Monday, 27 December 2010

Cambodia: New penal code undercuts free speech

via CAAI

Dec 27th, 2010
By Bikya Masr Staff 

NEW YORK: The Cambodian government’s use of its new penal code against a man who shared web articles with his co-workers is a huge step backward for free expression in Cambodia, Human Rights Watch said last week.

The man was quickly convicted on incitement charges and sentenced to prison.

Human Rights Watch called on the Cambodian government to amend the penal code, which went into effect on December 10, 2010, to remove provisions that limit the peaceful expression of political views so that the law fully complies with international standards.

“Charging someone with incitement for sharing web articles is a profound setback for free expression in Cambodia,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Cambodia’s new penal code should have put an end to abusive practices, not encouraged new ones.”

On December 17, Seng Kunnaka, a Cambodian employee with the United Nations World Food Program in Phnom Penh, was arrested on charges of incitement under article 495 of the new penal code after he shared an article with two co-workers. While the contents of the article are unclear, it was printed from KI-Media, a website that publishes news, commentaries, poetry, and cartoons that are sharply critical of the government, including a recent series of opinion pieces lambasting senior officials regarding a border dispute with Vietnam.

On December 19, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court hastily tried and convicted Kunnaka, sentencing him to six months in prison and fining him 1 million riels (US$250). December 19 was a Sunday, when the courts are normally closed.

During the last two years, more than 10 critics of the government, including journalists and opposition party activists, have been prosecuted for criminal defamation and disinformation based on complaints by government and military officials under the former penal code.

The new penal code places greater restrictions on free expression, Human Rights Watch said. Responding to media inquiries about the case, Cambodia’s information minister, Khieu Kanharith, said: “Before, using the argument of ‘freedom of expression’ and opposition party status, some people could insult anybody or any institution. This is not the case now.”

“A dubious arrest so soon after the new penal code came into effect shows that the Cambodian government is ready to use its new legal powers to criminalize peaceful expression and political dissent,” Robertson said. “And Cambodia’s pliant courts seem all too willing to throw any perceived government critic in prison after a rushed trial.”

Under the new penal code, incitement is vaguely defined in article 495 as directly provoking the commission of a crime or an act that creates “serious turmoil in society” through public speech, writings or drawings, or audio-visual telecommunication that are shared with, exposed to, or intended for the public. It does not require the alleged incitement to be effective for penalties to be imposed, which include prison terms of six months to five years and fines.

The new penal code also allows criminal prosecutions for defamation and contempt for peaceful expression of views “affecting the dignity” of individuals and public officials, as well as of government institutions. It makes it a crime to “disturb public order” by questioning court decisions.

“The new penal code makes it more risky for civil society activists to criticize corrupt officials, police, and military officers who commit abuses or question court decisions,” Robertson said. “This is particularly troubling in Cambodia, where the judicial system is weak and far from independent, with court decisions often influenced by corruption or political pressure.”

KI-Media is a controversial website that describes itself as “dedicated to publishing sensitive information about Cambodia.” The website’s editors, who have never publicly identified themselves, compile information from a variety of sources, including leaked and public government documents, Cambodian-language newspaper articles, and Chinese, Cambodian, and Western wire service reports. It also posts hard-hitting commentaries, blog articles, cartoons, and poetry from its readers – most of whom are sharply critical of the government.

62 comments:

Anonymous said...

xanax online after effects xanax overdose - xanax and alcohol hangover

Anonymous said...

buy diazepam diazepam dosage 15 mg - diazepam 10 mg tabletten beipackzettel

Anonymous said...

buy ativan online ativan valium alcohol withdrawal - side effects going off ativan

Anonymous said...

buy diazepam buy diazepam online no prescription needed - what does valium do for you

Anonymous said...

buy ambien ambien no rx needed - generic ambien zolpidem side effects

Anonymous said...

xanax no rx xanax best drug ever - xanax dosage take

Anonymous said...

diazepam online diazepam for dogs - buy diazepam cheap online

Anonymous said...

can you really buy xanax online diazepam vs xanax dosage - xanax side effects anger

Anonymous said...

ativan online dosage of ativan for anxiety - ativan japan

Anonymous said...

buy diazepam online diazepam online no prescription - diazepam for dogs online

Anonymous said...

buy xanax online yellow xanax 2mg bars - xanax drug test

Anonymous said...

ativan price lorazepam 1mg nhs - lorazepam 1 mg y lactancia

Anonymous said...

ativan online 1 mg ativan and alcohol - ativan dosage in elderly

Anonymous said...

xanax online buy xanax online visa - codeine xanax drug interactions

Anonymous said...

buy ativan ativan addiction detox - ativan kidney damage

Anonymous said...

buy xanax online safe order xanax online - 3mg xanax dosage

Anonymous said...

ambien pharmacy ambien xanax and alcohol - ambien high heart rate

Anonymous said...

