Law and judiciary
Legal and judicial system
Strike justified, suppression not, experts say
Garment workers’ calls for a $160 minimum wage are justified and should be honored, a new report by an international team of academics and labor experts has found. The authors—including a team from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, South Korean and ...
Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/strike-justified-suppression-not-experts-say-53255/
At-large official given four years in prison
Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday convicted and sentenced in absentia a senior official at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for directing money from employees’ salaries to his own pocket. Seng Setha, 52, general director of the ministry’s administration and human resources department, was sentenced ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/large-official-given-four-years-prison
Cambodian judge sued for threatening to shoot villagers in land disputes
Over 100 families, who live in Kampong Chhnang, filed complaints against a provincial court judge and his group for allegedly threatening to shoot them in land disputes. The residents sued San Sophat, a judge at Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court, his bodyguard, and Hem Dara, a lawyer, ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=15&token=ZWY2MTI3MmE0YmV
Groups call for probe of racist mob killing
The Minority Rights Organization and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights on Friday condemned the racist mob killing of a 28-year-old ethnic Vietnamese man in Phnom Penh this week, which came after the destruction of Vietnamese shops last month and months of anti-Vietnamese rhetoric from ...
Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/groups-call-for-probe-of-racist-mob-killing-52976/
Unions set to begin first phase of nationwide strike
A coalition of 18 labor unions and associations is today set to begin the first phase of a nationwide labor strike in the garment sector by calling on workers in about 100 factories to boycott working overtime, according to union leaders. Despite efforts by the government ...
Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/unions-set-to-begin-first-phase-of-nationwide-strike-52989/
Court overrules decision to compensate Dey Krahorm families
The Court of Appeal on Friday overruled a decision by the Municipal Court ordering the company 7NG Group to provide a total of $195,000 in compensation to 13 families whose houses were destroyed during the violent eviction of the Dey Krahorm community in 2009. “The Court ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/court-overrules-decision-to-compensate-dey-krahorm-families-52966/
Court delays verdict for protesters
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday said it would delay issuing a scheduled verdict against six people tried for intentional violence against police and property damage during an opposition protest on Phnom Penh’s Kbal Thnal overpass in September, saying that the case was very ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/court-delays-verdict-for-protesters-52974/
Gov’t criticizes media coverage of strike violence
The high-ranking government officials and global clothing brand representatives who took part in a meeting in Phnom Penh on Wednesday both raised concerns about the media coverage of last month’s lethal repression of a nationwide strike by garment workers and its aftermath. The meeting was called ...
Alex Willemyns And Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-criticizes-media-coverage-of-strike-violence-52979/
Verdict today for Kbal Thnal six
In anticipation of today’s scheduled Municipal Court verdict for six men facing charges of violence and property damage in connection with a September clash on Phnom Penh’s Kbal Thnal overpass, rights groups yesterday called for their acquittal. A statement from Human Rights Watch (HRW) released yesterday ...
Sean Teehan
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/verdict-today-kbal-thnal-six
Juvenile justice law step closer to being reality
Officials from the ministries of interior, social affairs, and justice met with NGOs on Friday to discuss the latest draft of a juvenile justice law that has been in the works for more than a decade and which would mean young offenders’ rights would be ...
Phorn Bopha
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/juvenile-justice-law-step-closer-to-being-reality-52720/
Court grills villagers on fence suit
Twelve Preah Vihear villagers were called to court this week regarding an ongoing land dispute they claim has resulted in the bulldozing of their family land and livelihood. The villagers are among some 67 families in Kulen district’s Srayong Cheung village who say the government sold ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/court-grills-villagers-fence-suit
Six tried for their part in deadly monivong bridge clashes
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday began the trial of six people for their involvement in clashes that broke out between civilians and police near Monivong Bridge after a protest on September 12. The six men were all charged with intentional violence with aggravating circumstances ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/six-tried-for-their-part-in-deadly-monivong-bridge-clashes-52459/
Two officials convicted of defrauding farmer
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday sentenced two government officials to three years in prison, with one year suspended, after they were found guilty of aggravated fraud. Nuon Sarath, 42, a former officer from the Justice Ministry’s civil department, and Keo Sophal, 48, a former ...
