Health Checks for Kem Sokha, Working Group's Vitit and Param present report

Kem Sokha with Dato Param Cumaraswamy in the Working Group meeting in Bangkok on 28 January

Mr. Kem Sokha, chair of the Cambodian Working Group and President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), joined the meeting of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism in Bangkok, Thailand from 27 -28 January 2006. Joining Kem was Mr. Pa Nguon Teang, director of CCHR's Voice of Democracy Radio Program.

Still recovering after his release from prison, Kem is undergoing health checks. Teang is "just okay"", "has returned to work" and is "not tired."

In a statement released to the media on 23 January, Kem and Teang clarified that they "have not accused the government or the Prime Minister of being a traitor, of selling land to the Vietnamese or being Pol Pot II," and that the alleged banner that led to their arrest was not their intention or the intention of the CCHR. Kem and Teang also welcomed the government and Prime Minister Hun Sen for "having guaranteed to the court for our release on bail."

In another statement on 17 January, Kem said that "while the release is welcomed...they will continue to do what they are doing to inform the people about human rights, democracy, freedom of expression, and issues of national concern through CCHR's public forums, radio programs and other venues."

Working Group members Vitit Muntarbhorn and Dato Param Cumaraswamy, prepared a comprehensive report on their visit to Cambodia when Kem and Teang were still in prison.

Click here for the report