Three Rights Workers, Journalist Summoned Over Incitement
The Ratanakkiri Provincial Court yesterday summoned three human rights workers and a journalist over allegations that hey incited indigenous ethnic minority villagers in Lumphat district to protest violently against a powerful agro-industry company in 2009. Deputy court prosecutor Chea Sopheak said he had requested Adhoc provincial coordinator Pen Bonnar, Adhoc investigator Chhay Thy, Cambodian Center for Human Rights president Ou Virak and Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalist Sok Ratha to come to the court on October 10 and 11 to address accusations that they had incited the minority villagers to “successfully commit crimes.” … Although the three rights workers and journalist are unsure what they have done to be summoned to the court, critics of Cambodia’s politicized justice system say the country’s Penal Code is using incitement charges to stifle citizens’ freedoms. …
