Cambodia citizens being detained for protesting development: rights groups News
Kiensvay, CC-BY-SA 3.0
Cambodia citizens being detained for protesting development: rights groups

At least 94 people have been arbitrarily arrested since late July for expressing public criticism of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV), Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a joint statement on Wednesday. The human rights organizations believe at least 59 of those arrested have been unlawfully detained by Cambodian authorities. “The authorities should immediately drop all charges for which no internationally recognized charge is brought,” the organizations said.

Among those claimed to be unlawfully detained are environmental and human rights activists, as well as several children. According to the statement, “many of those arrested have been charged with plotting and incitement merely for expressing their views on the CLV, or organizing peaceful protests.” At least 21 face charges of incitement to commit a felony, while at least 33 face charges of plotting against the state.

Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office, Kate Scheutze, said “Cambodia’s partners should publicly and jointly call for this assault on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly to end.”

The CLV is a development plan first introduced in 2004, intended to facilitate trade and migration between the respective governments as well as incentivize investment. The CLV entered hot waters in July when Senate President Hun Sen called for the arrest of three activists who criticized the CLV during a Facebook broadcast and called for surveillance. Telegram groups organized peaceful protests, and demonstrations were also seen in South Korea, Japan and Australia.

The CLV has raised fears over potential loss of territory and the prioritization of foreign interests above Cambodians. Hun Sen has issued assurance that the Cambodia government has no intent of divvying up any part of the Cambodian territory for the benefit of Vietnam or Laos.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Alabama removes 10 Commandments from courthouse

On August 28, 2003, the Supreme Court of Alabama removed a monument of the Biblical Ten Commandments from its courthouse rotunda. The monument had been installed on the orders of Chief Justice Roy Moore, triggering a federal lawsuit. In Glassroth v. Moore, the federal District Court for the Middle District of Alabama ordered Moore to remove the monument. This decision was upheld on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit. When Moore refused, he was removed from his post by the Supreme Court of Alabama.

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered "I Have a Dream" speech

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech to 200,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington. Listen to King's speech. The march was later credited with helping to achieve passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Peace Palace opens

On August 28, 1913, the Peace Palace was opened in the Hague by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. The Palace was conceived of as a forum to host the international Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). In addition to the PCA, the Palace today hosts the International Court of Justice, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the Peace Palace Library of International Law. Learn more about the creation of the Peace Palace.