Journalists Fined for Disinformation and Defamation

On August 17, 2010 Phnom Penh Municipal Court of First Instance opened a hearing of journalists for Meato Phum Newspaper for disinformation and defamation in accordance with the complaint by Meas Sopheap, chief of military Battalion 204 who was also alleged of illegally logged, kept and transported timbers to neighboring country [Vietnam].

Land Representative Arrested in Battambang

On August 9, 2010, a villager representative in a land conflict was arrested by Battambang provincial police when he and other three deserters appeared in the village, Daun Ba commune, Kois Kralor distrtict, after they had been running away from being cuptured for a long time in relation to a land conflict in the area.

Attempted Killing of Three Journalists

On February 4, 2010 three local journalists in Kratie province reported received death threat from Border Military Official as they accidentally encountered timbers were transported in a mini-van at around 12:00 mid-night on a small rout in Sre Roneam village Khsim commune, Snoul district, Kratie province. Tension rose up after these three reporters came up to them and asked questions.

Khmer Amatak Publisher Faces Charge of Disinformation and Defamation

On August 3, 2010 Phnom Penh Municipal Court of First Instance was planning to summon Khmer Amatak publisher Bun Tha for questionings in accordance with the complaint by Kao Kimhuon, State of Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relation and also Director of Cambodia University. The publisher has been sued for disinformation and defamation related to two articles issued since 2009, “Students Pay 20,000 riels for Examination Document”.

Prime Minister Reacted against Surya Subedi’s Statement

On June 21, 2010 Prime Minister Hun Sen verbally reacted against the statement of Surya Subedi, UN human rights envoy, who also paid his official visit for 10 days in Cambodia in order to discuss the issues of human rights and the reform of Cambodian judicial system as planned. The premier said what Subedi had mentioned earlier showed no respect of the hosted country. It did not only disdain the country leader with sovereignty, but also Cambodian citizens, the voters.

Prime Minister Reacted against Surya Subedi’s Statement

On June 21, 2010 Prime Minister Hun Sen verbally reacted against the statement of Surya Subedi, UN human rights envoy, who also paid his official visit for 10 days in Cambodia in order to discuss the issues of human rights and the reform of Cambodian judicial system as planned. The premier said what Subedi had mentioned earlier showed no respect of the hosted country. It did not only disdain the country leader with sovereignty, but also Cambodian citizens, the voters.

A Villager Representative Arrested in Samlot Land Conflict

A village representative in land disputes in Samlot district, Battambang province against RCAF Region 5 and Korean company, was arrested on May 24, 2010. Mr. Sim Mey, the representative, was summoned for questioning along with another villager by the provincial court. He was arrested after the interrogation, but the other was freed.

Mr. Sim Mey, 45 years old, used to be shot on April 4, 2010 at around 10:00PM by a few unidentified gunmen. However the perpetrators have not been arrested yet.

Two Journalists Temporarily Blocked in Police Custody in Battambang

Two journalists were temporarily detained for approximately one hour in the Forest Administrative office in Battambang province on the morning of April 5, 2010, after they and others had made inquiries regarding allegations that Forestry officials had extorted money from charcoal makers in the street. The questioning had led to a verbal argument and the detention of these two journalists.

Chea Vichea Documentary Banned

On April 30, 2010 Phnom Penh Municipal Governor refused the proposal by Rong Chun, the President of the Cambodia Independent Teacher’s Association and also the Cambodian Confederation Union to cast the documentary of Chea Vichea’s killing, which was planned on the International Labor’s Day, May 01, 2010.

In a letter sent to Mr. Rong Chhun that day, Kep Chutema claimed that reason which the government decided to reject the request that the film had not had a license from concerned ministries.

Prey Norkor News Boy Temporarily Prohibited

On April 5, 2010 at about 6:00 to 7:00 PM, a young boy, 15, who delivered The Prey Nokor News was temporarily prohibited and sent to Daun Penh Police for questioning for a short time before releasing.

According to Mr. Ly Chhuan, the publisher of the newspaper, that young boy stayed in Botom Pagoda, who normally received and sold the newspaper around Chaktomok High School in order to gain some money for his school expenditure. Before the arrest, the delivery had been done for a few days there.

