ADN/I9/2014/JAN
10 January 2014
[Call for Action Against the Cambodian Crackdown on Protesters]
Dear Friends,
We would like to call your attention and request your action on the current ongoing fatal crackdown on the protests by textile workers in Cambodia.
ADN partner organization the Cooperation Committee Cambodia (CCC) has informed us of the following facts regarding the situation.
Here is the fact in brief of results of the violence and attempts to intimidate the opposition and textile workers:
• 5 dead and at least 39 injured in 3 hospitals, most of injured are from bullet injuries
• 3 court summons confirmed for Sam Rainsy, Kim Sokha, R. Chhun (2 CNRP leaders and 1 union leader), we believe there are 5 additional court summons issued but do not have copies yet. Those summoned are to appear at PP Municipal Court on Jan 14 at 10:00 AM. The accusations are incitement, violence, damage to property etc….
• 23 people charged by the PP Municipal Court and sent to prison on Fri and Sat but no one has been able to find out where they are, UN, LICADHO and ICRC have been checking/calling, no one from government including MOI or any prison director will confirm where they are detained. We received very credible information that the 23 are held in CC3 prison which is about 2 hours away from K. Cham town on very isolated area. CC3 is a prison that only held convicted male prisoners up to now. Some of the detainees especially Vorn Pao need medical treatments after severe beatings.
Along with the fatal crackdown of protesters, all public gatherings have now been banned. These are clear violations on the freedom of association and assembly.
We urge you to take action and relay your urgent appeal to the Cambodian government. FORUM-ASIA, Steering Committee member organization of ADN, has released an open letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen demanding the release of detained protesters and stopping the violent crackdown. We have attached this open letter in the email.
In Solidarity,
