The International Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) called on World Bank president Ajay Banga to condemn the Cambodian government’s alleged assault on human rights groups, including reprisals against World Bank project stakeholders.

However, government spokesperson Pen Bona countered that calls made by international groups to pressure governments are “outdated”, and that they should not interfere in Cambodia’s affairs, which is an independent and sovereign state.

Some 163 international NGOs in Europe and the United States issued a joint statement via IFHR highlighting a “worrying” escalation in the repression of critical voices by the Cambodian government in recent months. This includes attacks on two human rights groups, Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL) and Equitable Cambodia (EC), they said.

“In both cases, the reprisals are linked to the groups’ legitimate human rights activities, in particular to their efforts to ensure human and labor rights protections in projects supported by the World Bank Group,” read the joint statement.

Government spokesperson Bona denied that the government attacked human rights or opposition groups, noting that legal action was only meted out on those who broke the law.

“As you have seen in the past, if they break the law, legal action will be taken against them. This is enforcing the law in accordance with the strengthening of the rule of law,” he said.

“No individual or organization who only represents a small group of people can try to pressure the government. It cannot,” Bona added.

He called on non-governmental organizations, both national and international, to be established in helping nations and general citizens, rather than defending particular factions which are “small groups committing illegal acts”. 

“I would like to inform you that [any group] attempting to use foreign influence to appeal to institutes or countries to put pressure on the government is outdated and no longer effective,” Bona said.

He said Cambodia has a population of 17 million people, therefore the government is committed to protecting every citizen’s interests.

The NGOs, which signed the statement, also urged World Bank‘s Ajay Banga to make it clear to the Cambodian government that the bank would enforce its policy of zero tolerance for retaliation.

This meant that before new investments are approved, the bank’s board should check whether “legal harassment” against CENTRAL and EC have stopped and if the staff are able to continue to freely engage in their legitimate human rights activities.

In July, the National Audit Authority audited CENTRAL following complaints from unions, federations and associations relating to its report Barriers to Representation: Freedom of Association in Cambodia. They criticized the report as being “biased and unfair”.

CENTRAL’s program manager Khun Tharo was eventually charged with public defamation.

CENTRAL executive director Moeun Tola said Cambodian leaders should consider addressing deteriorating human rights issues, including the harassment of civil organizations.

“The key is with the government, if they are concerned about the economy. I think it is time to build our economy,” he said, pointing out that the World Bank was a big donor to Cambodia’s development.

Tola remarked that Cambodia should address labor and human rights issues, and challenges faced by civil society groups to get preferential tariffs in order to reach its goal of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030.

Meanwhile, the joint statement underlined concerns of legal action against EC executive director Eang Vuthy who received a court summons notifying him of his criminal charge for incitement to commit a felony or disturb social security in April 2024.

It allegedly follows a complaint by the Interior Ministry amid his work on predatory lending and human rights violations caused by microfinance institutions backed by the IFC.

EC’s Vuthy declined to comment when contacted.

Responding to CamboJA News, a World Bank Group spokesperson said they will work with appropriate parties to address the complaints, including allegations of reprisal in connection with World Bank Group projects, which are brought to their attention.

“Both the World Bank and IFC have shared public statements outlining our position against reprisals,” the spokesperson said via email on October 24, 2024.

Additionally, the spokesperson said, the World Bank Group takes the specific allegations raised by civil society “seriously” and has been working to address them, including through direct communications with clients and government counterparts and the provision of training for clients and the microfinance sector.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with appropriate parties to address any allegations pertaining to our investments.”

Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak could not be reached for comment.

(Additional reporting by Tang Porgech)

Note: This story was updated at 11:45 a.m on October 25, 2024 with a response from a World Bank Group spokesperson.