The Cambodian Center for Human Rights on Thursday called on donors, lawmakers and other power brokers to step up pressure on the government, which hopes to pass a law to regulate non-governmental agencies but is widely seen as a blow to their ability to operate.
A leading Khmer Rouge scholar released a 60-page review of UN tribunal jurisdiction on Tuesday, saying that impartial investigations of atrocity crimes suspects should determine whether they are under the scope of the court. Stephen Heder, who left the investigating judges’ office with four other staff members after its hasty conclusion of a controversial case, was referring to the views of some Cambodian judges who have argued five potential suspects were not “most responsible” for the crimes of the regime. Questions over the handling of those two cases have divided the court, known officially as the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia.
Non-governmental agencies continued to express concern over a proposed law to regulate the sector on Tuesday, as the draft moved closer toward approval for debate.
Cambodia’s economy is lagging behind other Asean countries, making it hard to meet the level of other Asean countries, finance officials said Wednesday.
Cambodia’s economy is lagging behind other Asean countries, making it hard to meet the level of other Asean countries, finance officials said Wednesday. Cambodian and Asean economic officials were meeting in Phnom Penh to push for economic integration for 2015. Hang Chhuon Narong, secretary of state for the Ministry of Finance, said Cambodia was facing inflation of 6.5 percent, which was curbing economic growth
Human Rights Watch on Friday called on the courts to drop all charges against a staff member for the rights group Licadho, who the group says has been unjustly charged with incitement. Leang Sokchouen lost an appeal Thursday and is facing a two-year prison sentence for allegedly distributing anti-government leaflets. Licadho has maintained his innocence, while Human Rights Watch in a statement derided the “politicization and incompetence of Cambodia’s courts.” The US-based rights group said the charges against Leang Sokchouen had changed during appeal to incitement under the new penal code, which was not in effect at the time of his alleged offense in January 2010.
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights on Tuesday called for greater Internet freedoms in Cambodia, as more and more people are finding their way online. In its report, “ Internet Censorship: the ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression in Cambodia ,” the group warned of a “recent trend toward Internet censorship and the grave implications for freedom of expression in Cambodia.” Ou Virak, president of the center, said the government must work hard to development protective regulations for Internet use, as it spreads across the country, “by ensuring that old barriers are not applied to a new frontier.” Telecommunications Minister So Khun told VOA Khmer in a phone interview Tuesday the ministry does not condone Internet censorship.
Cambodia’s ruling party on Thursday approved a regional convention that would set up a joint development area between Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, but which opposition critics argue would cede land to Vietnam. The law passed with 83 votes from the Cambodian People’s Party, zero from the Sam Rainsy Party and a boycott from the Human Rights Party
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees freedom of expression. Mr. Toby Mendel, Law Program Director of the international human rights organization, ARTICLE 19 Global Campaign for Free Expression, was invited by the World Bank to address a training seminar at the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection (MONASRI). The World [...]