Activists in Cambodia are feeling the heavy hand of the government. Threats, intimidation and, in extreme cases, even murder have been occurring in the country. The killing of environmental activist Chut Wutty, the arrest of Beehive radio director Mam Sonando on secessionist charges and the imprisonment of the “Boeung Kak 13” were among the worst examples of a system becoming increasingly intolerant of those questioning their government, unwilling to allow challengers to have a voice.
In a forum recently held by the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, an analysis was provided that found 15 human rights activists, land activists, politicians and policy reformers have been killed in suspicious circumstances since 1990, and 1,440 have been charged with a crime.
Yi Sok San, deputy director in charge of land affairs at the rights group Adhoc, said freedom of expression was also being stifled in the media – where it was of vital importance.
“We have an abundance of media such as newspapers, radios and TV, but how many of them reveal what’s really going on?” he said.
Boeung Kak representative Tep Vanny, one of 13 women sentenced to two and a half years in prison in May over a land protest but released in June, said residents fighting against eviction were considered thorns in the authorities’ side rather than being seen as having rights.
The Prey Lang Forest Network has been advocating for land rights and the right of the Indigenous Kuy people for some time now. They have faced many oppressive situations and have even been threatened and told that the police will not protect them from the companies destroying their forest.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"full","fid":"61182","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-left","style":"width: 100px; height: 100px; float: left; "}}]]Please take action to protect these activists as well as the forest they are working so hard to protect. Visit our campaign and take action, here- Cambodia: Help us Save Prey Lang ("Our Forest")
