[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: Physical assault; impunity; arbitrary arrest and detention; violations of the freedoms of expression and opinion.
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that on October 8, 2006, a female opposition party activist and two children were allegedly assaulted by a police official named Chhum Sri at Porpeus village, Prey Konlauk commune, in the Kompong Leav district of Prey Veng province, Cambodia. The woman, named Kong Breach, was beaten by a pro-government police official for discussing her political views and her work as an opposition party activist. She works from home in support of her community and the Sam Rainsy political party.
According to the information received, while Kong Breach was talking to her neighbor about politics and about her hard work for the Sam Rainsy Party (opposition party) during the national commune election campaign, a police officer named Chhum Sri who disagreed with her views tried to silence her. Kong Breach dismissed the threat and continued to express her opinion. Both parties then got into a verbal argument with the police officer asking Kong Breach, “Which political party are you from that allows you to talk to me like that?,” to which Kong Breach reportedly answered, “That it doesn’t matter which party I came from”. Then Chhum Sri reportedly threw a rock at Kong Breach’s knee that caused bleeding. Since Kong Breach was scared that the police officer was going to hurt her again she began running to her house. The police officer followed her into her home and then started to beat her with a bamboo stick until it broke. He then stamped on Kong Breach’s throat and threw her 13 year-old daughter against the wall and also hit her 1 year-old nephew. This all took place while Kong Breach’s husband was away at work farming.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. According to local human rights groups, during the commune election campaign there were two other cases where opposition party activists have been thrown to the ground and beaten up by government supporters. In early October, two Prey Konlauk commune police officers arrested a teenager named Sambo Somak, who is a pro-opposition party activist living in Village 6, Prey Konlauk commune, in the Kompong Leav district of Prey Veng province. The officers arrested the teenager for allegedly fighting with another teenager in the village. Sambo Somak was arrested regardless of the fact that there was a serious lack of evidence against him and no proper investigation had been conducted.
The AHRC strongly condemns Prey Konlauk commune police officer Chhum Sri for allegedly abusing his power and assaulting Kong Breach and her young daughter and nephew. This constitutes a criminal and cowardly act that violates the country’s law and constitution. The Cambodian authorities must take action and bring this police officer to justice and compensate the victims of his actions. The AHRC also urges the Cambodian authorities to respect the political rights of its citizens and immediately release Sambo Samak in the absence of a proper investigation and valid legal charges against him.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the relevant authorities mentioned below urging them to immediately investigate Prey Konlauk commune police officer Chhum Sri for the abuses he is alleged to have committed and bring him to justice for any crimes he is found to have committed.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _________,
CAMBODIA: A woman, her child and an infant are assaulted by a Kompong Leav police officer
Victim: Mrs. Kong Breach, her 13-year-old daughter and her 1 year old nephew.
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Chhum Sri, a police officer in Porpeus village, Prey Konlauk commune, Kompong Leav district, Prey Veng province
Date of incident: 8 October 2006
Place of incident: Porpeus village, Prey Konlauk commune, Kompong Leav district, Prey Veng province in victim’s house.
I am saddened and shocked to hear about the alleged beating of female opposition activist Kong Breach, her 13 year-old daughter and her baby infant nephew, by a police official in Porpeus village, Prey Konlauk commune, in the Kompong Leav district of Prey Veng province on October 8, 2006.
According the information received, while Kong Breach was talking with her neighbor about politics and about her hard work for the Sam Rainsy Party (opposition party) during the national commune election campaign, a police officer named Chhum Sri who disagreed with her views tried to silence her. Kong Breach dismissed the threat and continued to express her opinion. Both parties then got into An argument, with the police officer asking Kong Breach, “Which political party are you from that allows you to talk to me like that?,” to which Kong Breach reportedly answered, “That it doesn’t matter which party I came from”. Then Chhum Sri reportedly threw a rock at Kong Breach’s knee, wounding it and causing her to bleed. Since Kong Breach was scared that the police officer was going to hurt her again she began running to her house. The police officer followed her into her home and then started to beat her with a bamboo stick until it broke. He then stamped on Kong Breach’s throat and threw her 13 year-old daughter against the wall and hit her 1 year-old nephew. This all took place while Kong Breach’s husband was away at work farming.
I have also been informed that such incidents are not isolated. According to local human rights groups, during the commune election campaign there have been two other cases where opposition party activists have been thrown to the ground and beaten up by government supporters. In early October, two Prey Konlauk commune police officers arrested a teenager named Sambo Somak, who is a pro-opposition party activist living in Village 6, Prey Konlauk commune, in the Kompong Leav district of Prey Veng province. The officers arrested the teenager for allegedly fighting with another teenager in the village. Sambo Samak was arrested regardless of the fact that there was a serious lack of evidence against him and no proper investigation had been conducted.
I strongly condemn Prey Konlauk commune police officer Chhum Sri for allegedly assaulting Kong Breach and her young daughter and nephew. His actions constitute criminal and cowardly acts that violate the country’s law and constitutional. The Cambodian authorities must take action to investigate this case and bring this police officer to justice and compensate the victims who have suffered such trauma. I also urge the Cambodian authorities to respect the political rights of its citizens and immediately release Sambo Somak in the absence of a proper investigation and valid legal charges against him. I am also gravely concerned about reports concerning the arbitrary arrest and detention by the Prey Veng province police of Sambo Somak and call for his immediate release.
I look forward to hearing about your urgent intervention on this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEAS SEND THIS 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. General Hok Lundy
National Police Commissioner
General-Commisariat of National Police
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel/Fax: +855-23-21 65 85/22 09 52
6. Mr. Oung Samy
Governor of Prey Veng
Kompong Leav district, Kompong Leav commune,
Prey Veng province.
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855-12-887-555
Fax: +855-43-394-343
7. Mr. Chea Nol
Prey Veng provincial court
Kompong Leav district, Kompong Leav commune,
Prey Veng province
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855-12-832-313
8. Mr. Tem Phan
Police Commissioner – Prey Veng
Kompong Leav district, Kompong Leav commune,
Prey Veng province.
CAMBODIA
9. 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
10. 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)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
