Khmer Circle:
Judging by precedents over border “irregularities” and their settlements, the aggrieved Cambodian villagers in question may eventually be compensated for the loss of their ancestral lands and farms ceded to Vietnam as a result of the demarcation work already done, but not by way of re-demarcating the border area concerned. Instead, the villagers may be compensated with lands from elsewhere inside Cambodia and Vietnam will – as before - hold on to the ceded lands. Hun Sen will then claim Cambodia “gains” more hectares of land through 'negotiation' with Vietnam!
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2020-08-26
Rong Chhun supporters protest in front of Appeals Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia demanding the court to release union leader Rong Chhun without any conditions August 26, 2020.
RFA
Rong Chhun supporters protest in front of Appeals Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia demanding the court to release union leader Rong Chhun without any conditions August 26, 2020.
RFA
“Var Kimhong should not intimidate the villagers and he should give back the 60 hectares of land. If there are irregularities with the border demarcation, it should be redone,”
Um Sam An
The Cambodian Appeals Court Wednesday denied a bail request for detained union leader Rong Chhun, citing concerns that he might repeat the actions that led to his arrest if he were released, his lawyer told reporters after the ruling.
Rong Chhun was officially charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” under Article 495 of Cambodia’s Penal Code and jailed at Prey Sar Prison in Phnom Penh on Aug 1, a day after his arrest for claiming the government has allowed Vietnam to encroach on farmland along their shared border. His arrest has prompted nearly daily protests.
Defense lawyer Chhoung Chhou Ngy told reporters outside the courthouse in Phnom Penh that his client’s bail request was denied because the court wants to “finish this case while preventing repeated crimes.”
Hem Socheat, another defense lawyer, told RFA’s Khmer Service that the defense team plans to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court, but he did not expect that the higher court would overturn the ruling.
“I don’t have any hope, but this is the procedure. We think even though we don’t have any hope, we will try our best to follow the procedure to advocate for our client,” said Hem Socheat. A Supreme Court decision to uphold the denial of bail would end the process, he said.
“Our client did what was done because he wanted to help the country. Our client has a career and a residence, and he is not a risk to provoke any social problems,” he said.
Rong Chhun was officially charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” under Article 495 of Cambodia’s Penal Code and jailed at Prey Sar Prison in Phnom Penh on Aug 1, a day after his arrest for claiming the government has allowed Vietnam to encroach on farmland along their shared border. His arrest has prompted nearly daily protests.
Defense lawyer Chhoung Chhou Ngy told reporters outside the courthouse in Phnom Penh that his client’s bail request was denied because the court wants to “finish this case while preventing repeated crimes.”
Hem Socheat, another defense lawyer, told RFA’s Khmer Service that the defense team plans to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court, but he did not expect that the higher court would overturn the ruling.
“I don’t have any hope, but this is the procedure. We think even though we don’t have any hope, we will try our best to follow the procedure to advocate for our client,” said Hem Socheat. A Supreme Court decision to uphold the denial of bail would end the process, he said.
“Our client did what was done because he wanted to help the country. Our client has a career and a residence, and he is not a risk to provoke any social problems,” he said.
“I think the Appeals Court’s decision runs contrary to the truth. Rong Chhun did not commit any crime. He is innocent and has been working for the sake of the public,” Hem Socheat said.
Ny Sokha of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) told RFA that the Appeals Court’s decision was more likely to cause social issues than Rong Chhun himself.
“If Rong Chhun were released, there would not have been any protests,” he said.
During the hearing Wednesday morning, a group of around 100 people protested outside of the courthouse demanding Rong Chhun’s release.
Phou Sareth, an activist with the Khmer Thavarak youth civic group, told RFA that she was disappointed with the court’s decision. She said she would continue to advocate for the union leader’s release.
“We need Rong Chhun. He is a nationalist. He was unjustly imprisoned. Please release him immediately,” she said.
Ny Sokha of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) told RFA that the Appeals Court’s decision was more likely to cause social issues than Rong Chhun himself.
“If Rong Chhun were released, there would not have been any protests,” he said.
During the hearing Wednesday morning, a group of around 100 people protested outside of the courthouse demanding Rong Chhun’s release.
Phou Sareth, an activist with the Khmer Thavarak youth civic group, told RFA that she was disappointed with the court’s decision. She said she would continue to advocate for the union leader’s release.
“We need Rong Chhun. He is a nationalist. He was unjustly imprisoned. Please release him immediately,” she said.
Three Rong Chhun supporters jailed Tuesday
A day before Wednesday’s ruling, a group of Khmer Thavarak activists visited Phnom Penh’s Prey Sar prison to meet with three activists who were detained after they protested in support of Rong Chhun.
Two of the activists, Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy are also members of Khmer Thavarak, while the third, Sar Kanika is affiliated with the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
One of the visitors, So Metta, told RFA that she was able to meet with Hun Vannak for less than 10 minutes.
“I told him that we are still strong and will continue our work. He encouraged us to remain steadfast and not to be intimidated,” she said.
So Metta said that Hun Vannak appeared to be mentally strong but had a pale face. The visit was watched by guards, who took notes of the encounter, so So Metta said she was unable to speak freely.
