Between November 5 and 12, Cambodia released 26 political prisoners and youth and environmental activists facing charges of incitement against the government. This comes ahead of an Asia Europe summit in Phnom Phen this month, drawing speculation that the decision was done under international pressure or to preserve the country’s image.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that those released included members of the environmental activism group Mother Nature Cambodia, Khmer Thavrak, opposition party activists, union leader Rong Chhun, and “Friday Women” protesters.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is one of the world’s longest-serving leaders and has been in power for 36 years, has been facing increasing calls to improve his administration’s human rights record.
However, while a justice ministry spokesperson confirmed the release of the incarcerated activists, he denied that it was in response to any international pressure and said the prisoners were freed to ease overcrowding in prisons. “This is a normal court procedure, the court didn’t pay attention to whether you are activists or not. This is a campaign to help solve cases that are stuck in courts and reduce the capacity in crowded prisons,” Chin Malin told Reuters on Wednesday.
The spokesperson also clarified that charges against those released have not been dropped, which leaves them open to being re-arrested at the will of the government.
“The release of 26 wrongfully detained political prisoners is good news, but there is nothing to stop the Cambodian authorities from re-arresting them at any time,” HRW’s Asia director Brad Adams said.
In fact, the HRW said that Cambodian authorities have imposed multiple probationary conditions on those released. This includes: “regular reporting; limits on freedom of movement; prohibitions on associating with other released prisoners; and other restrictions on activities and rights.”
“If they do activities that violate the court's order, they will face the law and can be brought back to prison,” Malin added.
Moreover, while the recent release is a start, the human rights watch group has insisted that the Cambodian government has a long way to go as 60 more political prisoners remain in custody. Adams thus urged international governments and more specifically, participants of the European Union to the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Phnom Penh in later this month, to pressurise the Cambodian leadership “to drop the conditions imposed on those released and unconditionally free all remaining political prisoners.”
“We appeal to the government to release other youth and political activists unconditionally as they should never have been imprisoned for raising critical issues about the environment or rule of law in Cambodia in the public domain,” added Naly Pilorge, the director of local human rights group LICADHO.
Cambodia Releases 26 Political Prisoners, Dismisses Claims of International Pressure
However, a government spokesperson has clarified that charges against those released have not been dropped, which leaves them open to being re-arrested.
November 18, 2021
Rong Chhun, an environmental activist, speaks after being released from the Correctional centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov 12, 2021. IMAGE SOURCE: LICADHO/RAKSMEY SOK HANDOUT via REUTERS