[NOTICE: The AHRC have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Cambodian authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Cambodian authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.]
CAMBODIA: Torture; Violence against women; Defunct Rule of Law
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) appeals for your support in the struggle for justice for Srey Neath, 25, a young mother, who was allegedly savagely beaten by three Forestry Administration Officers in the Sre Noy commune in the Varen district of Siem Reap province on 4th September 2006. The Officers accused her of stealing a motorcycle from the Foresty Administration Post; which in actual fact, belonged to her husband. It is reported that Neath suffered grave injuries due to the assault, and is still undergoing intensive medical care. Meanwhile, the police have yet to take serious action in investigating this incident, and no official charges have been made against the named perpetrators- despite the victim’s urgent complaint.
Earlier that day, on 4 September 2006, Srey Thorn- Srey Neath’s husband- was spotted by Forestry Officials as he rode by their post, who suspected that he was responsible for the illegal felling of trees in the area. Their suspicions were mainly because they saw that he was also carrying an axe. They then started to chase him. In the chase, Srey Thorn abandoned his motorcycle and successfully managed to escape arrest. Taking his motorcycle back with them to their post, the Officials charged Srey Thorn with illegal logging. Later that day, Srey Neath went to retrieve her husband’s motorcycle from the forestry administration post. She didnt get very far with the motorcycle, before the three accused Forestry officers- Ke Phan, Ly Sopha and Van Sopheak- ambushed and brutally attacked her.
The three named officials were armed at the time, with assault rifles and pistols. Holding her at gunpoint, they dragged her into the bushes where they proceeded to severely beat her. Despite villagers protests and attempted interventions, the officials continued to relentlessly beat Srey Neath. Srey Neath suffered two bloodied black eyes, and severe bruising all over her body. Too weak to stand, Srey Neath had to be taken by her fellow villagers to the Siem Reap Provincial Hospital for treatment. She became seriously ill; vomiting frequently and unable to eat, talk and produce milk to suckle her baby. She is still hospitalized to date.
A complaint against the three named officials has already been filed with the police in Sre Noy commune; but to date, no charges have been brought against them, nor was there an official court investigation into Srey Neaths case. Under Article 41 of Cambodian Criminal Code, the three officials should have been prosecuted on assault-and-battery charges; a crime punishable by imprisonment of up to ten years, depending on the severity of the injuries caused to the victim. They also show no signs of remorse or concern for what they so brutally inflicted upon Srey Neath.
The AHRC strongly condemns the violent abuse of power by Ke Phan, Ly Sopha and Van Sopheak and their unforgivable brutality against Srey Neath. We urge the Cambodian government and the Siem Reap Provincial Police to take immediate prosecutory action against these three officials under Article 41 of the Cambodian Criminal Code, and to bring them before the courts without delay. They should also be made to pay compensations to the victim. The AHRC further urges the Cambodian government to reinforce a strict and nonnegotiable Rule-of-Law, to ensure that gross abuses of State authority such as seen here, are never repeated.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below to express your concern and condemnation over the brutal crimes committed by the named Forestry officials, and to call for justice to be served for the victim, Srey Neath, in her case against her attackers.
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To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _____________,
CAMBODIA: Alleged brutal torture of a mother of two-month old baby by Forestry Administration Officials
Name of the victim: Mrs. Srey Neath, aged 25, a mother of a two-month old baby
Alleged perpetrators: Three Forestry Administration officials- Ke Phan, Ly Sopha and Van Sopheak-in Sre Noy commune, Varen district, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
Date of incident: 4 September 2006
Place of incident: The Forestry Administration Post in Sre Noy commune
I am writing to express my deep concern over the alleged brutal torture of 25-year-old wife and mother Srey Neath by three Forestry Administration Officials in the Sre Noy commune, in the Varen district of Siem Reap province on 4th September 2006. The three accused officers are Ke Phan, Ly Sopha and Van Sopheak. As far as I was informed, the only reason given for this brutal assault is that Srey Neath attempted to retrieve her husband's motorcycle from the Forestry Administration post in that commune. Earlier that day, Srey Thorn- Srey Neaths husband- was riding his motorcycle past the Forestry Administration post when he was accused by the officials of illegal logging- an allegation made on the shaky grounds that he was carrying an axe with him at the time. The officials gave chase, and Srey Thorn abandoned his motorcycle and managed to successfully escape the officials who were in hot pursuit of him. The officials took his motorcycle back with them to their post, and filed official charges against Srey Thorn. When spotted by the officials, taking her husbands motorcycle from the post, Srey Neath too was accused of theft.
