអយុត្តិធម៌បំផុត សម្រាប់ពួកខ្ញុំទាំងអស់គ្នាដែលជាប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរងគ្រោះ ជាពិសេសអយុត្តិធម៌បំផុត សម្រាប់អ្នកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា ហ្នឹងតែម្តង"។

អ្នកនាំពាក្យក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ លោក សំ ប្រជាមានិត មិនធ្វើអត្ថាធិប្បាយជុំវិញការលើកឡើងរបស់ក្រុមអ្នកតវ៉ាទេ ដោយអះអាងថា កំពុងជាប់រវល់។

អ្នកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា ត្រូវតុលាការកាត់ឲ្យជាប់ពន្ធនាគារ ៣ឆ្នាំ ពីបទប្រើហិង្សាដោយចេតនា។ មកដល់ពេលនេះ អ្នកស្រីជាប់ពន្ធនាគារជាង ៥ខែហើយ។

ការចោទប្រកាន់នេះ ត្រូវបានសហគមន៍ជាតិ និងអន្តរជាតិចាត់ទុកថា ជាការបំបាក់ស្មារតីសកម្មជនដីធ្លី និងបំបិទសេរីភាពបញ្ចេញមតិ និងអំពាវនាវឲ្យមានការដោះលែង។

របាយការអង្គការសង្គមស៊ីវិលចំនួនពីរ គឺអង្គការលីកាដូ និងអាដហុក ចេញផ្សាយនៅឆ្នាំ២០១៣នេះ បង្ហាញថា ជម្លោះដីធ្លីនៅឆ្នាំ២០១២នេះ ស្ថិតក្នុងស្ថានភាពធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ បើទោះបីរដ្ឋាភិបាល ធ្វើកំណែទម្រង់ដីធ្លីក៏ដោយ ។ របាយការណ៍បង្ហាញថា មានសកម្មជន ដីធ្លី ២៣២នាក់ ត្រូវចាប់ខ្លួន៣៨នាក់ កំពុងជាប់ពន្ធនាគារ និង ៥០នាក់កំពុងរត់គេចខ្លួន៕

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Land rights in Cambodia a hot issue, says report

A woman watches villagers harvesting cassava in Kratie province’s Chhlong district last month. The Casotim company, which is the beneficairy of a 15,000-hectare rubber concession in Chhlong district, is just one of many economic land concessionaires whose disputes with villagers sparked violence, in 2012. Photograph: Will Baxter/Phnom Penh Post

Last Updated on 15 February 2013

By Abby Seiff, May Titthara and Shane Worrell

The Phnom Penh Post

In May, the premier issued an unparalleled directive, declaring a moratorium on economic land concessions he deemed too much trouble, with too high a human cost. A month later came the announcement of a sweeping land-titling scheme intended to provide tenure to millions. By July, thousands of highly trained student volunteers were being dispatched to the countryside to help speed the titling process.

Ostensibly, all of this was aimed at stemming a rampant tide of land grabbing and disputes.

But the results have been negligible, suggests a report released yesterday by rights group Adhoc.

“The land situation is becoming critical. Citizens and communities are more aware of their rights and increasingly demand justice and accountability. Yet land is scarce and the authorities fail to uphold citizens’ rights. If the current problems are not addressed as a matter of priority, social stability may be at stake,” warns the annual land issues report.

Following a record year of concessions granted, 2012 saw a considerable slowing. Last year, 381,121 hectares were granted or reclassified compared with 751,882 hectares in 2011. But even as ELCs dip, disputes and problems persist.

“Violence and threats of violence are increasingly being used against community representatives as well as land and housing rights workers and activists,” notes the report, which recorded a 144 per cent increase in land rights-related arrests.

The mounting arrest record leads to a “chilling” effect, said senior Adhoc investigator Chan Soveth – who himself was subjected to a land-issue-related criminal charge that was dropped only last week.