Eang Mengleng
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/two-officials-convicted-of-defrauding-farmer-52469/
Rights Group Launches Petition for Release of 21 Demonstrators
The Asian Human Rights Commission has launched an online petition to pressure the Cambodian government to release 21 union activists and workers charged in connection with labor protests last month. Twenty-three workers were arrested in a violent crackdown by government police and security forces early January, ...
Men Kimseng
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/rights-group-launches-petition-for-release-of-21-demonstrators/1853054.html
Detainee speaks out online
As lawyers for 21 defendants denied bail by the Court of Appeal last week wait for the Supreme Court to respond to their appeals, the most high-profile of the detainees is speaking out via social media. On Friday night, Prak Sovannary, wife of Vorn Pov – ...
Sean Teehan and Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/detainee-speaks-out-online
Cambodia: nine opposition trade unions warn of mass strike
Cambodia’s nine opposition-aligned trade unions warned on Wednesday that they will lead a large-scale strike in eight days from March 12 if their demands are not met, reports Vietnam News Agency (VNA). The unions have demanded that the court free 21 detained protesters and the government ...
BERNAMA News Staff
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v7/wn/newsworld.php?id=1014252
Cambodia: Rainsy returns as court keeps protesters in jail
Anguished cries from supporters and family members echoed outside the Appeals Court in Phnom Penh yesterday as they received the news bail had been denied. They had been hoping for the release of 21 people detained since a brutal government crackdown in early January. On ...
Daniel Quinlan
http://asiancorrespondent.com/119494/cambodia-rainsy-returns-as-court-keeps-protesters-in-jail/
Warrant for missing tax man
The Anti-Corruption Unit on Monday ordered the arrest and imprisonment of a former Preah Vihear province tax official who was convicted in absentia in December and sentenced to three years in prison for exploiting his position for personal gain. According to the ACU’s announcement, former provincial ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/warrant-missing-tax-man
Detainees not being used for leverage: Yeap
A senior ruling party lawmaker has rejected allegations that the group of 21 activists, unionists and workers arrested during protests last month and denied bail for a second time yesterday are being used as a political tool by the government to force the opposition party ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/detainees-not-being-used-leverage-yeap
Cambodia: Bail refused for 21 workers and human rights defenders
The Cambodian government must immediately and unconditionally release the 21 garment workers and human rights defenders who have been detained since early January, FIDH and its member organizations Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human ...
FIDH News Staff
http://www.fidh.org/en/asia/cambodia/14627-cambodia-bail-refused-for-21-workers-and-human-rights-defenders
Fears over human rights in Cambodia as crackdown on protests continues
Prak Sovannary tries to put on a brave face. She has just heard that two of 23 men arrested during a violent crackdown on garment worker protests in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last month have unexpectedly been released on bail.Her husband, Vorn Pao, a prominent activist and union leader, is not ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/11/cambodia-human-rights-crackdown-protests
Adhoc concerned by deaths related to domestic violence
At least 11 people were murdered during domestic disputes or committed suicide after suffering domestic violence in the past two months, local rights group Adhoc said in a statement Monday. Only two perpetrators were charged in these crimes, Adhoc said, highlighting the lack of law enforcement. “Adhoc ...
Denise Hruby and Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/adhoc-concerned-by-deaths-related-to-domestic-violence-51886/
Unions threaten nationwide strike if 21 prisoners not released
Sixteen unions threatened Monday to organize a nationwide strike if the 21 activists and protesters jailed following garment industry protests on January 2 and 3 are not released on bail Tuesday. The unions also called for charges against the 21 prisoners, 16 of whom began a ...
Mech Dara and Alice Cuddy
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/unions-threaten-nationwide-strike-if-21-prisoners-not-released-51864/
Bail denied for 21 detainees
Defence attorneys will now turn to the Supreme Court after a Court of Appeals judge denied bail this morning for all 21 people still detained from clashes with authorities during garment strike demonstrations last month. The presiding judge said he decided not to allow bail based ...
Sean Teehan and May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bail-denied-21-detainees