Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
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A Press Release from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
CAMBODIA: Conviction evidence of government attempt to remove Sam Rainsy from politics
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) condemns today’s political ruling by the Phnom Penh Capital Court of First that found Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy guilty of falsifying public documents and disinformation. The verdict provides further evidence that the Cambodian judiciary is being used as a political tool of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to undermine legitimate political opposition. In this instance, the misuse of the courts may have ended the career of one of Cambodia’s most popular politicians.
The charges related to Sam Rainsy’s alleged alteration of a United Nations map of Cambodia to falsely show an encroachment onto Cambodian territory by Vietnam, which he subsequently posted on the Sam Rainsy Party website. However, the CCHR notes with concern that only limited documentary evidence and testimony supporting this allegation was presented at trial. Sam Rainsy, who was tried in absentia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for falsification of public documents and disinformation, and ordered to pay a 5 million riel fine and 60 million riels in compensation to the RGC for both offences. The lack of legal basis on which the verdict was reached and the severity of the sentence imposed underscores the political nature of the trial and sends a clear message to opposition parliamentarians and others willing to question the policies and actions of the RGC.
Today’s conviction is another in a series of politicised judicial measures against Sam Rainsy. In January, Rainsy was convicted of disinformation and inciting racial discrimination and, as reported in The Phnom Penh Post on Tuesday, a court summons for Rainsy has been issued dating back to a two year old defamation and disinformation complaint filed by Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. The CCHR calls on the RGC to end its use of the judicial system as a political tool to attack the opposition and to silence dissenting opinion. Cambodia needs active opposition parties to provide a strong, stable, multiparty democracy in the Kingdom, and an independent and impartial judiciary to uphold rule of law.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Cu Virak, President, CCHR
Tel: +855 12404051
Email: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights is a non-political, independent, non governmental organization which works to promote democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia.
#798, St. 99, Sangkat Boeung Trabek, Khan Chamcamorn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel: (855) 23726 901/Fax: (855)23726 902, e-mail: info@cchrcambodia.org
website: www.cchrcambodia.org
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
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