H.E. Ang Vong Vathna, Minister of Justice
H.E. Sar Kheng, Minister of Interior
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia

Re: Cambodia: Right to freedom of assembly has been severely violated

Your Excellencies,

I write to you to express our grave concerns regarding the shooting of three female garment workers in the Bavet town of Svay Rieng province on 20 February 2012.

I have received information that around 6,000 workers gathered in front of the Kaoway Sports Ltd factory in a peaceful demonstration to demand for better working conditions, including a minimum living wage of US$61/month and lunch allowance. While the demonstration was taking place, three unarmed women were shot; two suffered wounds to their arms or legs, one was seriously injured as the bullet ripped through her thoracic cage.

The perpetrator was later identified as being Bavet town’s own governor, Mr. Chhouk Bandit. Although the Minister of Interior, Mr. Sar Kheng, said publicly that Mr. Bandit was the sole suspect, the Court – under the direction of provincial chief prosecutor Hing Bun Chea – declined to issue an arrest warrant and instead settled with a summons on allegations that the report the police submitted was incomplete. He was briefly questioned by the police last week and later released. Mr. Bandit is expected to appear in court on 16 March 2012.

I deeply regret that the exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of assembly has been severely violated by the use of excessive force, which resulted in the serious injuries of three of the demonstration’s participants.

I note that there is much fear concerning the safety and security of the three victims and their families. These concerns are well grounded since the victims were approached on numerous occasions by officials from Bavet, including the police chief and commune chiefs, attempting to silence them through bribes since the shooting incident. [1] The most severely injured victim, Ms. Buot Chinda, was allegedly approached by the town governor himself. [2] I believe that the government of Cambodia must protect these young women and their families. They should be immediately placed under witness protection. Individuals who came forward in helping identify the perpetrator should also be placed under protection. I also stress that these attempts to influence witnesses in the ongoing investigation could constitute an obstruction of justice and are criminal offences punishable under Cambodia’s Criminal Code. [3] Those attempting to influence the witnesses must be held accountable under the existing laws.

Although Mr. Bandit was dismissed from his position as a Bavet town governor on 8 March 2012, there remain concerns that he will enjoy impunity as he is a member of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). The successive chain of events fails to reflect the gravity of the crimes: there was a notable delay in the police investigation as well in making the information about his involvement public. The recent refusal to issue him with an arrest warrant despite the culpatory evidence highlights the flaws present in the Cambodian legal and judicial systems. I strongly believe that the state is obligated to combat impunity for attacks and violations against its own people, by ensuring prompt and impartial investigations into allegations and appropriate redress and reparation to victims. In this regard, an arrest warrant on the alleged perpetrator should be issued without delay to ensure the safety of the victims, and to prevent him from influencing the investigation and legal proceedings of this case.

I would like to draw your attention to the recent report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Mr. Surya Subedi, which highlighted concerns over the politicization of the judiciary and called for a separate entity to be solely in charge of the prosecutors – as opposed to being attached to the courts. [4] The unfolding of unfortunate events in the town of Bavet and the subsequent flawed investigation processes, have highlighted the cause for continued concerns in this regard.

As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) , the Government of Cambodia must ensure that the three victims are provided with an “effective remedy notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons in an official capacity” [5] and that it be determined by a competent judicial authority. We therefore strongly urge that the Government will ensure his appearance in court, protect all witnesses from intimidation, and guarantee that the upcoming legal process be carried out in a free, fair and impartial manner that meets international standards.

I further urge the Cambodian government to take the necessary steps to protect the fundamental right to freedom of assembly in Cambodia, which has been subjected to increasing restrictions. In this particular case, the Cambodian government’s ability to ensure justice for those whose rights have been severely violated and to hold the perpetrator accountable serves as a serious test of the Cambodian government’s will to uphold human rights, consistent with its own Constitution, the human rights principles of the ASEAN Charter, and international human rights law.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

The event which was held at the Cape Coast Town Hall attracted a significant number of enthusiastic Ghanaians who expressed their willingness to join what will soon become officially Ghana’s newest political party. The entire hall was filled to capacity as some of the people who thronged the place had to stand outside. In all the over 450 executives were elected to run the party’s activities at the regional and constituency levels in the region.

The event also saw virtually all the CPP executives from the 19 constituencies in the region crossing carpet to help form the PPP. What is more, many other CPP members who thronged the venue stressed their resolve to part ways with the CPP and to join the PPP.

Some of them explained their decision to join the PPP because they found it to be a credible alternative political party that when elected by Ghanaians can make Ghana a prosperous nation. “We now belong to a political party that we believe will work with sense of urgency to win the mandate of the Ghanaian electorate to govern this country and better the lot of Ghanaians,” some of the new PPP members were heard telling journalists.

Meanwhile, the PPP is expected to embark upon similar events in the remaining regions. The founding members of PPP contend that PPP members will work hard to win the mandate of Ghanians in the 2012 election.

Inaugurating the 20 member Central Regional Executive, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, a presidential hopeful said “Ours is a broad-based national Movement with people who have been crying for the “change we need” after experiencing NDC and NPP administrations that have not delivered to their expectations.” he declared. He emphasized the point that as law-abiding people, the promoters of the new party will continue to work quickly to meet the requirements of the Electoral Commission so that the certificate to commence activities as a political party as be obtained very soon. Dr Nduom stressed that one important principle of the new progressive and alternative political organisation is inclusiveness. This means that opportunities will be given to all Ghanaians irrespective of their ethnicity, religious affiliation and political affiliation.

For his part, the interim chairman of the progressive movement Mr. Nii Brew Hammond, emphasized the need for unity and tasked the interim constituency and regional executives to ensure complete organization the polling station level.

AUTHOR: Shout Africa
URL: http://www.shout-africa.com
E-MAIL: news [at] shout-africa.com