Blogger: . - Post a Comment buy cheap sibutramine - cheap reductil http://www.meridiaordernow.com/#cheap-reductil

Anonymous said...

Blogger: . - Post a Comment sibutramine no prescription - meridia for sale online http://www.meridiaordernow.com/#meridia-for-sale-online

Anonymous said...

Blogger: . - Post a Comment soma online pharmacy - soma pills http://www.emprendiendoideas.com/#soma-pills

Anonymous said...

Blogger: . - Post a Comment lorazepam without rx - cheap lorazepam http://www.ativanonlineoffer.com/#cheap-lorazepam

Anonymous said...

Blogger: . - Post a Comment lorazepam without rx - cheap lorazepam http://www.ativanonlineoffer.com/#cheap-lorazepam

Anonymous said...

Idaho Drug Free Youth buy acomplia no prescription - acomplia price http://www.buydiscountedisotretinoin.net/#acomplia-price

Anonymous said...

Vetinary Medicine Dog acomplia online - generic acomplia http://www.buydiscountedisotretinoin.net/#generic-acomplia

Anonymous said...

Wealthy Women Abuse Prescription Medications cheap acomplia diet pills - acomplia pills http://www.buydiscountedisotretinoin.net/#acomplia-pills

Anonymous said...

P4nis Pills Montpelier buy acomplia - acomplia online http://www.buydiscountedisotretinoin.net/#acomplia-online

Anonymous said...

Triple C Drug High generic acomplia - buy rimonabant http://www.buydiscountedisotretinoin.net/#buy-rimonabant

Anonymous said...

advitleva generic finasteride no prescription - buy cheap propecia http://www.bestpricefinasteride.com/

Anonymous said...

Animal Sources Of Drugs topamax without rx - topamax weight loss http://www.topamaxbetterprice.com/

Anonymous said...

dalsCleax isotretinoin online - isotretinoin cost http://www.isotretinoinlowcost.com/#isotretinoin-cost

Anonymous said...

Drugs No Rx Cyprus purchase lasix no prescription - order lasix online no prescription http://www.sunflowerocity.com/, [url=http://www.sunflowerocity.com/]cheap lasix online [/url]

Anonymous said...

Ice Drug History meridia cost - where to buy meridia diet pills http://www.meridiaonlineorder.net/#where-to-buy-meridia-diet-pills , [url=http://www.meridiaonlineorder.net/#meridia-diet-pills-without-prescription ]meridia diet pills without prescription [/url]

Anonymous said...

Carl Lewis Admits Drug meridia for sale online - buy generic meridia http://www.meridiaonlineorder.net/#buy-generic-meridia , [url=http://www.meridiaonlineorder.net/#buy-sibutramine-meridia ]buy sibutramine meridia [/url]

Anonymous said...

Highland Internal Medicine purchase meridia online - buy cheap sibutramine http://www.meridiaonlineorder.net/#buy-cheap-sibutramine , cheap reductil

Anonymous said...

2, buy generic ambien - generic ambien cost http://www.opensourcewcms.com/#generic-ambien-cost , [url=http://www.opensourcewcms.com/#order-ambien ]order ambien [/url]

Anonymous said...

tby lasix price - lasix without rx http://www.lasixforsaleonline.net/#lasix-without-rx , [url=http://www.lasixforsaleonline.net/#order-lasix-online ]order lasix online [/url]

Anonymous said...

tby buy furosemide no prescription - order lasix http://www.lasixforsaleonline.net/#order-lasix , [url=http://www.lasixforsaleonline.net/#cost-of-furosemide ]cost of furosemide [/url]

Anonymous said...

losneyfgd modafinil online no prescription - buy modafinil no prescription http://www.provigilonlinediscount.com/#buy-modafinil-no-prescription , [url=http://www.provigilonlinediscount.com/#cost-of-provigil ]cost of provigil [/url]

Anonymous said...

losneyfgd buy modafinil without prescription - provigil without prescription http://www.provigilonlinediscount.com/#provigil-without-prescription , [url=http://www.provigilonlinediscount.com/#buy-modafinil-online-without-prescription ]buy modafinil online without prescription [/url]

Anonymous said...

6, adipex generic - adipex price http://www.costofadipex375.com/#cheap-adipex, [url=http://www.costofadipex375.com/#cheap-adipex-online]cheap adipex 37.5[/url]

Anonymous said...

