Briefs | Cambodia – 11 opposition activists jailed for insurrection charges

Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday convicted eleven opposition activists of leading or participating in an insurrection and sentenced them to between 7 and 20 years in prison. They were found guilty of either leading or joining an insurrection during a violent protest near the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh on July 15 last year that left more than 40 people injured, mostly security personnel. “The court decides to sentence Meach Sovannara (head of the Information Department of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party), Oeur Narith and Khin Chamroeun (both are opposition party officials) to 20 years in prison for leading an insurrection,” said a verdict announced by Presiding Judge Lim Makaron. The verdict added that the other eight activists were sentenced to seven years in prison for participating in the insurrection. The court also fined each of them between USD2,000 and 5,000. In April, the 11 party officials and activists were freed on bail, but were re-arrested and sent back into jail yesterday while they appeared in court to hear the verdict.

Thailand – Rights commission adds wife of lawyer who disappeared

Thailand’s human rights body has named as a commissioner the wife of a lawyer who disappeared 11 years ago after criticizing police conduct. The selection committee announced yesterday that Angkhana Neelaphaijit is among seven candidates who will sit on the new commission for a six-year term. Angkhana became active in defending human rights after her husband, Somchai, disappeared in March 2004. Rights groups feared he was killed because of his criticism of police conduct toward the clients he represented in a case related to Thailand’s deadly insurgency. Angkhana continued to investigate allegations of police abuse in Thailand’s south despite anonymous threats. Besides continuing to press for justice in her husband’s case, Angkhana has become a high-profile advocate for the missing throughout Asia in cases where the abductors are believed to be agents of the state. The outgoing National Human Rights Commission has been criticized for its leniency toward rights violations in recent political protests. It’s unclear if the successors will be more influential. Thailand’s military government has been criticized by overseas rights group for restricting speech and assembly freedoms and prosecuting dissent and other sensitive cases in military rather than civilian courts.