CAMBODIA: Court rejects bail for remaining 21detainees

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAU-008-2014
ISSUES: Arbitrary arrest & detention, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression, Human rights defenders, Labour rights, Right to fair trial, Victims assistance & protection,

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the court has rejected the appeal of the 21 remaining detainees who sought the reversal of the decision by the lower court rejecting their petition for bail.

UPDATED INFORMATION: (from the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) and Asia Monitor Resource Centre -AMRC-)

In our previous appeal (AHRC-UAU-005-2014), we reported on the release of Bou Sarith (27) and Yon Sok Chea (17), two of the 23 detainees after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court granted their petition for bail.

The two are part of the 23 detainees whom police arrested, detained and charged arising from January 2 and 3 incidents.

On February 11, the Appeals Court in Phnom Penh heard the appeal of 21 detainees asking for the reversal of the decision of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which earlier rejected on January 21 their application for bail.

After the hearing, the Appeals Court upheld the lower court’s decision, and rejected their petition for bail for the second time. The Appeals Court’s written order is yet to be made available; thus, for time being the reason for the rejection is not known.

The AHRC, however, is of the opinion that all the 23 persons charged must be released unconditionally.

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Desk 
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)