“After they’re released, they don’t want to file a complaint against the illegal detention or against the threats by authorities,” said Soveth, adding that while arrests have sky-rocketed, charges have in fact dropped, suggesting a serious abuse of the pre-trial detention system.

Scant Protections

Increasingly drawn from wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, concessions threaten to devastate the last remaining protected areas. Of the 381,121 hectares of land granted last year, 71.5 per cent of it was pulled from protected areas, notes the report.

“Relatively fewer people seem to be affected [by ELCs this year],” pointed out Nicolas Agostini, a technical adviser at Adhoc focusing on land issues. “But I find it difficult to regard this as a victory, because the land is [now] coming from protected areas, which are disappearing fast.”

The granting of concessions in protected areas has created a knock-on effect, speeding along deforestation by incentivising illegal logging.

“One strategy that is frequently used by private companies is to clear forested land inside a protected area and then to get deforestation noted by the government, who re-classifies the land or cuts it off from the relevant protected area. Thus, instead of taking action to prevent further deterioration, the government endorses the acts of grabbers and rewards them,” notes the report.

Meanwhile, social land concessions have proliferated. In theory, SLCs are aimed at lessening poverty by providing land to the nation’s poorest. But in practice, the process by which they are granted is frequently rife with “corruption, mismanagement and nepotism”.

More than twice the number of hectares was granted as SLCs in 2012 as in 2011, and many of those 100,790 hectares have led to conflicts of their own. “Of 38 newly granted SLCs, 13 gave rise to conflicts,” notes the report.

“Today, there is concern that measures taken to implement the SLC policy could actually worsen the situation of vulnerable families, aggravating landlessness and fuelling land conflicts.”

A Land Management Ministry official expressed scepticism over such a conclusion.

“This is very funny,” responded Beng Hong Socheat Khemro. “The reason why the government initiated the SLCs is to help the landless and poor, to try and give land to those who do not have land or have inadequate land in the hopes that the issues created by landlessness will be minimised or cut down.

“It’s their right to comment [regarding corruption], but if you read through the sub-decree on SLCs... this is one of the most transparent processes,” he continued.

Asked about concession granting in protected areas, Socheat Khemro said that in his “personal observation, that had not been the case”, but referred further questions to the ministries of Environment and Agriculture, which are responsible for issuing concessions.

Director of national conservation and protection at the Ministry of Environment, Chay Sarith, said he was too busy to speak, while Thuk Kroeun Vutha, secretary of state at the same ministry said simply: “I don’t know,” before referring questions back to Sarith and hanging up. Multiple calls to officials at the Ministry of Agriculture over the past two days have gone unanswered.

Willing and able?

On the one hand, note rights workers, significant strides have been made under the new initiatives. Following the issuance of Directive 001, 71,220 titles had been delivered by the end of last year and 433,987 hectares measured.

“What the last year showed was that when there is political will, things can change,” said Adhoc’s Agostini. “The first step has been taken; now we call on the government to take the same steps for people in disputed areas, in informal settlements and for indigenous minorities.”

But as the granting of ELCs slows and, even, in some cases, are cut and awarded as titles to individuals, some question whether some of the initiatives are little more than hollow publicity campaigns.

In January, for instance, the government announced it had cut some 250,000 from 79 concessions, logging concessions, economic land concessions and wildlife sanctuary and national park land agreements and intended to return it as land to “poor people”.

Much of those concessions, however, were suspended more than a decade ago, rights group Licadho noted this week.

Logging concessions – comprising more than 30 of the 79 relevant sub-decrees, according to January 17’s Royal Book – “have been suspended since 2002 after pressure from the donors”, said director Naly Pilorge.

“For the government to claim it is ‘taking back’ land from the companies who operated these concessions that were suspended over a decade ago is disingenuous.”

