Amnesty International, USA, January 6, 2018.
Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy were arrested on 11 September 2017 while filming two large vessels they suspected of illegally carrying silica sand for export. Cambodian customs data show only 28,900 tonnes of sand sent to Taiwan between 2010 and 2016, Taiwan registered receiving 1.7 million tonnes in the same period, an alleged 30 million USD discrepancy between Cambodia’s customs records on exports and Taiwan’s customs records of imports. At the time of their arrest, Hun Vannak and Doem Ku were affilated with the environmental protection NGO, ‘Mother Nature Cambodia’.
Both were questioned without their lawyer, and both were charged by the Investigating Judge with “incitement to commit a felony” and “violation of privacy (recording of a person’s image)”, for allegedly filming on “private property”. Amnesty International does not consider these to be criminal offences. Both could face up to three years in prison if convicted. A hearing date has yet to be set. Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy are currently in pre-trial detention in Prek Svay prison. Both were denied bail.
We the undersigned call on you to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy, and all other prisoners of conscience, detained and charged solely for their peaceful activism; and
- Put an end to harassment of all human rights defenders for their peaceful activism and exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association.
NAME CITY / STATE / ZIPCODE SIGNATURE
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Sent to: Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, 75 Norodom Blvd, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Fax: +855 23 426 585
Copies to: H.E. Ambassador Chum Bunrong, Royal Embassy of Cambodia, 4530 16th St NW, Washington DC 20011, Phone: 1 202 726 7742 I Fax: 1 202 726 8381, Email: camemb.usa@mfa.gov.kh
Stop Action date 02 Feb. 2018
