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A courtroom in Cambodia on Friday held a trial for outstanding union chief Rong Chhun on costs of “incitement,” drawing criticism from his lawyer who stated the choose’s line of questioning assumed the defendant’s guilt.
Scores of Cambodian civil society teams have condemned the arrest of the president of the Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions, demanding that the federal government launch him and drop costs he faces over his criticism of the nation’s dealing with of a border dispute with Vietnam.
Rong Chhun, who can be a member of the Cambodian Watchdog Council, was jailed at Prey Sar Prison on Aug. 1, a day after his arrest for claiming the federal government has allowed Vietnam to encroach on farmland alongside their shared border. He faces two years in jail if convicted.
Defense lawyer Sam Sokong informed RFA’s Khmer Service after the proceedings that questions put to Rong Chhun by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday sought to put the burden of guilt on his consumer, fairly than decide whether or not the costs towards him are legitimate. He maintained that Rong Chhun’s statements in regards to the border have been made as a citizen exercising his proper to freedom of expression as assured by nationwide and worldwide regulation.
Sam Sokong stated the choose questioned his consumer in regards to the creation of the Cambodia Watchdog Council, his border inspection actions, and his issuance of an announcement on the border dispute, in addition to an interview he gave to RFA in July 2020.
Rong Chhun informed the choose that the Cambodia Watchdog Council was established legally in 2002 and has by no means confronted issues with the authorities. He stated his go to to the border was a “fulfillment of social work” and carried out as a Cambodian citizen. His assertion on the border dispute was based mostly on info he gathered from native residents and was inside his rights to make, he added.
“[Rong Chhun’s] main goal [in visiting the border] was to ask citizens about land disputes,” Sam Sokong stated. “Rong Chhun issued a statement that does not reflect his personal views, but rather those of the people.”
In addition to Rong Chhun’s trial, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court heard instances on costs of incitement towards Ton Nimol, an activist with the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP); Sar Kanika, the president of the Cambodian Informal Laborers’ Association (CILA); and Suong Sophorn, head of the little-known Khmer Win Party. All 4 instances have been adjourned till Feb. 3.
Soeng Senkaruna, a spokesman for the Cambodian rights group ADHOC, echoed Sam Sokong’s issues in regards to the choose’s questioning of Rong Chhun throughout his listening to.
“Most of the questions posed by the judges were burdensome on Rong Chhun,” he stated. “I think there should have been more questions to extenuate rather than attenuate.”
Message to the general public
Friday’s listening to was additionally noticed by civil society officers; diplomats from Japan, Australia, Germany, the U.S., and the European Union; and a consultant from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia.
During the proceedings, authorities prevented detainees’ family, in addition to members of civil society teams and the media, from gathering close to the courtroom compound.
Rong Chhun’s nephew, Rong Vichea, informed RFA that he final visited his uncle on Thursday. He stated Rong Chhun stays in good bodily and psychological well being, including that his uncle informed him to convey a message to the general public to not be dispirited by mounting persecution and prosecutions by the authorities towards voices of dissent.
“My uncle remains courageous, resolute and strong. He maintains his position that he did nothing illegal, as charged by the court,” Rong Vichea stated.
“Most importantly, in a democratic society, when we as citizens see democratic space shrinking and society deteriorating, if we do not unite together to think about our rights and freedom, our livelihoods and the loss of our interests, our present society and the future generation will suffer further harm.”
Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
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