The guards also would not allow the visitors to bring food and books, because the inmates are required to buy expensive food in the jail, she said.
The visitors were able to meet Sar Kanika but were not allowed to see Chhoeun Daravy, because guards said she was in quarantine.
Another visitor, Ngel Hean told RFA that Sar Kanika and Chhoeun Daravy are both detained in the same cell. She said Sar Kanika is in poor health because they share the cell with prisoners detained on drug charges who smoke.
She said that the guards are not allowing Sar Kanika and Chhoeun Daravy out of the jail cell to exercise and they now look pale.
“For 14 days, they won’t let them out. Their health is good, but they are being treated like animals.
Nuth Savana of the Prison General department dismissed Ngel Hean’s claims, telling RFA that prisoners are not allowed to smoke inside their cells, but adding that he would look into the issue. He said the visits were brief as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.
“The restriction has been placed by the Ministry of Health to prevent infections from visitors,” he said.
Am Sam Ath of the local LICADHO rights group told RFA that the prison should allow visitors to talk freely and for a longer duration.
“I think the prison should give the opportunity to the visitors to speak freely with detainees,” he said, noting that lately guards have been increasingly listening in on visits, including when NGOs offer legal advice to prisoners.
Border irregularities
Also on Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered National Border Committee Chairman Var Kimhong to meet with 100 families in Tboung Khmum province who say they lost about 60 hectares (148.2 acres) of their ancestral land when recently placed border posts indicated it was part of Vietnam.
Loy Chhoy, an affected villager, told RFA that he supported Hun Sen’s desire to finalize the border, but wants the government to compensate the villagers for lands that had belonged to them for generations.
“I am happy with the demarcation, but the government needs to return the land to us if it is taken away by the demarcation process. I have not prepared anything for my meeting with Var Kimhong, but I will ask him for land to start a plantation,” said Loy Chhoy.
RFA could not reach Var Kimhong for comment.
Cambodia Watchdog Council (CWC) President Men Nath told RFA that he is concerned that Var Kimhong will do what Hun Sen directs him to do regardless of what the villagers request.
“I ask Var Kimhong when he returns to not say the demarcation has been done correctly because there are many irregularities,” Men Nath said, adding that that the council will likely not accept Var Kimhong’s explanation of the border.
The CNRP’s Um Sam An told RFA that Var Kimhong needs to resolve the villagers’ issue fairly and should not make his visit as show to defend a neighboring country.
“Var Kimhong should not intimidate the villagers and he should give back the 60 hectares of land. If there are irregularities with the border demarcation, it should be redone,” he said.
The CWC, of which Rong Chhun is a member, says that farmers are losing land because Cambodia is demarcating the border based on a 1985 treaty from Vietnam’s 1979-89 occupation of the country following its ouster of the Khmer Rouge regime.
Unresolved border issues between Cambodia and Vietnam, former French colonies from the 1860s to 1954, have sparked incidents in the past, with the construction by Vietnam of military posts in contested areas quickly challenged by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh.
A joint communique signed by Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995 stipulates that neither side can make any changes to border markers or allow cross-border cultivation or settlement pending the resolution of outstanding border issues.
Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
A day before Wednesday’s ruling, a group of Khmer Thavarak activists visited Phnom Penh’s Prey Sar prison to meet with three activists who were detained after they protested in support of Rong Chhun.
Two of the activists, Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy are also members of Khmer Thavarak, while the third, Sar Kanika is affiliated with the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
One of the visitors, So Metta, told RFA that she was able to meet with Hun Vannak for less than 10 minutes.
“I told him that we are still strong and will continue our work. He encouraged us to remain steadfast and not to be intimidated,” she said.
So Metta said that Hun Vannak appeared to be mentally strong but had a pale face. The visit was watched by guards, who took notes of the encounter, so So Metta said she was unable to speak freely.
The guards also would not allow the visitors to bring food and books, because the inmates are required to buy expensive food in the jail, she said.
The visitors were able to meet Sar Kanika but were not allowed to see Chhoeun Daravy, because guards said she was in quarantine.
Another visitor, Ngel Hean told RFA that Sar Kanika and Chhoeun Daravy are both detained in the same cell. She said Sar Kanika is in poor health because they share the cell with prisoners detained on drug charges who smoke.
She said that the guards are not allowing Sar Kanika and Chhoeun Daravy out of the jail cell to exercise and they now look pale.
“For 14 days, they won’t let them out. Their health is good, but they are being treated like animals.
Nuth Savana of the Prison General department dismissed Ngel Hean’s claims, telling RFA that prisoners are not allowed to smoke inside their cells, but adding that he would look into the issue. He said the visits were brief as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.
“The restriction has been placed by the Ministry of Health to prevent infections from visitors,” he said.
Am Sam Ath of the local LICADHO rights group told RFA that the prison should allow visitors to talk freely and for a longer duration.
“I think the prison should give the opportunity to the visitors to speak freely with detainees,” he said, noting that lately guards have been increasingly listening in on visits, including when NGOs offer legal advice to prisoners.
