[NOTICE: The AHRC have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, we also encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to the Cambodian aurhorities. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Cambodian authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.]
CAMBODIA: Violation of the freedom of expression and opinion; unlawful dismissal of lecturer
————————————-
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that on 22 August 2006, Mr. Teang Narith who is a law and politics lecturer at Sihanouk Raj Buddhist University in Phnom Penh was allegedly dismissed for writing a book on the country’s political development.
Teang Narith has written a book in the Khmer language entitled Political Philosophy that provides an analysis of the country’s political development and its relations with Vietnam. The book which has yet to be published, seeks to highlight the danger that Cambodia is currently facing. Teang Narith is critical of Cambodia’s current leadership and has held them responsible, among other things, for a grenade attack on peace demonstrators in 1997 that killed nearly twenty and wounded more than one hundred, as well as for Cambodias poor relationship with Vietnam. The book provides evidence and sources that support his claims.
On 3 August 2006, Teang Narith distributed copies of the manuscript to his students at the university. On August 22, the universitys Vice-Rector Hing Yan presented a letter of concern from Secretary of State for Religions and Cults Chhorn Lem and issued a notice to students that the course taught by Teang Narith was discontinued. This notification effectively ended the employment of Teang Narith who had been teaching at that university for four years. When confronted over the dismissal, Hing Yan told Teang Narith that he had been dismissed for his strong criticisms of the country’s leaders, especially, Hun Sen, the current prime minister. According to Hing Yan, Prime Minister Hun Sen had been informed of the book and had actually approved the action against its author. On August 27, Teang Narith went to meet with a journalist after his dismissal became publicly known, when an unidentified person appeared and branded a shotgun at him. The perpetrator stopped short of shooting when many people in the vicinity rushed to the scene. Teang Narith has now filed a law suit against his dismissal.
Teang Nariths punishment for writing a book is a blatant violation of his constitutional rights for freedom of expression and publication. The AHRC has learned that the violation of these rights is a norm at all the state funded educational institutions and many private ones. Leaders of these institutions and many teaching staff are members of the ruling party, while others are forced to join. Independent teachers or teachers affiliated to other political parties are discriminated against or are simply banned from teaching. Students are also banned from forming associations and carrying out activities on campuses that are seen to be critical of the government or its policies. There is no academic freedom in Cambodia.
The AHRC urges the Cambodian government, in particular the Ministry of Religions and Cults and Sihanouk Raj Buddhist University, to rescind its decision to dismiss Teang Narith and allow him to resume his teaching without delay. We also urge the Cambodian government, the Ministry of Education and all educational institutions, to stop the current practice of thought control and suppression of academic freedom, as well as freedom of expression and publication.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant Cambodian government authorities listed below and express your concern about this case. Please urge them to respect the freedom of expression and reinstate the victim in the university immediately.
To support this appeal, please click:
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _______,
CAMBODIA: University lecturer is allegedly dismissed for writing a book that is critical of government
Name of the victim: Mr. Teang Narith, law and politics lecturer at Sihanouk Raj Buddhist University, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Date of dismissal: About 22 August 2006
I am shocked and dismayed to learn that about 22 August 2006, university lecturer Mr. Teang Narith was allegedly dismissed from his teaching post for exercising his constitutional rights by writing an academic publication that is critical of the Cambodian government.
According to the information that I have received, after Teang Narith distributed the text amongst his students on August 3, Vice-Rector Hing Yan informed him on August 22 that his four-year academic career with the university had been terminated. The Vice-Rector also presented him with a letter of concern from the Secretary of State for Religions and Cults Chhorn lem that outlined the governments displeasure. I am also aware that when Mr. Teang Narith confronted the Vice-Rector regarding the dismissal he learned that he had been discharged for his strong criticisms of the country’s leaders.
I have also been informed that on 27 August 2006, when Teang Narith went to meet a journalist after his dismissal became publicly known, an unidentified person appeared and branded a shotgun at him. The perpetrator stopped short of shooting him when many people in the vicinity rushed to the scene. I also understand that Teang Narith has now filed a lawsuit against his dismissal.
I am well aware that the punishment endured by Teang Nariths for writing a book has been a blatant violation of his constitutional rights for freedom of expression and publication. I am also deeply concerned that in Cambodia the violation of these rights is a norm at all state funded educational institutions and many private ones. Leaders of these institutions and many teaching staff are members of the ruling party, while others are forced to join. Independent teachers or teachers affiliated to other political parties are discriminated against or are simply banned from teaching. Students are also banned from forming associations and carrying out activities on campuses that are seen to be critical of the government or its policies. Indeed, it is a shame that a country like Cambodia still does not enjoy academic freedom.
I therefore urge you to take immediate actions to rescind its decision to dismiss Teang Narith and allow him to resume his teaching without delay. I also urge you to stop the current practice of thought control and suppression of academic freedom, as well as freedom of expression and publication. Denying academic freedom not only damages Cambodias international reputation, it also hinders innovative and creative development. If Cambodia does not reform these practices the nations future will suffer.
Yours sincerely,
————————————
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER TO:
1. Mr. Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Office of the Council of Ministers
No.41, Russian Confederation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: + 855 23 426 054
E-mail: ocm@cambodia.gov.kh
2. Mr. Kol Pheng
Senior Minister of Education, Youth and Sports
No 80 Norodom Blvd.
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 23 217253
Fax: +855 23 212512
E-mail: iec@everyday.com.kh
3. Mr. Khun Haing
Minister of Religions and Cults
Sisowath, Corner Street 240
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 23 725099/ 722699/ 724499/ 725699
Fax: +855 23 725699
E-mail: morac@cambodia.gov.kh
4. Mr. Douglas Gardner
UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia
53, Pasteur Street
Boeung Keng Kang
P.O. Box 877
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: + 855 23 216 257
E-mail: douglas.gardner@undp.org
5. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Cambodia
N° 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
Email: cohchr@online.com.kh
6. Prof. Yash Ghai
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia
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)
7. Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
c/o J Deriviero
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9177
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