លីកាដូ៖ ស្ថានភាពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស នៅឆ្នាំ២០១២ នៅកម្ពុជា មានសភាពអាប់អួរខ្លាំង

រូបភាពស្តីពីពួកអាជ្ញាធរក្រុងភ្នំពេញប្រើហឹង្សាបណ្តេញបង្ខំប្រជាពរដ្ឋដើម្បីប្លន់ផ្ទះ និងដី ព្រមទាំងការទាមទាររកយុត្តិធម៌របស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរងគ្រោះ។

(ថ្ងៃទី 16 កុម្ភៈ 2013, ម៉ោង 03:45:PM) | ដោយ: រតនា CEN

ភ្នំពេញ: ស្ថានភាពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស នៅកម្ពុជា ក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០១២ ត្រូវបានអង្គការ លីកាដូ លើកឡើងថា មានសភាពអាប់អួរខ្លាំង ជាពិសេស គឺឆ្នាំ២០១២ ជាឆ្នាំ ដែលមានអំពើហិង្សាខ្លាំងបំផុត ក្នុងចំណោមឆ្នាំ ដែលបានកត់ត្រាលើករណី នៃការប្រើប្រាស់កម្លាំងអាវុធខ្លាំងក្លា របស់អាជ្ញាធរ មកលើសកម្មជននានា និងជាឆ្នាំ ដែលស្ថិតក្នុងការពិនិត្យឡើងវិញ។ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែមន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល បានចាត់ទុករបាយការណ៍សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស របស់លីកាដូ ថាជារឿងនយោបាយ ច្រើនជាងសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស។

របាយការណ៍របស់អង្គការ លីកាដូ ដែលបានផ្សព្វផ្សាយ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៥ ខែកុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ២០១៣ បង្ហាញថា នៅឆ្នាំ២០១២ មានការស្លាប់ចំនួន ៤ នាក់ ដែលទាក់ទងនឹងជម្លោះទៅលើធនធានធម្មជាតិ ការកើនឡើងនូវភាពភ័យខ្លាច និងការបំផិតបំភ័យ ព្រមទាំងមានការចាប់ខ្លួនសកម្មជនមួយចំនួន។

ករណីតុលាការកាត់ទោសលោក ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ ឃាតកម្មលើសកម្មជនបរិស្ថាន លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី អ្នកកាសែតដែលធ្វើការទាក់ទងនឹងការកាប់ឈើខុសច្បាប់ម្នាក់ ត្រូវបានគេធ្វើឃាត នៅខេត្តរតនៈគិរី រួមទាំងករណីលោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត អតីតអភិបាលក្រុងបាវិត បាញ់រះ មកលើក្រុមបាតុកររោងចក្រកាត់ដេរ ក៏ត្រូវបានអង្គការ លីកាដូ កត់ត្រា ក្នុងរបាយការណ៍រំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ប្រចាំឆ្នាំ២០១២ ផងដែរ។
យ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ លោកទេសរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ឱម យ៉ិនទៀង ប្រធានគណៈកម្មាធិការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សកម្ពុជា របស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា បានលើកឡើងថា វិធីវាយតម្លៃរបស់អង្គការ លីកាដូ ជាវិធីមួយអត្តនោម័ត ផ្គាប់ចិត្តអ្នកណាមួយ ដោយមើលរំលងអំពីសភាពការពិត។

លោក ឱម យ៉ិនទៀង បានទទួលស្គាល់ថា “យើងនៅមានបញ្ហាអំពីសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ប៉ុន្តែបញ្ហាពិតប្រាកដរបស់យើង គេច្រើនតែមើលរំលង ឯបញ្ហាអ្វីដែលយើងធ្វើល្អ បែរជាគេនិយាយថា វានៅមានបញ្ហាវិញ។ តើគាត់ធ្វើសិទ្ធិមនុស្សដើម្បីអ្វី? ក្នុងពេលដែលរដ្ឋាភិបាល ធ្វើកកិច្ចការសិទ្ធមនុស្ស ដើម្បីប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា ក្នុងការរស់នៅកាន់តែងាយស្រួល កាន់តែល្អឡើងរបស់ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា បែរជាគាត់មិនបានធ្វើកិច្ចការសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ដើម្បីប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា ហាក់ដូចជាធ្វើសម្រាប់តែបុគ្គលណាម្នាក់តែប៉ុណ្ណោះនោះឯង”។

