Cambodia - letter writing action

Cambodia

Leader of dissolved opposition party imprisoned

On 3 September 2017, Kem Sokha, a member of Parliament and president of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), the main opposition party, was arrested at his home in Tuol Kork district in Phnom Penh, by 8 members of the Prime Minister’s bodyguard unit and 100 police officers.

On 4 September, the Investigating Judge ordered his pre-trial detention while investigating allegations of ‘colluding with a foreign power’. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.

His arrest comes in the context of attempts to diminish and dismantle Cambodia’s main political opposition ahead of the general elections in July 2018. The CNRP was dissolved on 16 November and 118 officials, including members of Parliament, were banned from political activities for five years.

Kem Sokha has serious health concerns requiring regular medical attention. Since his detention more than three months ago, he has only been treated once by a doctor and his wife was only recently permitted to provide him with his medication. His lawyers’ documents are checked when meeting with him and it is suspected their conversations are video-taped and listened to by prison guards present in the room. Other visitors are denied access and he is prevented from contacting other detainees.

You can read more on human rights in Cambodia here: https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/asia-and-the-pacific/cambodia/

Please write to the authorities calling for the release of Kem Sokha.

A template letter is attached.