Court Dismisses Rights Groups’ Complaints
The Ratanakkiri Provincial Court has dismissed two complaints submitted by two local human rights groups, Adhoc and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), against local officials who they alleged had defamed and intimidated their staff, court officials said Friday. Adhoc filed a complaint against Pheng Maing, a village chief in Lumphat district’s Batang commune, for defamation in July 2012 after he publicly accused the organization of inciting villagers to rebel against authorities. CCHR also filed a complaint against Batang commune chief Kith Chem and commune police chief Blan Nea for intimidation when local officials forcefully broke up a training session on land rights organized by the NGO in July 2012. Provincial deputy prosecutor Ros Saram said Friday the court decided to drop the two complaints because the incidents involving local government officials did not lead to any violence. … In 2009, Mr. Chem filed a suit against Mr. Bonnar, Mr. Thy, the president of the CCHR, Ou Virak, and radio journalist Sok Ratha. The suit accused the four men of defamation and of inciting ethnic-minority Tampuon villagers to protest violently against the DM Group rubber company. The Ratanakkiri Provincial Court eventually dropped the charges last December. …
Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/court-dismisses-rights-groups-complaints-45516/
