58 Civil Groups, Nonprofits Urge Cambodia to Release 5 Activists

PHNOM PENH - A total of 58 civil groups and domestic and international nonprofits have urged Cambodia to release the five human rights activists who have been kept in preventive custody for 102 days. "No one should be subjected to arbitrary arrest or imprisonment, and civil society members should never be put at risk for doing their job," ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights Chairperson Charles Santiago said in a statement.

Santiago added the authorities must free the five human rights defenders - National Election Commission Deputy Secretary-General Ny Chakrya and members of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, Lim Mony, Ny Sokah, Yi Soksan and Nay Vanda - to retain their international credibility. The five activists, in custody since April, were accused of bribery in relation to an aid given to a woman accused of committing adultery with an opposition leader.

The charges have all the characteristics of being politically motivated, said another statement by the 58 civil groups and nonprofits that include the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights and Amnesty International. The signatories also launched a campaign ·FreeThe5KH to garner support and solidarity for the detainees and to raise awareness among Cambodian citizens. The European Parliament on June 9 had said human rights situation was deteriorating in Cambodia and had called for the release of the five activists as well as withdrawal of an arrest warrant against opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

 

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