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ADHOC and LICADHO urge Cambodian Constitutional Council to reject unconstitutional LANGO
July 30, 2015 - As the Constitutional Council of Cambodia prepares to review the legality of the Law on Associations and NGOs (LANGO), ADHOC and LICADHO call on the Council to reject the law on the basis of numerous provisions that violate Cambodian citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms. The law was passed both times by the attending ruling party’s majority inside the National Assembly and the Senate on July 13 and July 24 respectively. The following Articles, although not exhaustive, are of particular concern.
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CSOs Condemn the Conviction of 11 Opposition Party Activists
Phnom Penh, 23 July 2015. On Tuesday, 21 July 2015, 11 activists of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party were sentenced to jail time ranging from 7 to 20 years by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of First Instance, in connection with protests that erupted in July 2014 at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park. We, the undersigned civil society organizations, strongly condemn these convictions as based on trumped-up charges and characterized by a total disrespect for fair trial rights.
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Joint Statement of Civil Society Organizations on the adoption of the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations by the National Assembly
Phnom Penh, 16 July 2015: We, the undersigned civil society organizations (CSOs) condemn the National Assembly’s unanimous approval of the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO) on 13 July 2015 and urge the Senate to reject the law, or alternatively request modifications of the draft law taking into consideration the concerns raised by all stakeholders.
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CCHR requests urgent consideration of amendments to the draft LANGO or rejection
Dear Samdach Vibol Sena Pheakdey Say Chhum, I am writing to you regarding the proposed Law on Association and Non-Governmental Organizations (“LANGO”) that will be discussed and voted by the Senate later this week. I wish to reiterate my grave concern and urge you to recommend substantive amendments to the law or to vote for its rejection. If approved and then promulgated, this LANGO will lead to serious restrictions of the rights to the freedoms of association, expression and assembly and to the right to participate in public life, in clear contravention of the Cambodian Constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant international instruments.
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Cambodia: immediately quash convictions of opposition activists for insurrection
Cambodian authorities must immediately quash the convictions for insurrection handed down to eleven opposition party activists on 21 April, the ICJ said today. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced the National Rescue Party (CNRP) activists to between seven and 20 years in prison following an unfair trial. “These men were grossly over-charged with insurrection in the first place,” said Kingsley Abbott, ICJ International Legal Adviser. “The fact they have now been handed down disproportionately severe sentences following an unfair trial only serves to underscore that a serious miscarriage of justice has taken place in violation of Cambodia’s international obligations,” he added.
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LICADHO condemns the conviction and sentencing of 11 CNRP officials and supporters
July 21, 2015 - This afternoon, 11 officials and supporters of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) were convicted of charges relating to insurrection and sentenced to between seven and 20 years imprisonment. They were taken to CC1 prison immediately following the sentencing. Only one of the nine defense lawyers was present for today’s hearing after the eight other lawyers allegedly boycotted the trial. When judges unexpectedly called for closing arguments, the defendants requested a delay until their lawyers could attend. The judges denied the request and deliberated for just 15 minutes before returning with the verdicts and sentences. As they began to deliberate, police and military police entered the courtroom and the road outside the courtroom was simultaneously blocked.
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Statement by the Spokesperson on the Law on Associations and NGOs in Cambodia
"On 13 July a Law on Associations and NGOs passed through Parliament in Cambodia. The law touches on sensitive issues requiring in-depth consultation of all stakeholders. Regrettably, a number of important concerns were not sufficiently taken into consideration. The law has the potential to considerably restrict the activity of NGOs. In any country, a vibrant civil society is a prerequisite for the realisation of full social, economic and political potential. Associations and NGOs, both local and international, have contributed greatly to the rebuilding of Cambodian society. Development cooperation between the EU and Cambodia relies to a large degree on NGOs. Full respect of the constitutional provisions concerning pluralism and freedom of association and expression must be upheld."
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Civil Society Calls On Senate to Reject LANGO
July 14, 2015 - We, the undersigned civil society groups, condemn the Cambodian People’s Party’s unanimous approval yesterday of the repressive and unnecessary Law on Associations and Non-Government Organizations (LANGO) and call on the Senate to reject the law. The vote at yesterday’s extraordinary session of the National Assembly is a catastrophic development for civil society in Cambodia and is a major step in the government’s wider campaign to undermine democracy and restrict citizens’ rights and freedoms.
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Cambodia: Approved NGO law poised to hobble the work of civil society
Bangkok, Thailand --- The ICJ today condemned the approval by the Cambodian Peoples’ Party (CPP) of a law which aims to pose obstacles to and restrictions on the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to be officially registered in the country. In June and July 2015, the ICJ and other international human rights groups sent joint letters to the Government of Cambodia, including to Prime Minister Hun Sen and the President of the National Assembly, urging for the withdrawal of the draft law. Today, the Cambodian National Assembly unanimously approved the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (draft LANGO) promoted by the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) after 55 members of the opposition party, Cambodia National Rescue Party, decided to boycott the vote. All 68 members of the CPP, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, attended the plenary session of the National Assembly and voted in favor of the draft law.
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CCHR Calls for the Unconditional Rejection of LANGO
One day before the holding of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights urges the National Assembly to firmly reject the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (“LANGO”).
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CCHR urges the National Assembly to ensure meaningful consultations on the LANGO before a vote
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) urges once again the National Assembly to stop the rushed adoption process of the 5th draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (“LANGO”) and to ensure meaningful consultations with all relevant stakeholders before scheduling a vote meeting. According to the available information, the National Assembly is reportedly set to hold an extraordinary session on 10 July 2015 where the LANGO is to be discussed and is likely to be approved, despite none of the concerns expressed by civil society actors and other expert voices have been addressed or even given consideration.
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