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Call for immediate release of Cambodian trade union activist

Persecution of Rong Chhun a year after his arrest highlights government's unrelenting repression, says CIVICUS
Call for immediate release of Cambodian trade union activist

Trade union activist Rong Chhun has been charged with incitement by spreading fake news. (Photo: YouTube)

Published: July 29, 2021 05:55 AM GMT
Updated: July 29, 2021 06:04 AM GMT

CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, has called on Cambodian authorities to drop "baseless" charges against trade union activist and human rights defender Rong Chhun and to release him immediately and unconditionally.

One year on from his arrest, his ongoing persecution highlights the unrelenting government repression of activists in the country and his detention during the pandemic is putting his life at risk, the group says.

Rong Chhun, president of the independent Cambodian Confederation of Unions and a member of the Cambodia Watchdog Council, was arrested on July 31, 2020. He has been a vocal human rights defender and has long raised concerns about farmers’ and workers’ rights.

He was charged with incitement under Article 495 of Cambodia’s Penal Code after he advocated for the land rights of villagers living near the Cambodia-Vietnam border. He was jailed at Prey Sar prison and his trial began in January. He has been denied bail amid an unprecedented Covid-19 outbreak in Cambodia’s prisons.

“The authorities must drop the politically motivated charges that have been brought against Rong Chhun. Speaking up for local communities should never be a crime. The persecution against him exemplifies the systematic weaponization of the courts by the Hun Sen regime to target activists and silence all forms of dissent,” said Lisa Majumdar, CIVICUS advocacy officer.

Rong Chhun’s arrest last year sparked a wave of arrests in relation to planned protests to demand his release. Many arrested activists remain in detention and have also been denied bail.

It is extremely disturbing that activists in Cambodia have been denied bail despite calls by the UN to decongest prisons and release political prisoners during the pandemic

They include Hun Vannak, Chhoeun Daravy, Tha Lavy, Koet Saray and Eng Malai (aka So Metta), who are members of Khmer Thavrak, and Sar Kanika, a former activist for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party. Others detained include Muong Sopheak and Mean Prommony of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association.

“It is extremely disturbing that activists in Cambodia have been denied bail despite calls by the UN to decongest prisons and release political prisoners during the pandemic. Holding them at this time poses a serious risk to their lives and adds another layer of punishment for these activists. The international community must do more to stand side by side with Cambodia civil society and demand their release,” said Majumdar.

Research undertaken by the CIVICUS Monitor shows that laws are routinely misused in Cambodia to restrict civic freedoms, undermine and weaken civil society and criminalize individuals' exercise of their right to freedom of expression. Human rights defenders, civil society activists and journalists are often subject to judicial harassment and legal action.

Police have ill-treated the families and relatives of detained activists from the banned Cambodian National Rescue Party who have been holding protests, CIVICUS says.

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