ទាក់ទងនឹងករណីលោក ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ ត្រូវបានលោកទេសរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ឱម យ៉ិនទៀង បានបញ្ជាក់ថា លោកជឿថា លោក ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ មានប្រព្រឹត្តបទល្មើសរបស់គាត់ បើគ្មានទេតុលាការ មិនអាចដាក់ទោសគាត់បានទេ។ ការកាត់ទោសលោក ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ មិនមែនជាការកាត់ទោសបិទទ្វារទេ គឺការកាត់ទោសបើកទ្វារចំហរ។

លោក ឱម យ៉ិនទៀង បានបន្តថា "អ្នកដែលរិះគន់នោះមិនដែលនិយាយថា ខុសមាត្រាណាទេ គឺគេនិយាយពីការខុសចិត្តរបស់គេទៅវិញ។ ប៉ុន្តែរដ្ឋាភិបាលសង្ឃឹមថា ករណីនេះសាលាឧទ្ធរណ៍ នឹងពិនិត្យល្អិតល្អន់ថែមទៀត ពីព្រោះមានបីថ្នាក់ បើសិនជាសាលដំបូងធ្វើការដូច្នេះហើយ យើងគ្មានសិទ្ធិអ្វីទៅត្រួតត្រាលើក្បាលតុលាការបានទេ។ ប៉ុន្តែយើងសង្ឃឹមថា នៅពេលដែលទៅឧទ្ធរណ៍ យើងក៍សំណូមពរសូមឲ្យចៅក្រម នៅឧទ្ធរណ៍ ពិនិត្យមើលថែមទៀត ពីព្រោះថាយើងក៍ចង់ឲ្យគេស្តាប់សំឡេងគ្រប់ទិសទី មើលឯកសារផ្ទៀងផ្ទាត់ទាំងយុត្តិធម៌ច្បាប់ និងយុត្តិធម៌ នៅក្នុងសង្គមដើម្បីពិនិត្យពិចារណា បើសិនជាសាលាឧទ្ធរណ៍ពិនិត្យឃើញយ៉ាងដូចម្តេចទៀត ហើយបើសិនជាមិនសុខទៀត គេអាចបន្តទៅកំពូលថែមទៀតដែរ។ ហើយនឹងសង្ឃឹមថា នៅកំពូលដែរ លោកនឹងពិនិត្យទាំងទិដ្ឋភាពយុត្តិធម៌ នៃច្បាប់ និងយុត្តិធម៌ក្នុងសង្គម ត្រូវមានការថ្លឹងថ្លែងថា តើសង្គមគេចង់បានយ៉ាងដូច្នេះទៀត លើបញ្ហានេះ"។

លោក ឱម យ៉ិនទៀង បានបន្តទៀតថា “រឿងបញ្ហាដែលគាត់លើកនេះ ខ្ញុំគិតថា វានយោបាយ ច្រើនជាងសិទ្ធមនុស្ស។ របាយការណ៍គាត់ហ្នឹង (លីកាដូ) ខ្សោយ អំពីគោលបំណងបម្រើសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស វាទៅជាមានការពោរពេញទៅដែរ អំពីគោលបំណងនយោបាយបម្រើអ្នកណាពិតេប៉ុណ្ណោះឯង”៕

2012 in Review: Use of Force Against Peaceful Protests

Union leader Rong Panha is beaten and taken away by police during a peaceful gathering on July 11, 2012.

The body of 14-year-old Heng Chantha, who was killed by government forces during a forced eviction in Kratie on May 16, 2012.

February 13, 2013
Source: http://www.licadho-cambodia.org/articles/20130213/134/index.html

As part of the lead up to the release of our report “Human Rights 2012: the Year in Review,” on February 18, LICADHO is publishing a four-part web series reviewing the key human rights of 2012. Daily installments will be published throughout the week, culminating with the publication of our report on February 18.

