The Khmer Bulletin

Sonando's Supporters

2012-07-31T07:21:00.001-07:00

Many groups have started petitions in support of Mam Sonando's release. The following article is about the Association of Democrats. Sonando has many supporters all over the world. The Khmer People Power Movement have also started a petition which can be found here.

Khoun Phannavy (C), deputy general director of the Association of Democrats, speaks to reporters

outside the US Embassy in Phnom Penh yesterday. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

The Association of Democrats claims to have secured more than 45,000 thumbprints for petitions submitted to foreign embassies yesterday demanding the release of their arrested president, Mam Sonando.

Sonando, an outspoken government critic who disseminated his views on-air as director of the Beehive radio station, was arrested on July 15 in connection with a so-called secessionist plot months earlier.

The deputy general director of the Association of Democrats, Khoun Phannavy, said yesterday 46,000 thumbprints had been collected for petitions submitted to embassies including those for the US, France, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Thailand and Australia.

“The reason why we do this is that we found that the president did not do anything wrong. He was not involved in the accusation of being behind an autonomous area,” she said.

On May 16, a large government security force stormed a village in Kratie province and opened fired on residents, killing a 14-year-old girl in what the government claimed was a crackdown on a secessionist movement but community leaders said was a forced eviction.

There has been no investigation into the killing of the girl, which took place at Pro Ma village in Chhlong district’s Kampong Damrei commune.

The US, French and other embassies could not be reached for comment.

Sonando’s lawyer and executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, Sok Sam Oeun, said he would submit a letter requesting Phnom Penh Municipal Court release his client from Prey Sar prison because of his ailing health.

“If the court declines to release my client on bail, I have two choices. I can file an appeal, [and if they reject it] in one month more, I will do it again,” he said.

Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, has also been meeting union bosses from 35 factories to organise a campaign to push for Sonando’s release.

Article written by May Titthara and can be found at Phnom Penh Post

Support the Release of Sonando

2012-07-25T07:40:00.001-07:00

The following article shows what happens when one tries to do things to help out in Cambodia but we aren't in Cambodia so please sign this Petition to show our support in releasing Mam Sonando. If people in Cambodia are willing to do it and face arrest then we also should be willing to help.

Supporters of detained Association of Democrats president and Beehive Radio director Mam Sonando were prevented in four provinces from gathering thumbprints for a petition calling for his release yesterday, association members said.

Chea Bamrong, Beehive’s deputy general director, said the petition was to be submitted to government agencies and nine foreign embassies on July 30, but association members were stopped in their tracks by authorities in Kandal, Takeo, Prey Veng and Kratie provinces.

“The authorities prohibited his members for disturbing public order,” Bamrong said, denying that association members caused any disturbance. “All the villagers thought that their president did not do anything wrong; they gave thumbprints to support him altogether.”

Sonando was arrested on July 15 on charges stemming from his alleged involvement in a “secessionist plot” in Kratie province’s Pro Ma village, the site of a land dispute that culminated in a forced eviction and the killing of a 14-year-old girl by government forces.
Association member Khan Bich, 54, from Kandal province’s Prek Luong commune was among the activists prevented from gathering prints, even though “all the villagers volunteered to do it by themselves as they support the director”.

Leakh Leak, Prek Luong commune police chief, said he barred the petitioners because he didn’t know why they were collecting the thumbprints, and that the district governor ordered him to stop them.

“Whenever I receive a new order from the district governor, I will inform them,” he said.
Im Chhieng Horn, another Association of Democrats representative, was arrested – and later released – in Kratie province’s Kampong Kor commune after authorities told him he had not asked for permission to gather thumbprints.

“If [Sonando] did something wrong, we might not dare to help.”

Chan Soveth, a senior investigator for the rights group Adhoc, said that the association’s actions were protected under constitutional law as long as they were peaceful, and accused authorities of acting illegally.

From Phnom Penh Post

Sevenly and Somaly Mam

2012-07-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard of Sevenly, this week is a great week to check them out and help out a great cause. Their goal is to help charities by selling clothes. They choose a different charity every week and this week it is the Somaly Mam Foundation. The Somaly Mam Foundation was founded to end slavery. Somaly Mam, a sex slave survivor now dedicates her time to helping rescue and rehabilitate victims of human trafficking mainly in Southeast Asia.

"I've committed my life to fighting this horrible scourge on humanity. Seeing innocent young women and children whose lives have been forever scarred leaves no doubt that they need a champion who is willing to invest all their time and energy towards eradicating the shameful practice of human trafficking." -Somaly Mam

Sales this week will help provide a safe environment for survivors, as well as aid in investigation and brothel raids.

Freedom of Speech? Not In Cambodia

2012-07-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Mam Sonando, who owns Beehive Radio Station in Cambodia, was arrested on Sunday. He is accused of trying to establish a state within a state and plotting to overthrow the government. Sonando claims his innocence and denies the charges.

Hun Sen, prime minister of Cambodia, called for his arrest on Tuesday June 26th but Sonando was out of the country. Sonando was covering the Khmer People Power Movement's presentation to the International Crime Court regarding the inhuman acts of Hun Sen. Not more than a day after Sonado's broadcast aired, Hun Sen called for his arrest. Sonado returned to Cambodia on July 12th to face the charges against him but was not arrested until July 15th, conveniently after Hillary Clinton's visit to the country. During Hillary Clinton's visit she addressed human rights violation and her concerns about the land disputes.

Back in May, hundreds of families were evicted from their home in the Broma Village located in the Kratie Province. A 14 year old girl, Heng Chantha was killed when a group of soildiers opened fire on unarmed civilians. Also, 13 woman were put in jail for protesting the evictions. They were released June 27th more than a month after the incident. Hun Sen has accused this poor village of trying to secede from Cambodia and believes that Mam Sonando was the mastermind behind all of it. Officials even detained a prominent monk, Loun Savath, who also protested the land evictions.

This has not been the first time that Hun Sen has called for people to be evicted from their homes. It has been going on since 2003. For more on the land evictions please check out The Cause of Progress

The arrests that have been made regarding the land disputes have been unjust, unfair including this recent arrest of Mam Sonando. There is no backing to his allegations. Hun Sen is trying to hush an outspoken voice. Beehive Radio is the only station in Cambodia that does not censor, that is not afraid to oppose Hun Sen. Sonando has used the radio station to inform and empower the Khmer people. Arresting Sonando is a blow to freedom of speech in Cambodia but it will not breakdown the people.
Hun Sen is trying to save face by arresting Sonando. He needs a scapegoat for the death of Heng Chantha. But Hun Sen is the one that ordered the evictions. His soldiers are the ones that opened fire on civilians. The soldiers have stated that it was in self defense but what weapons did the civilians have, a few farm tools? Hun Sen, if you are going to make up stuff, do a better job. We can see right through you.