Venerable Luon Sovath

Cases

Relevant SG report

From Country

Country Geolocation

Latitude: 12.565679

Longitude: 104.990963

From Region

UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report

Individual's/organization's activity: Cambodian human rights defender and monk working in defense of communities affected by land grabbing and forced evictions in Cambodia.

Type of rights defended

Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?: No

Engagement with UN body

Type of attempted engagement

Location of mentioned reprisals: UN Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland

Reprisal information: On 1 October 2020, at the 45th session of the Human Rights Council, Cambodian human rights defender and monk working in defense of communities affected by land grabbing and forced evictions in Cambodia, Venerable Luon Sovath, attempted to deliver an oral statement in plenary.11 He was accredited to participate in the dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation in Cambodia as part of a delegation of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), an NGO with ECOSOC status, in conformity with established procedures. During his intervention, Mr. Sovath was interrupted three times by the Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the UN in Geneva, and Points of Order were raised by the representatives of the Permanent Missions of China, Cuba, the Russian Federation and Venezuela, questioning his participation in the Council, as well as his legitimacy and credibility.12 The Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, the Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the UN at Geneva, who was chairing the session, affirmed that Mr. Sovath should continue with his statement. 13. Cambodia’s third Point of Order alleged that Mr. Sovath is not a monk, and that he has been charged with rape and defamation in Cambodia, allegations reported to OHCHR as unfounded. In June 2020, fake videos and news on Facebook were used in a defamation campaign against him. Fearing imminent arrest, he left the country, and his case has been raised by special procedures.13

Types of reprisals suffered

Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?: No

Further case development: Fearing imminent arrest, he left the country, and his case has been raised by special procedures.

Government response content: Regarding Venerable Luon Sovath, the Government gave details on the criminal judgment (No. 28/239) issued by the Siem Reap Provincial Court of First Instance on 25 March 2021 against him in absentia, an appeal of which was denied on 28 July 2021. The Government stated that the Cambodia delegation deserves the rights to question the bona fide status of any speaker when his or her identity becomes suspicious, and to offer factual accounts concerned on the ground with a view to circumventing any attempt to mislead the Human Rights Council.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?: No

Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?: No

Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?: No