Thank you for taking action! Your actions have been delivered!
DO SOMETHING: On 24 May, thirteen Cambodian women were given a two and a half year prison sentence after being arrested for peaceful protest against the forced evictions and destroyed homes of 18 local families of the Boeung Kak Lake community on 22 May.
From now until 6 July 2012, send a letter to the Cambodia authorities to release immediately and unconditionally the 13 women who have been imprisoned for taking part in a peaceful protest.
Who are the 13 women?
A house near Boeung Kak Lake, stands in ruins, yet remains in use. ©Amnesty International
The 13 women were a group of protestors who gathered on May 22 for demonstrations in which they sang peacefully and made speeches. Later that morning, the police violently broke up the protest, chasing and arresting the 13 women. They were then taken and held at the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Station until 24 May.
Their names are: Chan Navy, Cheng Leap, Heng Mom, Kong Chantha, Nget Khun, Ngoun Kimlang, Pao Saopea, Phan Chan Reth, Soung Samai, Srong Srey Leap, Tep Vanny, Tho Davy, and Toul Srey Pov.
What happened?
On May 24, the women were taken to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and were charged under the illegal occupancy of public property and obstruction of public officials with aggravating circumstances. Their lawyers’ request for case files and evidence, to call witnesses were denied. The trial went ahead and the thirteen women were charged for two and a half year sentences. They were then immediately taken to the CC2 Prsion in Phnom Penh.
One woman, Ly Chanary, and a male representative Sao Sarouen, were also arrested outside the court on 24 May on the same charges. They had been ready to appear as defence witnesses. They were questioned by the judge and held in detention. A human rights defender and Buddhist monk, Venerable Luon Sovath was also harassed and taken away by plain-clothed men. He was held for 10 hours at Wat Botum before being released later in the evening.
Got 3 minutes?
Send a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Governor of Phnom Penh Municipality, by adding your name below! We will deliver all the letters to authorities by post with your details appearing as below.
And don’t forget to send this link – http://bit.ly/K3IGEt - to your friends! Ask them to take action too!
Got 3 hours?
We are looking for young people living in the Asia Pacific to involve their friends and local community by organizing a campaign activity to collect signatures! If you collect more than 50 signatures and send the petition papers back to us, we will send you a certificate for organizing this activity!
Here is how to do it:
- Download this file and print as many copies as you think you may need (you should think about translating this to your local community language if you have time!).
- Organize the logistics of your activity (it doesn’t have to be fancy, and make sure you have all the required permits!)
- Collect signatures on the day of your activity, and take photos if possible!
- Scan or take a photo of the petition papers with signatures, and email it to apyncampaigns@gmail.com.
Dear Your Excellency,I am appalled by the recent prison sentences given to 13 women who were peacefully protesting forced evictions: Chan Navy, Cheng Leap, Heng Mom, Kong Chantha, Nget Khun, Ngoun Kimlang, Pao Saopea, Phan Chan Reth, Soung Samai, Srong Srey Leap, Tep Vanny, Tho Davy, and Toul Srey Pov.Therefore, I urge you to:
Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, [your full name] |
