Mondulkiri Activists Blocked of their Access to Ethnic Group

On June 16, 2009 some local rights activists were blocked and banned the access to the visit of Phnong ethnic villagers in Pouteut village, Bou Sra commune, Pich Chenda district, Mondulkiri province that were celebrating their traditional ceremony in an attempt to slaughter a buffalo and put curse on a French-Cambodian rubber planation that the villagers claimed had grabbed their forest and shifting land. In addition the group became the subject of charages of incitement for helping those ethnic residents to protest against the company.

Adhoc provincial coordinator Mr. Sam Sarin said that some commune police officers had blocked and banned his group from visiting the villagers in the above area.

He added that the villagers had met together in order to hold the ritual ceremony against the company, whom they accused of encroaching their land.

In addition he said local NGO activists were now very worried about their personal security after having educating the local communities about their legal rights; especially related to indigenious land rights.

Mr. Em Veasan, the provincial director for the NGO Human Rights Vigilance of Cambodia said that the authorities very often ordered them directly and indirectly not to visit the villagers at all.

In relation to the above matter, Pich Chenda district Governor Nuon Saron denied the authorities had threatened rights workers. He said he welcomed to work with local NGOs; but the rights workers had to confirm with the government in advance so that they could get permission or not.

The above act of authorities seriously violated the Cambodian Constitutional Law, the Universal Declartion on Human Rightds and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights about freedoms of assembly and expression.