Border irregularities
Also on Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered National Border Committee Chairman Var Kimhong to meet with 100 families in Tboung Khmum province who say they lost about 60 hectares (148.2 acres) of their ancestral land when recently placed border posts indicated it was part of Vietnam.
Loy Chhoy, an affected villager, told RFA that he supported Hun Sen’s desire to finalize the border, but wants the government to compensate the villagers for lands that had belonged to them for generations.
“I am happy with the demarcation, but the government needs to return the land to us if it is taken away by the demarcation process. I have not prepared anything for my meeting with Var Kimhong, but I will ask him for land to start a plantation,” said Loy Chhoy.
RFA could not reach Var Kimhong for comment.
Cambodia Watchdog Council (CWC) President Men Nath told RFA that he is concerned that Var Kimhong will do what Hun Sen directs him to do regardless of what the villagers request.
“I ask Var Kimhong when he returns to not say the demarcation has been done correctly because there are many irregularities,” Men Nath said, adding that that the council will likely not accept Var Kimhong’s explanation of the border.
The CNRP’s Um Sam An told RFA that Var Kimhong needs to resolve the villagers’ issue fairly and should not make his visit as show to defend a neighboring country.
“Var Kimhong should not intimidate the villagers and he should give back the 60 hectares of land. If there are irregularities with the border demarcation, it should be redone,” he said.
The CWC, of which Rong Chhun is a member, says that farmers are losing land because Cambodia is demarcating the border based on a 1985 treaty from Vietnam’s 1979-89 occupation of the country following its ouster of the Khmer Rouge regime.
Unresolved border issues between Cambodia and Vietnam, former French colonies from the 1860s to 1954, have sparked incidents in the past, with the construction by Vietnam of military posts in contested areas quickly challenged by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh.
A joint communique signed by Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995 stipulates that neither side can make any changes to border markers or allow cross-border cultivation or settlement pending the resolution of outstanding border issues.
Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
3 comments:
What Khmer people should do when your leader Ah Norouk Hun Sen is a Yuon's puppet. Yuon gave him power to control Khmer for them.
When Yuon said Kouy, Ah Hun Sen Kouy. When Yuon said Shor, Ah Hun Sen Shor. When Yuon said lick my asshole to clean my ass shit, Ah Hun Sen lick it.
As a result Cambodia continue to lose more and more land to the evil Vietnam until Cambodia has no more land like Champa.
Can Khmer people put their national interest above their fears and their personal interest ?
It is crystal clear that the stupid habit of "Som Teh Sok" of Khmer people has not been working and furthermore destructive to their lives and their livelihoods. Millions of young Khmer workers have emigrated under financial hardship to other countries to find work.
We knew that Yuon wanted to swallow Cambodia a long time ago. Yuon had manipulated the situation in Cambodia and killed millions of Khmer people through its Khmer Rouge disciples.
Now, Yuon put a ruthless Hun Sen to control Khmer people. Yuon took Khmer land, this worst Khmer traitor Hun Sen threatens Khmer people not to say anything to avoid conflict with the evil Yuon.
Are we continuing to let this animal Hun Sen suppress us at will?
How many Khmer people did this animal Hun Sen kill during his reign in power? Just the execution of the K5 project alone, resulting of hundreds of thousands of Young Khmer men dead, made this crazy dog Hun Sen the worst Khmer traitor in history.
Khmer people need to wake up and ready to sacrifice their lives for Cambodia's survival.
In response to the wrongful imprisonment of Rong Chhunm we must make a mass peaceful protest demanding for his release. And if Ah Chor Phnek Muoy Hun Sen violently suppresses us, more people must participate and ready to make their ultimate sacrifice for Cambodia. We must not back down if we want to see a fruitful outcome.
Nothing is free in this world. The international community has no reason to help us if we don't help ourselves first. Just remember that we had lost about 3 million people under Yuon's tricks and unfortunately, we are presently under Yuon's control.
If we lose a few thousands maybe 3 thousands people during the peaceful protest at this time, Cambodia will survive because the members of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord will have no choice but to reconvene to resolve Cambodia's problems once more. The members of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement would not stay idle facing the killings of this magnitude committed by the autocratic regime of Hun Sen. We revive the 1991 Paris Peace Accord through our noble efforts trying to free Rong Chhun. The road to success must start from somewhere. We let Dr Kem Ley die in vain.
Yuon and Hun Sen kept killing our Khmer heroes because they had never suffered any consequences from their crimes.
Rong Chhun has sacrificed so much for the teachers and the workers in Cambodia. Now, he is wrongfully imprisoned. Khmer people need to do something back for him. Inaction and "Som Teh Sok" will make him very disappointed and demoralized.
Bun Thoeun
Hun Sen is a coward and loyal puppet of the evil Yuon. He and his family living rich at the expense of everyone else. Lost Khmer land and lives. No future. When will Khmer find the courage to resist and rise to fight for a future? Only in Cambodia can you be arrested for protecting your ancestral land from evil Yuon. Thanks to the puppet Hun Sen there will be nothing left. Rivers are dying. Resources looted. Land stolen. Malaysia and Philippines would have shot the evil Yuon but Hun Sen will arrest Khmer for protecting the homeland.
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