July 21, 1999
July 21, 1999
Contact HRF Communications (212) 845 5245 media@humanrightsfirst.orgHuman Rights First Praises Dismissal of Case Against Cambodian Rights Workers
New York, July 21, 1999—Today a court in Sihanoukville, Cambodia dismissed charges of participation in an illegal demonstration and incitement to violence against two Cambodian human rights workers. After three days of trial hearings, the prosecution produced no evidence against the men and asked the court to drop the charges.
"The prosecutor, as the investigating authority, was aware that there was nothing to implicate these two men. They should have dropped the case, as soon as it became clear that there was no evidence," said Robert O. Weiner, Director of Protection at Human Rights First. "We are relieved that Kim Sen and Meas Minear are now free to continue their human rights activities. It is our hope that they and others can now work without fear of unjust prosecutorial action."
Human Rights First has been monitoring the progress of the case against the two men since their arrest in December. Since the commencement of these proceedings there has been a series of procedural errors: the men were arrested without a warrant, they were denied bail without reason, their lawyers were prevented from seeing the evidence against their clients for long periods of time, and the charges against them were changed at the last minute. In addition, investigations by the UN Special Representative on Human Rights in Cambodia, Thomas Hammarberg, and national and international agencies concurred that there was no evidence against the two men and numerous procedural irregularities. The trial was marked by several indications of bias.
The two men were arrested and charged last December after a demonstration by local residents turned violent. The residents were protesting the illegal dumping of 3,000 tons of toxic waste in the small province.
Human Rights First will be producing a trial observation report that will be available on request.