At the time of this incident, the three officials were fully armed with assault rifles and pistols. Holding Srey Neath at gunpoint, the officials dragged her into a nearby bush, where they proceeded to brutally assault her. The victim suffered bloodied black eyes, and severe bruising all over her body, and was too weak to stand. She was taken by her fellow villagers to the Siem Reap Provincial Hospital where she is still undergoing intensive treatment. She has since been seriously ill; vomiting frequently and unable to eat, talk and produce milk to suckle her baby. She belongs to a poor family, but has not received any financial compensation from the Forestry Administration Office in the commune. I am deeply disturbed by the callous brutality shown by state-officials to an innocent public citizen in this case.
I am also concerned about the inactivity of the Siem Reap police and authorities in conducting a proper investigation into Srey Neaths case. I have learned that though an official complaint against the three officials has already been filed with the local police in Sre Noy commune, no charges have been brought against them. Under Article 41 of the Cambodian Criminal Code, the three officials should be prosecuted on assault-and-battery charges; a crime which is punishable by a prison-sentence of up to 10 years- depending on the severity of the injuries caused to the victim.
I therefore strongly urge you to ensure a prompt and proper investigation into Srey Neaths case, and more importantly, that her attackers be brought for prosecution before the criminal courts, without delay. I further urge you to ensure that adequate financial compensation be provided to the victim, so that she will be able to cover the extensive costs of her medical treatment, and support her family during this difficult time. Lastly, I beseech the Government of Cambodia to take immediate and genuine measures in reinforcing a nonnegotiable Rule-Of-Law which will ensure that such gross abuses of state-authority such as seen here, are never repeated.
I look forward to your urgent intervention into this matter.
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER TO:
1. Mr. Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Cabinet of the Prime Minister
No. 38, Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855-23-21 98 98
Fax: +855-23-36 06 66
E-mail: cabinet1b@camnet.com.kh
2. Mr. Sar Kheng
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Interior
275 Norodom Blvd.
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Fax/phone : +855-23 72 19 05/72 60 52/72 11 90
E-Mail: info@interior.gov.kh, moi@interior.gov.kh
3. Mr. Ang Vong Vathna
Minster of Justice
No 240, Sothearos Blvd.
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: + 855-23-36 41 19/21 66 22
E-mail: moj@cambodia.gov.kh
4. Mr. Henro Raken
Prosecutor General
Court of Appeal
No. 14, Boulevard Sothearos
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Tel: +855-23-21 84 60
5. Justice Aing Meardey
President
Siem Reap Provincial Court
Siem Reap Court
Module 2, Svay Dangkum Commune
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Tel: +855-12-012 86 61 50
6. Mr. So Vat
Prosecutor
Siem Reap Provincial Court
Siem Reap Court
Module 2, Svay Dangkum Commune
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Tel: +855-12-012 86 61 50
7. General Hok Lundy
National Police Commissioner
General-Commisariat of National Police
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel/Fax: +855-23-21 65 85/22 09 52
8. Mr.Nuon Bophal
Police Commissioner
Siemreap Police Commissariat
N° 257, Group 1, Sala Kanseng Village, Svay Dangkum Commune
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Tel: +855-12-97 27 78
E-mail: Khengsum@camintel.com
9. Mr. Van Sophanna
Inspector
East Tonle Sap Region
Department of Agriculture Forestry & Fishery
Wat Bo Village, Sala Komreuk Commune
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Tel: +855-12-25 80 80/86 61 60
E-Mail: sophalsaing@yahoo.com
10. Ms Margo Picken
Director
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Cambodia
N¢X 10, Street 302
Sangkat Boeng Keng Kang I
Khan Chamcar Mon
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855-23-987 671 / 987 672, 993 590 / 993 591 or +855 23 216 342
Fax: +855-23-212 579, 213 587
11. Prof. Yash Ghai
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia
Attn: Ms. Afarin Shahidzadeh
Room 3-080
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 91 79214
Fax: +41 22 91 79018 (ATTENTION: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE CAMBODIA)
12. Prof. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
Attn: Safir Syed
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 917 9016 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR TORTURE)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
