• Politics

CCFC Allowed to Resume Activity

• By Phoung Vantha
• July 17, 2023 2:00 PM

PHNOM PENH – The Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC) was allowed to resume activity a month and a half after it was suspended by the Ministry of Interior.

On July 17, the ministry issued a decision to allow CCFC to temporarily open its headquarters, until “a new court decision” is pronounced. The association’s main office is located in Sen Sok district’s Phnom Penh Thmey commune.

Theng Savoeun, the association’s president thanked the Interior Ministry and the government for allowing his association to resume operations as requested.

However, he said that he is still concerned as he and two other colleagues are still facing trial after being charged by the Ratanakiri provincial court.

“We will continue the proceedings to [request] an acquittal,” he said.

The three CCFC staff were detained and questioned by Kratie provincial police on May 17 on their way back from Ratanakiri, where they hosted a staff retreat.

They were charged with plotting against the nation and incitement for allegedly organizing a “peasant revolution”, and sent to Ratanakiri provincial jail.

They were released on bail on May 30, after they recorded a video and wrote a letter from prison to ‘confess’ their alleged guilt after seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The association’s activities were suspended on June 7 by the Ministry of Interior.

After being released from prison, Savoeun and his colleagues met with Hun Sen. Following the meeting, the prime minister wrote in his Telegram channel that he encouraged farmers' associations to continue their activities for the benefit of the people.

At that time, the head of government instructed Minister of Justice Koeut Rith to work with the Ratanakiri provincial court to drop the charges against the association's leaders and give the association the right to reactivate.