Source: Amnesty International On 27 February 1995, Chan Rotana, editor of “Voice of Khmer Youth”, was sentenced to one year in prison at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. He was also fined five million Cambodian riels (approx US$ 2,000). He remains free pending an appeal hearing of his case. Chan Rotana was convicted under Article […]
Source: Amnesty International
On 27 February 1995, Chan Rotana, editor of “Voice of Khmer
Youth”, was sentenced to one year in prison at the Phnom Penh
Municipal Court. He was also fined five million Cambodian riels
(approx US$ 2,000). He remains free pending an appeal hearing of
his case.
Chan Rotana was convicted under Article 62 of the provisional
Criminal Code for an article published in the 12-13 January 1995
edition of “Voice of Khmer Youth” entitled “Ranariddh is more
stupid than Hun Sen three times a day”. (A rough translation is
available from the WiPC headquarters in London at e-mail
intpen@gn.apc.org). Ranariddh and Hun Sen are First and Second
Prime Ministers of Cambodia.
The prosecution stated that the article defamed Prime Minister
Ranariddh and created distrust among citizens and civil servants.
Chan Rotana’s lawyers argue that the article was an opinion piece
rather than a statement of fact and that no disturbance of public
peace had resulted from its publication.
Chan Rotana has two months in which to appeal the sentence,
during which time he will remain free.
Recommended Action
Letters should be sent to the Cambodian government:
Rotana
in it being upheld and that he be required to serve a prison
term, the imprisonment of Chan Rotana would be in direct
violation of his right to freedom of expression as guaranteed
under article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
not be required to serve a prison term
Appeals To
His Excellency Prince Norodom Ranariddh
First Prime Minister
Office of the Council of Ministers
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Fax: + 855 23 26 144
