Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association

Court Releases 38 CLV-DTA Activists on Bail Amid CSOs Call to Free Them

Police check vehicles entering Phnom Penh on a street in Kandal province to stop any anti-CLV-DTA demonstrations planned on August 18, 2024. (CamboJA/Pring Samrang)
Police check vehicles entering Phnom Penh on a street in Kandal province to stop any anti-CLV-DTA demonstrations planned on August 18, 2024. (CamboJA/Pring Samrang)

Dozens of activists were released on bail for their alleged involvement in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) in the last few days, earning the praise of civil society groups. The groups have numerous times called for their release as the government had already decided to withdraw from the 20-year regional cooperative initiative.

General Department of Prison Kheang Sonadin confirmed the release of 17 people but declined to elaborate, referring instead to the court officials who made the decision to let them go.

Prison Director Nouth Savna for Correctional Center I, also known as Prey Sar Prison, declined to comment when contacted via Telegram. However, in a Facebook post on January 17, he said the activists were released after permission was granted by Senate president Hun Sen. He is also President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

Savna congratulated the activists and wished them the best for their future and stay away from “extremist groups”, a likely reference to Sam Rainsy, a self-exiled ex-leader of the now-defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party.

According to the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (Licadho), over 100 people have been arrested since late July, with more than 60 charged and imprisoned for expressing views about the CLV-DTA on social media or planning to assemble.

Licadho operations director Sam Sam Ath welcomed the release of the activists, who were arrested for exercising their right to freedom of expression about the CLV-DTA.

“As a civil society group, we think that those who were arrested due to the CLV-DTA, should be released because the government already exited the agreement,” he said. 

“If all people who were arrested due to this issue were released, it would show that [the government] upheld human rights principle and [wanted to resolve the] human rights situation,” Sam Ath said.

According to him, 21 people were released on Monday.

Last December, Phnom Penh Municipal Court began trial for 37 defendants, charged for incitement for allegedly commenting on the CLV-DTA. The activists included Paris Peace Agreement activist Srun Srorn.

At the time, the court hearing stalled as the defense lawyers filed an appeal against Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s decision to split the case into five parts. 

“We are now awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal,” Son Chumchoun, one of defense lawyers, said, adding that the Court of Appeal has not scheduled a hearing yet.

Chumchoun urged the court to consider granting bail to other detainees who were arrested over “exercising their opinion” relating to the CLV-DTA case.

Opposition Candlelight Party secretary-general Ly Sothearayuth echoed the NGO rights group’s stance on the freeing of the activists. He also urged the court to release other political activists and human rights defenders so that they can return to their family.

“We want to see all political prisoners released, as well as the reopening of democratic space, and allowing political activity freedom without the intimidation of powerful individuals,” he said.

CLV-DTA was established in 1999 to promote social-economic development, economic cooperation and closer relationships with the heads of government of three countries. In Cambodia, border provinces Stung Treng, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri and Kratie, were initially designated to benefit from the agreement.

Ruling CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan could not be reached for comment.

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