CAMBODIA: House of journalist reporting illegal logging torched following threats by members of security forces

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Right Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you regarding the torching of a house of a journalist, Phon Phat (41), in Ba Kan district, Posat on 10 August 2007. Two men drove up to his house at dawn; poured gasoline over the walls and surrounding and set fire to it. The torching happened days after he received two threatening telephone calls from numbers allegedly registered to members of security forces. He was threatened for reporting illegal logging activities to the forestry administration and reporting it to his newspaper. The AHRC is deeply concerned the attack was made to prevent him from carrying on his job.

CASE DETAILS: (Based on the victim’s testimony)

Mr. Phon Phat (41) is a journalist for a Khmer language newspaper, Chbas Kar, based in Posat province. In several occasions Phat has reported illegal logging operations allegedly by wealthy businessmen in the region to the forestry administration office. Once the forestry office acts on his report, they usually able to confiscate illegal logs, machines and vehicles of high value reportedly used by the illegal loggers in their operations. He had also written several articles on this for his daily newspaper.

For instance, the forestry office confiscated illegal logs, machines and vehicles allegedly owned by wealthy businessmen Mr. Meas Siphan in three separate operations. The successful operation was reportedly a result of forestry officials acting on the information contained in Phat’s report. It was due to Phat’s report to the forestry administration which resulted in a successful operation that he developed a good working relationship with them on campaigns against illegal logging in Posat province. On several occasions they informed him once they confiscate illegal logs and he would report the operations in his newspaper.

On August 8, at around 1:00am Phat had received a phone call from a person who reportedly introduced himself as police officer Leng. Leng was using number 012 53 8802 as it appeared on the telephone when he answered it. While speaking to Phat, Leng allegedly warned and threatened him for reporting illegal logging activities to the forestry office and for reporting the same to his newspaper. Leng told him: “are you a journalist for news or for ashes?” He was told that he should go to Doun Keo commune should he want to confiscate illegal logs. However, Phat told Leng that it is the authority’s job to confiscate them not his. The caller then hung up.

On August 9, at 7:02am Phat received another phone call from another number. This time the number appearing was 012 787372. The caller scolded him for interfering in their “business” apparently also referring to Phat’s continued reporting of illegal logging activities to the forestry office. After the caller hung up Phat asked his brother to call the number back. They later found out that number was registered to a military police officer in Posat. In Cambodia, phone number users are required to register their names once they purchase phones.

On August 10, at around 4:00am Phat was going to bathroom after getting up when he saw at their window a white car driving up to his house and stop at the front. His wife and six children were still sleeping at that time. He saw that there were two persons inside the car. One of them alighted and calmly walked towards the house before quickly running back to the car and driving off. Phat later smelled gasoline. Believing that that the man had set fire to his house he quickly ran back to where his wife and children were sleeping and woke them up.

However, even before he could wake them the fire had already engulfed their house. Phat loudly yelled for help from their neighbors. It took them some time to get outside because they could not find the key of the exit door’s padlock because it was so dark (Phat’s family usually padlocks the doors inside their house and hang it on the wall before going to bed). After getting out he and his family kept on yelling for help while trying to put out the fire. Some neighbors came to help and were able to prevent it from completely burning the house.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

This is yet another incident of violence against journalists reporting illegal logging activities. As described in our previous appeals, journalists usually receive threats, and are beaten up by the security officers, once when they investigate and expose activities of illegal logging and deforestation. For journalist to investigate and report such stories is a dangerous thing to do in recent times.

On June 16, another reporter, Lem Piseth also received threats on his mobile phone harshly asking whether he wanted to die. Similar to Phat, Piseth had also written several stories exposing the illegal logging activities and massive deforestation. He was warned to be careful and that ‘there will not be enough land to bury him’ (UP-088-2007).

On June 8, the Minister of Information, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, reportedly issued a warning letter to the Sralanh Khmer newspaper to stop its publication of the Global Witness report on illegal logging. (UA-192-2007) The GW report, released on 1 June 2007, reportedly exposed the involvement of Prime Minister Hun Sen, his relatives and other senior officials in the illegal devastation of Cambodia’s forests.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

The attack on Phat’s house threatens freedom of the press guaranteed by Article 41 of the Constitution of Cambodia. The provision clearly stipulates that: “Khmer citizens shall have freedom of expression, press, publication and assembly. No one shall exercise this right to infringe upon the rights of others, to affect the good traditions of the society, to violate public law and order and national security.”

It also violates Cambodia’s treaty obligation under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which it is a state party. Under Article 19(2) of the ICCPR stipulates that: Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities below requesting them to commence a credible investigation into this case. Those who made threats on the victim must be identified and held accountable for their acts. The authorities must also consider providing appropriate assistance and security to the victim and his family.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER