Bail denied for 21 detainees [Breaking News CAMBODIA]

[geovalin]

Sean Teehan and May Titthara

Defence attorneys will now turn to the Supreme Court after a Court of Appeals judge denied bail this morning for all 21 people still detained from clashes with authorities during garment strike demonstrations last month.

The presiding judge said he decided not to allow bail based on speculation that the detainees’ release would “disturb public order”, Sam Sokung, a defence attorney representing six of the defendants, said outside the courtroom minutes after the decision.

“We are shocked,” said Moeun Tola, head of the Community Legal Education Center, which also provided legal representation for some of the defendants. “There was not enough grounds to keep them in prison.”

Weeping in front of the courtroom after the decision was announced, were the wife, two sons and daughter of Vorn Pov, president of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), who was arrested at a demonstration in front of the Yakjin (Cambodia) Inc. garment factory on January 2.

Guards at the court shut the gates to keep out about 200 people gathered outside from coming in, after land rights activist Yorm Bopha rushed into the courtroom complex after hearing the decision, falling to the ground and wailing next to Pov’s family.

Minutes before the decision came, rumours buzzed through the crowd of union activists, NGO workers and other supporters on site that a large majority of the detained men would be released today. Based on their attorneys’ take on the situation, Tola also believed this until the ruling.

“I hoped this morning that at least 18 people would be released today,” Tola said. “If the court is really independent, they should be released.”

Across the street from the courthouse, Ath Thorn, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union – the largest union behind the strike, which was suspended after deadly clashes on Veng Sreng Boulevard January 3 – said he was equally surprised.

Tomorrow, eight union groups will meet to discuss how to go about reigniting the strike, Thorn said.

“It’s not only about these 21 [detainees],” he said. “Wage negotiations are also important.”

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bail-denied-21-detainees

[geovalin]

Detainees not being used for leverage: Yeap

Wed, 12 February 2014

Meas Sokchea

A senior ruling party lawmaker has rejected allegations that the group of 21 activists, unionists and workers arrested during protests last month and denied bail for a second time yesterday are being used as a political tool by the government to force the opposition party to join the National Assembly.

Cheam Yeap, a Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker, yesterday insisted that the detainees’ cases were under the court’s control and that the ruling party would not be able to influence the legal outcome.

“These 21 individuals are in the hands of the court. You already know that the constitution states that there are three [separate] powers in Cambodia: legislative, executive and [judicial]. Each [branch] cannot interfere with each other’s internal affairs,” he said.

If the detainees were simply released, the government could be accused of allowing impunity to flourish, Yeap added, nonetheless saying that “problems” could not be solved until the leaders of both political parties meet.

“We have to have a top meeting first. Depending on how [that goes], we can solve more [problems]. We can request to His Majesty.… The King can [give a Royal pardon], according to forgiveness, or … for political reasons, or [any] other reason. [but] please come to meet [us] first.”

Moeun Tola, labour program head at the Community Legal Education Center, said outside the Appeal Court yesterday that government rhetoric in recent weeks had made him believe the detainees’ case was undoubtedly political.

“With the decision today, it’s clear that court is not looking at the facts. But they just listen to the … political signs,” he said.

“It’s clear for us to see that the arrest of, the detention of, the 21, it is just like pressure [on] the [Cambodia National Rescue Party] to legitimise the National Assembly.”

Veteran political analyst Chea Vannath said the detainees’ ongoing incarceration was a strategy to discourage would-be protesters.

“The 21 individuals are [stuck] between both political parties. I see that the [detainees] are not being released in order to prevent any more demonstrations from being held in the future,” she said.

CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said yesterday that his party demanded the immediate release of the detainees. He did not, however, confirm that their release was a pre-condition for fresh talks with the ruling party.

“A better political environment is the pre-condition. Only one phrase that covers everything – a better political environment.”

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KEVIN PONNIAH AND SEAN TEEHAN

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/detainees-not-being-used-leverage-yeap