As the frequency of land grabs has grown, so has the sense of desperation for Cambodians faced with eviction. The perpetrators of land grabs – from business leaders to police to hired hands who carry out actual evictions – operate with near complete impunity. Recourse to the notoriously corrupt judiciary is not an option. For the average Cambodian, the only avenue that offers the prospect of success is civil disobedience, namely public protest and individual action.

The government has become increasingly aggressive in attempting to shut down this avenue as well, despite the fact the vast majority of citizen protests documented by LICADHO during 2012 have been peaceful. Violence is often the government’s tactic of choice.

On January 3, for example, a long-standing land dispute in Ratanakiri province between indigenous villagers in Ka Nat Thum and the Vietnamese Heng Brother Rubber Company ended with authorities firing on residents. On the day of the incident, the villagers had mobilized to halt the company from clearing the disputed land. After the local authorities announced that the company would suspend the land clearing, residents walked back towards their village. On their way, they passed a military police officer acting as guard for the rubber company. Thinking the villagers were staging a protest, the officer opened fire twice. The villagers reported the incident to the district governor, but no actions were taken to reprimand the violence.

Similarly, on January 18, military personal acting as security guards for TTY Co. Ltd opened fire on a group villagers who had gathered to prevent the clearing of their farmland in Kratie’s Snuol district. Four villagers were injured by bullets as the villagers were trying to stop the company’s bulldozers from destroying their cassava fields. None of the authorities present during the shooting proceeded to arrest the perpetrators. Four men – three security guards and a TTY’s general manager – were quietly tried in late December, and convicted of illegal use of firearms and intentional acts of violence with aggravating circumstances. Their sentences ranged from two to three years, though in each case the sentence was suspended between six months and a year.

In one of the most egregious incidents of reckless government violence, a 14-year-old girl was shot dead in Kratie Province’s Broma village on May 16 after hundreds of armed forces stormed her village. Two other villagers were injured. Authorities later sought to justify the excessive force by claiming that the operation was necessary to quell a plot by the villagers to secede from the state of Cambodia. While no one had heard of a secession taking place in the area prior to the lethal forced eviction, the villagers were involved in a well-publicized land dispute with the agri-business company Casotim. No one has been arrested for the killing as the authorities claim an investigation is not needed into this “accidental death.”

The escalating use of violence against citizens also resulted in a tragic loss for the environmental community in 2012. Chut Wutty, one of Cambodia’s most important environmental activists and director of the Natural Resource Protection Group, was shot dead while accompanying two Cambodia Daily journalists to investigate illegal logging in the Cardamom Mountains. A military police officer was also killed.

Authorities quickly determined that the dead MP shot Wutty, ensuring no one would be prosecuted for his death. They then offered no fewer than four explanations of the MP’s own death – including that he shot himself twice with his own AK-47 - while turning a blind eye to the logging crimes Wutty was investigating. The lack of a real investigation into Wutty’s killing has sent a chilling message to other environmental activists and NGO leaders.

Workers in Cambodia’s vital garment industry have also faced government violence in response to their calls for improved working conditions and increased wages. On February 20, over 1,000 workers from three factories in Svay Rieng’s Manhattan Special Economic Zone were protesting their working conditions when a gunman opened fire, injuring three young female workers. The shooter was allowed to flee, despite the presence of military police. He was later identified as a local district governor, Chhouk Bandith.

Bandith was later charged with causing “unintentional injury,” a ludicrous charge given that he fired numerous rounds of live ammunition into a crowd of 1,000 workers. He was never placed in pretrial detention, despite having admitted to the prosecutor that he fired his weapon. The charges against Bandith were finally dropped altogether in December.

During a major ASEAN summit in July, authorities unleashed an unprovoked beating on union leader Rong Panha, after he gathered with union workers in a public park to demand living wages. The workers were employed by Tai Yang Enterprises, which supplies international clothing giants Levi Strauss, Gap and Old Navy, among others.