Future of democracy under pressure in Cambodia

By Amy Kazmin in Bangkok
January 9 2006 02:00

For the past three years the US-funded Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, founded by prominent local human rights activist Kem Sokha, has promoted awareness of democracy and human rights in the rural villages and towns of impoverished Cambodia.

But in recent days Mr Kem Sokha and two other high-profile human rights activists were arrested on charges of defaming long-time prime minister Hun Sen, renewing concerns about the future of democracy in this troubled country.

Their arrests are the latest moves in a harsh government crackdown on dissent that has already driven Cambodia's opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, into exile. To many observers, it signals a disturbing drift back towards the country's deep-rooted tradition of repressive authoritarianism.

"The message is clear: if you criticise the government you will go to jail," says Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch.

The International Labour Organisation, which monitors working conditions in Cambodia's garment factories, said that the arrests of people exercising their right to freedom of expression "represents a fundamental danger to democracy".

Cambodia still relies heavily on international assistance to run the government and keep the fragile economy afloat, and it has been considered an emerging, if still flawed, democracy after the brutalities of the 1970s Khmer Rouge genocide and decades of civil war.

Its economy has grown an average 7 per cent a year for the past few years, fuelled by buoyant textile exports to western countries and tourism. In December, the International Monetary Fund said it would waive Cambodia's outstanding $82m (€67m, £46m) debt to the fund, part of a global initiative to help highly indebted poor countries.

But Mr Hun Sen's recent crackdown has prompted suggestions that he is taking a lead from Burma's repressive military junta — which prohibits any public criticism or debate, has quashed the opposition and is shunned as an international pariah by many western governments.

"Hun Sen appears to be following the Burmese model," says Mr Adams. "Cambodia's international donors should warn the government to end this crackdown on its critics. They need to make it clear that they will not continue to subsidise nearly half the budget of an increasingly repressive government."

Mr Kem Sokha, his organisation's deputy director Pa Nguon Tien and legal educator Yeng Virak, director of the Community Legal Education Centre, were accused of defaming Mr Hun Sen in connection with a controversial border treaty with Vietnam.

Comments denouncing the premier for ceding territory to Vietnam were allegedly written by hand on a banner displayed at a large International Human Rights Day rally in Phnom Penh. The banner, which included many other comments, was reportedly created during a 2003 CCHR democracy education session, where rural villagers wrote their personal views on political issues.

Mr Yeng Virak was a key organiser of the rights day rally that involved 63 non-governmental organisations and drew thousands of people to Phnom Penh's Olympic stadium. Some rights activists fear other high-profile participants may be arrested as accomplices.

Cambodia's leaders have relied increasingly on defamation cases to silence critics and muzzle debate. On December 22, Mr Sam Rainsy, leader of his eponymous opposition party, was sentenced in absentia to 18 months in prison for defaming Mr Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Rannaridh, president of the National Assembly. Mr Sam Rainsy has been in exile since February, but in August another member of his party was sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly forming a "secret army" after the party established a committee to monitor government performance in defence, demobilisation and veterans' affairs.

Meanwhile, radio journalist Mom Sonando and trade unionist Rong Chhum, leader of the teachers' union, have been in jail since October, also awaiting trial on defamation charges for questioning the treaty with Vietnam. At least five other critics of the treaty have fled the country.

The crackdown on dissent comes as the UN prepares for a long-awaited tribunal to try surviving Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes during their brutal rule, when 1.7m people perished from starvation, overwork, or in political executions.

The structure of the internationally funded tribunal, which is to be held in Phnom Penh with heavy involvement of Cambodian judges, has long been controversial among rights activists who have been concerned about political interference in the judicial process. Activists said the latest arrests merely reinforced those fears.

"Maybe some of the donors will finally see it is highly doubtful that a trial within the Cambodian court system can bring any sense of justice to the Cambodian people," said a Phnom Penh-based rights activist.