August
23, 2013
Cambodian Human
Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), Committee for free and fair election
(COMFREL), and Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and fair election in
Cambodia (NICFEC), a Human Rights Group in Cambodia, strongly condemn the
hampering made against the people’s participation in a gathering forum for the
expression of opinions of Battambang’s residents and parliamentarian, including
the commune council members on the process of election in Cambodia which was
organized by Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM).
In the morning of
22 August 2013, there were around 40 city police of Battambang equipped with
shields and batons deployed to area where the assembly was held at Angkor
village, Sangkat O Cha, Batambong province. There were reports of security
forces hampered people from participating in the assembly, including a senior
politician from CNRP, Ms. Mu Sochua, who was also present at the assembly. The
hamper has led to violent clash between participants and police. However, there
has been no injured were reported.
Civil Society
organizations noted that acts of the police who made the obstruction against
the people were the violation of freedom of assembly that caused to the serious
affect against the freedom of opinion and expression of the people which are
protected by law. The gathering of people is very important for the promotion
of democracy in Cambodia. Therefore, the prevention of people from
participation in the forum in the province of Battambang, is the sign of threat
against people from being encouraged to take part in other forums as well.
To promote human
rights and democracy in Cambodia, civil society organizations propose to the
government to 1) give instruction and punishment to those police who made
obstruction and disruption towards the gathering of people and 2) proposing to
Cambodian government in its capacity as a signatory to human rights treaties
to thoroughly respect and uphold its human rights obligations especially to
promote the freedom of assembly freedom of opinion and expression and the
freedom of association which are the sources for the instillation and the
practices of democracy in Cambodia.
For inquiries, please contact:
Mr. Sok Sam Oeun
CHRAC Chairman and Executive Director of CDP Tel: 012
901 199
Mr. Ny
Chakrya Head of
Investigation Unit of
ADHOC
Tel: 011 274 959
Mr. Hang
Puthea Executive Director
of
NICFEC
Tel: 012 949 666
Mr. Run
Saray
Executive Director LAC
Tel: 012 838 341
Mr. Mak Chamroeun
President of KYA
Tel: 017 788 955
Mr. Yung Kim
Eng President of PDP-Center
Tel: 016 828 211
Mr. Kol
Pahna
Executive Director of
COMFREL
Tel: 012 942 017
Mr. Suon
Bunsak Executive Secretary of
CHRAC
Tel: 092 344 357
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