News

Rights groups criticize UN as Montagnards return to Vietnam

As 24 Montagnards returned to Vietnam on Thursday after Cambodia refused to process their asylum claims, rights groups criticized the U.N.’s refugee agency for assisting the government in repatriating the group to a country where they claim to have fled from persecution. ...

George Wright and Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/rights-groups-criticize-un-as-montagnards-return-to-vietnam-97029/

Senator says he found fake treaty online

On the first day of his trial on Friday, opposition senator Hong Sok Hour—who was charged with forgery and incitement in August for posting a video to Facebook that showed a fake border treaty with Vietnam—denied having fabricated the document, saying that he found it ...

Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/senator-says-he-found-fake-treaty-online-96336/

King’s signature brings much criticized NGO law into force

King Norodom Sihamoni signed the NGO law on Wednesday, according to a government official, bringing into effect a piece of legislation that has been internationally rebuked as a serious threat to free speech and association. ...

Kuch Naren
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/kings-signature-brings-much-criticized-ngo-law-into-force-91643/

Criticism mounts over charge against local rights defender

Human Rights Watch on Thursday added its voice to the criticism of Cambodia’s judiciary for defamation charges brought against Ny Chakyra, a senior human rights advocate who accused two judicial officials in Siem Reap province of misconduct in their handling of a land dispute. ...

Simon Henderson and Mech Dara
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/criticism-mounts-over-charge-against-local-rights-defender-90217/

Cambodian homeless detainees beg opposition lawmaker for help

About 100 homeless and mentally ill Cambodians who are being detained in a center on the outskirts of Phnom Penh implored an opposition lawmaker on Tuesday to request that the facility serve them better quality food and stop torture and other rights abuses. ...

Sek Bandith
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/homeless-detainees-beg-opposition-lawmaker-for-help-07082015161310.html

Persecution of Montagnards on rise, report says

An intensified campaign of religious and political persecution of Montagnards by security forces in Vietnam is responsible for more than 150 of the group fleeing to Cambodia, while authorities in both countries are working together to track down asylum seekers crossing the border, Human Rights ...

George Wright
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/persecution-of-montagnards-on-rise-report-says-86712/

HRW: gov’t failing refugee convention obligations for Montagnards

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report on the continuous persecution of Montagnards in Vietnam, condemning the Cambodian government for denying asylum to those fleeing into the Kingdom. ...

Donald Lee
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/12626/hrw--gov---t-failing-refugee-convention-obligations-for-montagnards/

World Bank urged to speak up for bullied protesters

Human Rights Watch says the World Bank is not doing enough to help people in Cambodia and elsewhere who are facing government harassment for speaking out against Bank-funded projects gone bad. ...

Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/world-bank-urged-to-speak-up-for-bullied-protesters-86186/

Cambodia facing growing opposition to draft NGO law

Sixteen international human rights groups on Monday urged Cambodia to withdraw a proposed law they fear will muzzle government critics and severely restrict the activities of non-governmental organisations. The law would require Cambodia’s 5,000 domestic and international NGOs to report their activities and finances to the ...

Bangkok Post News Staff
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/600100/cambodia-facing-growing-opposition-to-draft-ngo-law

Despite IOM deal, residency eludes refugees

When the International Organization for Migration agreed to help Cambodia with a controversial refugee resettlement plan earlier this year, it did so on the condition that the government furnish the refugees already in the country with the paperwork they need to find employment. ...

Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/despite-iom-deal-residency-eludes-refugees-85689/

Death of Chea Sim a new reminder of impunity, rights group says

With the death last week of Chea Sim, a ruling party stalwart and former Khmer Rouge cadre, Cambodians are again reminded that the powerful are rarely prosecuted, Human Rights Watch says. ...

Sok Khemara
http://bit.ly/1fixfKS

Gov’t rebukes HRW director

As the ruling party prepares this week to elect a president and deputy president following Chea Sim’s death on June 8, the Ministry of Interior has lashed out at an international rights group that last week linked Sim to Khmer Rouge abuses. Though he was lauded ...

Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/govt-rebukes-hrw-director

Rights group condemns trade union draft law

The Cambodian government is trying to weather criticism over the lack of transparency concerning the proposed draft law on NGOs that is now in the hands of the National Assembly. But another important draft law regulating trade unions is being heavily criticized for violating international ...

Donald Lee
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/12089/rights-group-condemns-trade-union-draft-law/

First refugees from Nauru to arrive Thursday

The first four asylum seekers moving to Cambodia from the South Pacific island of Nauru will arrive Thursday, part of a controversial resettlement deal with Australia. ...

Neou Vannarin and Phorn Bopha
http://bit.ly/1G7vDhd

‘Insurrection’ case still looms over opposition activists

Phnom Penh Municipal Court again delayed a hearing for 11 opposition activists, shortly after opening one on Monday. But the case still hangs over them, along with charges that Human Rights Watch has called “ridiculous.” ...

Neou Vannarin
http://bit.ly/1G2p0Zj

Australia prepares to send first refugees from Nauru to Cambodia within days

The Australian government has chartered a plane to move the first group of refugees from Nauru to Cambodia within days as part of a $40m resettlement deal, sources on the island have said. ...

Paul Farrell and Lauren Crothers
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/apr/15/australia-prepares-to-send-first-refugees-from-nauru-to-cambodia-within-days

Freedom Park insurrection trial to start today

The trial of 11 opposition officials and activists, who face up to 30 years in prison on charges related to a July protest that turned violent, is finally due to get under way today, amid widespread censure from human rights groups and campaigners. In a strongly ...

Charles Parkinson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/freedom-park-insurrection-trial-start-today

UN in Montagnard talks

The United Nations’ refugee agency met this week with representatives of the Cambodian and Vietnamese governments to “discuss solutions” to the recent influx of Montagnard asylum seekers, with repatriation touted as a possible answer, the Post has learned. ...

Alice Cuddy and Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/un-montagnard-talks

Cambodia labour abuse claims disputed

UK retailer Marks & Spencer and the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) have disputed the details of a report alleging labour rights abuses are still rife in the country’s garment factories, with both claiming they are committed to providing and supporting safe working conditions. ...

Katie Smith
http://bit.ly/1Ckp3lx

GMAC slams sample size in HRW report

Nearly a week after Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report detailing systemic labour rights abuse in Cambodia’s garment sector, the country’s garment manufacturers association fired back, criticising the study’s methodology and alleged omissions. ...

Sean Teehan
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/gmac-slams-sample-size-hrw-report

Cambodia rebukes "labor abuse" report

Cambodia has rejected a U.S.- based Human Rights Watch’s “labor abuse” report, saying the report is groundless, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Labor late on Friday. ...

The Cambodia Herald​ News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/cambodia-rebukes-%22labor-abuse%22-report-8301

HRW: Cambodia failing to protect garment workers

Human Rights Watch says lax labor laws in Cambodia are allowing garment factories, including many suppliers for Western brands, to take advantage of vulnerable workers. In a report released Thursday, the New York-based rights group documented a “persistent pattern of labor rights violations,” including forced overtime, ...

Robert ​Carmichael
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/hrw-cambodia-failing-to-protect-garment-workers/2677222.html

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