Report on Freedom of Expression in Cambodia.
Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
1. Introduction
We, the above-mentioned non-governmental organizations, community organizations and unions today release a Report on the state of freedom of expression in Cambodia: Cambodia Gagged: Democracy at Risk? The Report finds that over the past year, freedom of expression has continued to be seriously undermined, with a Royal Government of Cambodia (the “RGC”) crackdown targeting the pillars of Cambodia’s democracy: opposition parliamentarians’ parliamentary immunity has been lifted to allow for politically motivated criminal charges of defamation, disinformation and incitement; journalists have been imprisoned or threatened with imprisonment; lawyers have been threatened with disbarment; human rights activists have been intimidated, harassed and punished; and the ‘criminalization’ of certain opinion has meant that the people have been denied their voice.
This Report shows that the judiciary has been used as an organ of repression, silencing dissent and opinion critical of the RGC. With the continued use of intimidation, harassment, threats and spurious legal charges to silence dissenting voices and criticism of government policies, we fear that the RGC is moving away from the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia to a de facto one-party state; a closed society in which laws, systems and actions of the ruling party prevent free opinion and criticism, ending democracy in the Kingdom and seriously eroding the rights and freedoms of all Cambodians.
2. Parliamentarians
Intimidation, harassment and legal sanction have been utilized to undermine legitimate political opposition and consequently democracy. The parliamentary immunity of three opposition parliamentarians – Sam Rainsy, Mu Sochua and Ho Vann – has been lifted to allow for politically motivated criminal charges to be made against them. Read more here…
3. The Media
Freedom of expression and the freedom of press are fundamentally important in ensuring that Cambodians are given a real opportunity to understand the nature and direction of the RGC and make an informed choice in the next general election. Read more here…
4. Lawyers
Lawyers play a pivotal role in any democracy and have the potential of being great levelers between the powerful and the less powerful by providing access to justice through the courts. Read more here…
5. Human Rights Activists
The space within which human rights activists can express their concerns and voice their opinions is shrinking by the day, and is becoming even more precarious with the proposed enactment of an NGO law. Read more here…
6. The People
The Cambodian people have also found the space within which they can voice their opinions and concerns diminishing. The ‘criminalization’ of certain opinion, particularly that related to corruption, land grabbing and allegations of authoritarian rule, has denied Cambodians a voice. Read more here…
7. Conclusions
We hope the Report serves to remind the RGC of its constitutional obligations and to recognize the importance of protecting and promoting freedom of expression, not simply as a right in itself, but as a fundamental condition to the continued stability and development of Cambodia. We urge the RGC to take heed of the recommendations made in the Report and pursue the substantive changes required to protect and promote freedom of expression in the Kingdom.
The international community equally needs to take notice of the backward slide in Cambodia’s democratization and the potential ramifications should freedom of expression continue to be eroded. Read more here…
As respect for civil and political rights in Cambodia deteriorates it is time for all to sit up, take notice and take action before authoritarian forms of control become normalized and Cambodia is pushed closer to the precipices of instability.
For more information on the Report, please contact:
Ms. CHOR Chanthyda
Project Coordinator, Cambodian Center for Human Rights
Tel: +855 12 51 55 06
Email: thyda@cchrcambodia.org
