A Second Blow to Human Rights…
Yesterday noon I wrote:
‘Yet another very bad blow for the Human Rights record of Cambodia.
Venerable Luon Sovath, the infatigable Human Rights monitor, present on all the major land evictions the past years, was invited by fellow monks to accompany them while he was monitoring a demonstration by Boeung Kak Lake residents at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, supporting 13 fellows arrested on May 22nd. Against his will, he was then forcibly dragged into a white SUV by plainclothes and uniformed policemen an whisked away…’
It seems it was not enough and that the authorities decided to try and break the perseverance of the Boeung Kak Lake residents in their protest about the development project of Shukaku Inc.. As far as I know 13 of them were sentenced to 2 1/2 years of imprisonment for trespassing public property and disorderly conduct. The 13 were arrrested on May 22nd during a peacefull protest.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Venerable LUON Sovath, buddhist monk involved in monitoring land issues, being taken away by fellow monks and police during demonstration of Boeung Kak Lake residents supporting their 13 fellows arrested on May 22nd.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Venerable LUON Sovath, buddhist monk involved in monitoring land issues, being taken away by fellow monks and police during demonstration of Boeung Kak Lake residents supporting their 13 fellows arrested on May 22nd.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Police controlling demonstration in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court by Boeung Kak Lake residents supporting their 13 fellows arrested on May 22nd.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Demonstration in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court by Boeung Kak Lake residents supporting their 13 fellows arrested on May 22nd.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Boeung Kak Lake residents waiting at the Municipal Court to hear the verdict for 13 of them arrested two days before.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Boeung Kak Lake residents distressed after hearing the verdict for 13 of them arrested two days before for trespassing on public land and disorderly conduct: 2 1/2 years of imprisonment.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Boeung Kak Lake residents distressed after hearing the verdict for 13 of them arrested two days before for trespassing on public land and disorderly conduct: 2 1/2 years of imprisonment.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Distressed Boeung Kak Lake residents returning home after hearing the verdict for 13 of them arrested two days before for trespassing on public land and disorderly conduct: 2 1/2 years of imprisonment.
And a reminder: ‘Quest for Land‘, 11 years of land issues in Cambodia for the iPad is available on iTunes… Here is the Youtube teaser…