Cambodian Human Rights Leader Kem Sokha Arrested On New Year's Eve

It looks like 2006 will be an even more difficult year for those fighting for freedom of expression in Cambodia according to this post by Jinja about the New Year's Eve arrest of Kem Sokha. According to news reports, this means that four critics of the government are now in jail awaiting trial.

The charges are based on actions of Mr. Sokha's organization, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, at a public celebration of free speech at Olympic Stadium on December 10. (International Human Rights Day.)

Mr. Sokha is part of the Alliance of Freedom of Expression in Cambodia, a newly formed group of more than 30 NGOs in Cambodia, which launched a national campaign preceding the event, using the yellow ribbon logo above. Mr. Sokha is a strong advocate for freedom of expression in Cambodia and has been outspoken regarding the arrest of Mam Sonando from ‘Beehive Radio‘.

The KI-Media Blog has posted the above photos of the arrest and an eye witness account by Ms. Theary Seng from Phnom Penh and author of the book, Asrei: Daughter of the Killing Fields.

Jinja includes a roundup of news and listserv postings on this topic and promises further updates as they happen.

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