Four Villagers Arrested in a Land Dispute in Kiri Vong

Related to a land conflict in Kiri Vong district, Takeo province, which caused those affected villagers to protest in front of the National Assembly on April 7, 2010 to demand the legislative intervention over the matter of what they asserted that their land has been grabbed by a local forest conservative organization, called the NGO Chamreun Chiet Khmer in order to plant acacia trees. In addition the people have been intimidated by some local authority; and some residents were sued and summoned for questioning.

Journalist Intimidated and Sued

A reporter for a local Khmer version newspaper, Sthabna Cheat Khmer was intimidated and his camera was grabbed while he was trying to take pictures of 3 ox carts carrying timbers out of the forest and two forest administrative officials were there trying to stop the carts in Kilometer 8, Thnal Dach village, Darin commune, Sotr Nikum district, Siem Reap province.

Amata Editor Sued for Defamation and Disinformation

A local Khmer version publisher for Amata Newspaper was summoned by Phnom Penh Municipal Court on March 22, 2010 for defamation and disinformation, according to a complaint by Mr. Kao Kimhuan, the director of Cambodia University and the secretary of state of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Bun Tha, the publisher, told other reporters the reason he had been sued as he left the courtroom that the case was related to two articles, published in 2009 about students’ complaints over an unofficial 20,000-riel fee collected on applications for a scholarship sponsored by the Japanese government and Prime Minister Hun Sen. However, those applications were supposed to hand out free of charge.

A Human Right Activist Received Death Threat

A local right activist for the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) in Kampot province was intimidated and chased from behind in order to kill him with a hooked knife by a group of 4 RCAF soldiers when he took a photograph of the group cutting down fruit trees of a village family on February 4, 2010 in Trapeang Chheuteal village, Chres commune, Chumkiri district, Kampot province, at about 9:00 am.

Former Victims Sued for Defamation in Land Conflict

Four local villagers living in Chi Kreng district, Siem Reap province that were shot and seriously assaulted by police on March 22, 2009, were sued for defamation and summoned to be present at Siem Reap provincial court on August 25, 2009.

Municipality Sought Inciters behind Demonstration

On July 21, 2009 Phnom Penh Municipality issued a statement to ask Phnom Penh Municipal Police and RCAF to search for those stayed behind the demonstration over 8 story building of Kandal Market’s new project.

Chea Mony Might Face Disinformation and Incitement

On August 21, 2009 the government planned to sue Chea Mony, the president of the Free Trade Union stressed the government could be involved in planning of the murder of his elder brother six years ago. Mr. Chea Vichea, his brother, was killed on January 22, 2003 on Paster road near Lanka Pagoda and near the news stall.

Hun Sen Warned Sam Rainsy over NEC Fine

The president of SRP Mr. Sam Rainsy was sued by the National Election Committee for his criticizing the Cambodian People Party (CPP) during the national election campaign, July 2008. He was found guilty and demanded to pay 10 million Riels (US$2,500) for compensation because the case was rightfully a criminal matter. The matter had been sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which asked the National Assembly to revoke Sam Rainsy’s immunity so that the court could implement the case.

SRP Lawmaker (Ho Vann) Summoned for Questioning over Defamation

On 25 May 2009, municipal court Deputy Prosecutor Sok Roeun was invited SRP lawmaker Ho Vann to appear at the court on June 5 for questioning over allegations of “defamation and incitement to case felony-misdemeanor crime successfully and incitement to cause felony-misdemeanor crime successfully and incitement to cause felony-misdemeanor crime unsuccessfully.” This invitation responded to the lawsuit filed by two lawyers, Kheng Ly and Taing Meng Sroy, on behaft of the 22 RCAF officers who received the decrees from the Vietnamese military. The cause of the lawsuit against Ho Vann is his criticism expression toward the 22 RCAF officers who received the decrees from the Vietnamese military.

Kong Sam Onn, Hua Lawyer Faced Bar Inspection

After the press conference on 23 April 2009, Mr. Kong Sam Onn, a lawyer representing MP Mu Sochua in her defamation against Prime Minister Hun Sen could be suspended from his legal professional if the Bar Association of the kingdom of Cambodia will find him guilty on violation of the code of ethics for lawyer.