I think this is one of the most significant info for me.

And i'm glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers

my blog :: how to get followers on instagram

Anonymous said...

ooo!!! Topamax Cost - order topamax http://www.topamaxbestonline.net/#topamax-cost, [url=http://www.topamaxbestonline.net/#topamax-cost]Order Topamax[/url]

Anonymous said...

ooo!!! Topamax No Prescription - topamax online http://www.cheaptopamaxorder.net/#cheap-topamax, [url=http://www.cheaptopamaxorder.net/#cheap-topamax]Topamax For Sale[/url]

Anonymous said...

ooo!!! Generic Topiramate - topiramate online no prescription http://www.topamaxbestonline.net/#topamax-online, [url=http://www.topamaxbestonline.net/#topamax-online]Topamax Online[/url]

Anonymous said...

2013 Imitrex Online - imitrex sale http://www.cheapimitrexbuy.net/#imitrex-no-prescription, [url=http://www.cheapimitrexbuy.net/#cheap-imitrex]Imitrex Price[/url]

Anonymous said...

g, isotretinoin price - generic accutane http://www.freeyogablog.com/#generic-accutane , [url=http://www.freeyogablog.com/#buy-accutane ]buy accutane [/url]

Anonymous said...

4, cheap modafinil - purchase provigil http://www.energyofprovigil.net/#provigil-online-pharmacy, [url=http://www.energyofprovigil.net/#provigil-for-sale]provigil for sale[/url]

Anonymous said...

1, [url=http://www.effexorbenefits.net/]Cheap Effexor[/url] - Effexor Generic - order venlafaxine online http://www.effexorbenefits.net/.

Anonymous said...

2, [url=http://www.zolofthelpsleep.net/]Zoloft For Sale[/url] - Buy Sertraline - order sertraline no prescription http://www.zolofthelpsleep.net/.

Anonymous said...

2, [url=http://www.zolofthelpsleep.net/]Zoloft Online[/url] - Buy Sertraline - buy generic zoloft no prescription http://www.zolofthelpsleep.net/.

Anonymous said...

2, [url=http://www.doesprozacwork.net/]Prozac Sale[/url] - Fluoxetine Online - buy generic prozac online no prescription http://www.doesprozacwork.net/.

Anonymous said...

6, [url=http://www.costofeffexor.net/]Order Effexor Online[/url] - Generic Effexor - effexor 75 http://www.costofeffexor.net/

Anonymous said...

6, [url=http://www.stratterarxcoupon.net/]Buy Strattera Online[/url] - Generic Strattera - buy generic strattera online http://www.stratterarxcoupon.net/ .

Anonymous said...

5, [url=http://www.costofeffexor.net/]Effexor Online[/url] - Buy Effexor - buy venlafaxine online no prescription http://www.costofeffexor.net/ .

Anonymous said...

6, [url=http://www.nexiumpricewatch.net/] Buy Nexium [/url] - Nexium Price - nexium 20mg http://www.nexiumpricewatch.net/ .

Anonymous said...

11, [url=http://www.solarcraftaudio.com/]neurontin sale[/url] - neurontin online - buy neurontin no prescription http://www.solarcraftaudio.com/ .

Anonymous said...

11, [url=http://www.costofklonopin.com/]Order Klonopin[/url] - Klonopin Medication - cheap clonazepam http://www.costofklonopin.com/ .

Anonymous said...

11, [url=http://www.costofklonopin.com/]buy cheap clonazepam online [/url] - cheap klonopin online - buy klonopin online http://www.costofklonopin.com/.

Anonymous said...

14, [url=http://www.tunesdaily.com/]Lorazepam Cost[/url] - Lorazepam online - ativan cost http://www.tunesdaily.com/ .

Anonymous said...

17, [url=http://tofilebankruptcyornot.com/]Cheap Zithromax[/url] - Zithromax Without Prescription - zithromax pills http://tofilebankruptcyornot.com/ .

Anonymous said...

Make tasty, hеalthy meаls and greеn coffee
bean extract snacks. Weeκ 1 Dаy 2Daily calorie intake allowаnсe 1500 calories
per day, eat smаller but healthieг poгtionѕ
of food. Clοthes litеrallу make уou who уοu are.
After all, when you use one, you arе better able tο handlе so much at the moment.
And the best time to slеep.

Also visit my wеblog :: http://greencoffeetime.net/

Anonymous said...

Samsung Ln32a450 32-inch 720p Water Crystal Exhibit Hdtv V .

. Sony Bravia Xbr-series Kdl-32xbr6 32-inch 1080p Very smooth Crystal Screen Hdtv

Also visit my weblog euro casino