Land activist to remain in prison as rights groups condemn decision

Vanny sentence upheld

IN A decision roundly criticised by rights observers, the Appeal Court yesterday upheld a two-and-ahalf-year sentence for Boeung Kak activist Tep Vanny for her alleged involvement in a 2013 protest outside Prime Minister Hun Sen’s residence in Phnom Penh that turned violent.

Presiding Judge Pol Sam Oeun said the court found no fault with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s decision to sentence the prominent activist to 30 months in prison.

“The council sees that there was violence that happened and complied with the charge of ‘violence with aggravating circumstances’, and that decision of the municipal court was correct,” he said, referring to the three-judge panel.

Vanny was convicted last September for allegedly ordering an attack on around 200 Daun Penh security guards, police and Military Police personnel, as she and fellow activists attempted to deliver a peti- tion to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s home near the Independence Monument.

The lake resident – one of the most prominent faces of the acrimonious and long-running land dispute between Boeung Kak residents, developers and City Hall – was sentenced to 30 months, fined 5 million riel ($1,240), and ordered to pay 4 million and 5 million riel in compensation, respectively, to plaintiffs Hao Hoeurn and Ouk Ratana, both of whom are Daun Penh security guards.

Vanny has denied instigating any violence, insisting the protesters were the victims. About 10 activists were injured as the CONTINUED

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ANANTH BALIGA A group of protesters hold incense sticks during an impromptu cursing ceremony yesterday outside the Appeal Court, which upheld a 30-month sentence for land rights activist Tep Vanny’s alleged involvement in a 2013 protest that turned violent in Phnom...