SECRETARY-GENERAL PLEASED CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DROPPED DEFAMATION CHARGES AGAINST FOUR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

SECRETARY-GENERAL PLEASED CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DROPPED

DEFAMATION CHARGES AGAINST FOUR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General was pleased to learn that the Government of Cambodia has dropped all charges against the four human rights activists who were being held in jail there for defamation, including Kem Sokha, President of the Cambodia Centre for Human Rights, and his deputy, Pa Nguon Tean.

The Secretary-General hopes that in the future these and other human rights activists in Cambodia will be allowed to carry out their essential work without interference.

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For information media • not an official record