The US Embassy’s spokesman in Cambodia has made a statement expressing concerns over a Cambodian court ruling on the 13 detained Boeung Kak land activists.
The activists were sentenced in May to one to two-and-a-half years’ jail, charged with illegally occupying land, aggravated circumstance of rebellion and looking down on and defaming public officers.
An embassy spokesman Sean Mclntosh said that they had been closely following the activists and are very concerned over the Cambodian Government’s interference in the legalsystem in sentencing them. Mr McIntosh said that in a democratic society the judicial power should be independent :“The role of law is very important in a democratic society, so it’s up to a judge to decide if an accused person is innocent or guilty”.
The Justice Minister has written to the Phnom Penh Court requesting a review of the case : “The accused BeoungKak residents have asked me to appealto the court, I sent letter to the appeal court and we need to wait for the result. The duty is in the hands of the prosecutor”.
Answering this case, the ruling judge Pho Pov Sun said that the proceedingshad been sent to the appeal.
As of midday Tuesday, VOD was unable to get a comment from the appeal court.
The Beoung Kak residents’defence lawyer Chen Linda said that the Phnom Penh court had confirmed that the accusation was sent to the appeal court this morning. Mr Linda said he had been unableto get any more information from the appeal court.
The request for an appeal was made after a petition from the activists’ children demanding an interventionfor the release of the prisoners was sent to the Ministry of Justice, the Royal Palace, various government institutions and some embassies in Phnom Penh.
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