Hun Sen: rights organisation CCHR will not be shut down

Leonie Kijewski and Mech Dara | Publication date 03 December 2017 | 17:20 ICT

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Staffers at the Cambodian Center for Human Rights hold up signs reading ‘Save Press Freedom Cambodia’ in solidarity with the Cambodia Daily newspaper, which closed earlier this year following a tax dispute. Photo supplied

In an unexpected turn, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced yesterday that the prominent NGO Cambodian Center for Human Rights will not be shut down, after accusing the local NGO last week of serving foreign interests.

In an article posted to government mouthpiece Fresh News, the Prime Minister is quoted as saying CCHR would not need to shut its doors – less than a week after saying publicly the organisation “must close” and ordering the Interior Ministry to “investigate” it.

“After receiving the statement and the request to the government from CCHR, the Cambodian government has decided to keep this centre by allowing this institution to continue serving human rights activities in Cambodia, and after the investigation of the Interior Ministry has found no activities that involved violations of the law,” the premier was quoted as saying.

Founded in 2002 by now-jailed former opposition leader Kem Sokha, CCHR has long been one of the most outspoken local NGOs in Cambodia, and is often critical of the government. In a press release, it welcomed the announcement.

“Although this has been a challenging time for CCHR’s staff, the organization remained fully confident that any impartial investigation would affirm CCHR’s genuine independence, and the absence of any wrongdoing on its part,” it reads. “CCHR looks forward to moving on from this investigation, and continuing the pursuit of its core mission: the urgent and vital work of protecting and promoting respect for human rights in Cambodia.”

In a message, Executive Director Chak Sopheap said her organisation had only heard about the investigation second hand.

“Despite hearing through the news channels that CCHR was under investigations, we did not receive any official communication from the Ministry of interior or other authorities, nor were we questioned about CCHR’s operations,” she said. “In addition, I sincerely hope that the reversal of the Prime Minister’s position regarding the closure of CCHR is the first step for the full restoration of Cambodia’s once vibrant civil society, and that the authorities will work on providing a safe space for all organizations to operate freely.”

Naly Pilorge, deputy director of advocacy at rights organisation Licadho, praised the move and called on the Interior Ministry to also allow other organisations whose operations have been suspended to resume their work again.

“We are pleased that CCHR can continue operating to provide vital services to people in need and we hope that the Ministry of Interior will also clear other NGOs such as Equitable Cambodia to enable them to continue contributing services and assistance to society,” she said. Equitable Cambodia was suspended for 30 days at the end of September by the Ministry of Interior for allegedly failing to provide paperwork required by the Law on Associations and NGOs, and for having allegedly sowed divisions between a sugar company and villagers involved in a land dispute.

The organisation said today that is still waiting for notification that it can resume operations from the Interior Ministry.

Officials from the Interior Ministry could not be reached for comment.