JOINT STATEMENT “IMMEDIATELY RELEASE AND DROP CHARGES AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENT DEFENDER, MR. KOET SARAY”

Phnom Penh, April 8th, 2024

We, the youth, local communities, unions, associations, and local civil society organisations mentioned below are deeply disappointed by the arrest of Mr. Koet Saray, the President of the Khmer Student Intelligence League Association (KSILA).

Note that Mr. Koet Saray was arrested by plainclothes police officers in Phnom Penh and sent to the Phnom Penh Capital Court at 2:45pm on April 5, 2024, while he was working at the office. Mr. Koet Saray, the President of the Khmer Student Intelligence League Association (KSILA), was arrested and sent to Phnom Penh Capital Court without clarification of the exact charge or notice to his family. The arrest was made on the order of Mr. Seang Heang, Deputy Prosecutor of the Phnom Penh Capital Court, on April 5, 2024 under the charge of incitement to commit a felony or to disturb social security. According to a press release issued by the Phnom Penh Capital Court Prosecutor’s Office, he faces an additional charge of committing a misdemeanor after sentencing for a misdemeanor, and was sent to pre-trial detention at Prey Sar Prison during the afternoon of April 7, 2024.

Mr. Koet Saray’s detention by the Phnom Penh Municipal Authority is a continuation of the silencing of the right to freedom of expression and the oppression of human rights and environmental defenders, which are severe violations of the fundamental rights stated in the Constitution. Saray’s interview to the media—particularly his opinions on land rights abuses taking place in Preah Vihear province—is an expression of his concerns for people’s livelihoods and a call to urge the authorities to solve the problems taking place there. Sharing his opinion should be seen as helping the authorities solve issues, rather than incitement. In addition, the arrest before Traditional Khmer New Year further deprived him of his right to freedom of association with his family members, which all Cambodians consider to be an important family occasion.

Please be reminded that on September 6, 2020, Mr. Koet Saray, a former monk, was also arrested and defrocked by the authorities for advocating for the release of union leader Rong Chhun. He and 13 other youth and former social defenders were charged and convicted by the Phnom Penh Capital Court of incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. Mr. Koet Saray was sentenced to 20 months in prison, with six months of his sentence suspended. He was released on November 5, 2021. The conviction and sentence of Mr. Koet Saray and eight other human rights defenders were upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2023.

We, the youth, local communities, unions, associations, and local civil society organisations call on the Phnom Penh Capital Court to drop all charges and free human rights and environmental defender Mr. Koet Saray immediately and without any conditions, and to open the space for freedom of expression to all Cambodians who work for social justice.

We call on the authorities to respect and open the space for freedom of association, respect for human rights and the rights of human rights defenders, and to promote freedom of expression, in order for all Cambodians to participate in the development of our nation.

Endorsement From:

1. Khmer Student Intelligence League Association-KSILA

2. Independent Democratic Association of the Informal Economy-IDEA

3. Partnership of Environment and Development-PED

4. Cambodian Youth Network-CYN

5. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights-LICADHO

6. The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association-ADHOC

7. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights – CENTRAL

8. Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation-CFSWF

9. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia-COMFREL

10. Federation of Trade Unions for Tourism Employees of Cambodia-CTWUF

11. People for Development and Peace- Center -PDP-Center

12. Youth Resource Development Program-YRDP

13. The Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability-CISA

14. Cambodian Institute for Democracy-CID

15. Cambodian Center for Human Rights-CCHR

16. Cambodia Alliance for Trade Union-CATU

17. Federation Union of Free and Independent-FUFI

18. Youth Education for Development and Peace-YEDP

19. Cambodian Informal economic workers association-CIWA

20. The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW NGO- CEDAW

21. Federation of Independent Trade Unions-INTUFE

22. Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia-FTUWKC

23. Gender and Development for Cambodia-GADC

24. Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition-CHRAC

25. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut-STT

26. Mother Nature Movement Cambodia-MNC

27. Prey Lang Community Stung Treng

28. Stueng Khsach Sa Forestry Resource Kampong Chhnang

29. Trapeang Chan Forestry Community Kampong Chhnang

30. Prey Lang Community Preah Vihear

31. Trapeang Chour Community Kampong Speu

32. Reaksmei Sameakki Community Kampong Speu

33. AmLeang Community Kampong Speu

34. 197 Land Community Koh Kong

35. Chi Kha Kraom Land Community Koh Kong

36. Prey Chher Pech Changvar Laor Chhert Community Kampong Chhnang

37. Srae Prang Land Community Tboung Khmum

38. Community to Protect Nature Pursat

39. Phnom Krom Community Siem Reap

40. Ta Ni Land Community Siem Reap

41. Land Community Pailin

42. Boeung Pram Community Battambang

43. Andong Trabek Land Community Svay Rieng

44. Samaki Chek Meas Community Svay Rieng

45. Prey Lang Community Kratie

46. Prey Lang Community Kampong Thom

47. Thnaot Chhum Land Community Pursat

48. Kouy Indigenous Community Preah Vihear

49. Phum Sela Khmer Land Community Banteay Meanchey

50. Rattanak Rokha Forestry Community Oddar Meanchey

51. Samaki Romeas Haek Community Svay Rieng

52. Samaki Sangkae Pir Mean Rith Preah Vihear

53. Samrong Tbong Community Phnom Penh

54. Tonlung Community Tboung Khmum

55. Mean Chey Land Community Svay Rieng