United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia Vitit Muntarbhorn met with local civil society groups and indigenous minority groups in Ratanakiri province where community leaders raised concerns regarding the restricted right to freedom and continued forest clearance.

Vitit, who is visiting the country from July 21 to 27, 2024, will also meet government representatives, human rights defenders, civil society organizations, journalists, media, members of the diplomatic community, UN agencies and other key stakeholders in Phnom Penh and Kandal.

Cambodia Indigenous People Organization (CIPO) project manager Som Kuntheary confirmed that the Ratanakiri minority groups met with Vitit. They highlighted challenges relating to outsiders and private companies encroaching their community farmlands as well as human rights, microfinance debts and deforestation issues.

“I think if he [Vitit Muntarbhorn] brings these concerns to the relevant partners and authorities, the situation would be better as they will address issues,” he said.

Kuntheary mentioned that indigenous people continue to face challenges in “their communal land”, which is located inside protected areas. Their rights and livelihood are impacted as they rely on the forest.

Ratanakiri provincial governor Nhem Sam Oeun could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, a youth workshop in Battambang was stopped by the authorities on Sunday as they allegedly did not possess a permit.

The workshop was conducted by Smiling Youth to promote women’s participation in social work, where over 60 people participated.

Ty Somanita, a member of Smiling Youth, said some 10 officers wearing civilian uniforms came over and told them to stop despite her insistence that they were not doing anything illegal and had the right to hold a workshop.

“At first, they [the authorities] came and forbade us to stop, but we did not stop because the young people agreed to continue […] then they cut the electricity after we continued,” she narrated.

Even though the electricity went out, they continued the workshop without a microphone, but they heard voices from outside that if they did not stop, the authorities would arrest them.

Somanita said they stopped the workshop after that because they did not want to cause any inconvenience to the restaurant owner.

Following that, Somanita went to the Battambang city hall on July 19 to talk about the workshop, but the authority said they were “forbidden” from holding a workshop. Various laws, contrary to the law about associations and civil society organizations, were cited.

Smiling Youth was established in 2023 and has held previous workshops but never encountered any problem until Sunday. She asked the local authorities to follow the law and allow them to exercise their right without restrictions.

Governor of Battambang​ city Leang Veasna told CamboJA News that the youth group which conducted the workshop did not have a permit, so the restaurant owner asked them to stop.

“The network organized [the workshop] without a permit from the authorities, so the owner of the restaurant checked for a permit. But they didn’t have any, so he asked the [youths] to stop the event,” he said.

When mentioned that Smiling Youth went to the provincial administration to inform them about the workshop on July 19, Veasna asked them to produce the letter. “Send the official letter […] approved or not, the authorities will inform [them] in writing,” he said. Any group which wants to organize any workshop within Battambang province, must acquire an approval from the relevant authorities, he added.

A person who picked up the phone, based on a number found on the restaurant banner, told CamboJA News that they were not involved. The issue was settled between the authorities and the organization, said the woman who declined to be named. She added that the restaurant did not know the exact procedure for the event.

“They [the authorities] came by themselves […] because we, as a place of business, accept everything [event]. We do not know anything about it,” she said, denying that the restaurant did not ask the authorities to stop the workshop.

In May, UN member states urged the Cambodian government to restore civil political space and rights freedom of expression, and release all who had been unjustly detained for exercising their fundamental right to freedom. This includes former opposition figure Kem Sokha, who was found guilty, and sentenced to 27 years’ imprisonment and a lifetime ban from politics.

NGO rights group Adhoc president Ny Sokha, expressed that the special rapporteur had urged the government to open up civil and political space, and implement democratic reform. However, it has continued to shrink, noting the recent jailing of environmental activists and arresting of political party’s activists, as well as unions mounting smear campaigns against the Central organization.

“The rapporteur [Vitit Muntarhborn] is evaluating and collecting information from relevant stakeholders, especially to urge the government to reflect on the report.”

“But we are not optimistic that the situation will be better with his visit because only the government can restore the civic space and freedoms,” Sokha said.

Based on his experience, the human rights situation was getting worse due to the political situation, in relation to the argument of politicians.

UN public information officer Hammad Ahamd, declined to comment specifically on the special rapporteur’s meeting with local community leaders in Ratanakiri. 

Government spokesperson Pen Bona could not be reached for comment.