Kem Sokha

Kem Sokha is the President of the Human Rights Party in Cambodia. He was born on 27th June, 1953 in Takeo, Cambodia.

Education

Kem Sokha has a Master of Science in Biochemistry from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, Czech Republic and a law degree from the Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Civil Society

Sokha established and presided over the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) from 2002 to 2007 with nationwide networks of more than 9,000 focal points; conducted human rights trainings and public forums at commune level across Cambodia and founded CCHR’s Voice of Democracy radio program, one of the most popular news radio programs. He also established and chaired the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) from 2005 to 2007, which comprises 28 organizations and led major activities of the AFEC including a yellow ribbon campaign to demand freedom of expression and two historical marches — a 3-day Buddhist march demanding the government to decriminalize defamation charges and a 15-day rights march promoting freedom of expression, non-violence, and political tolerance. Sokha chaired the Cambodian Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism from 2000 to 2007; advocated for the creation of National Human Rights Commission in Cambodia and was imprisoned for 17 days in 2006 on defamation charges stemming from a CCHR's banner displaying criticism of the Hun Sen government. Sokha established the first human rights organization in Cambodia, Human Rights Vigilance of Cambodia, and served as its Chairman in 1991.

Parliament

Sokha was first appointed as a member of the Senate of Cambodia in 1999 when he chaired the Senate Commission on Human Rights and Reception of Complaints. He was the first legislator to propose the creation of the Supreme Council of Magistracy and to introduce the Anti-corruption and Asset Declaration draft laws. Sokha was a member of the National Assembly of Cambodia from 1993 to 1998 and proposed the creation of and chaired the Commission on Human Rights and Reception of Complaint. In 1993, he was elected as a member of the Constitutional Assembly of Cambodia and proposed the creation of a National Human Rights Commission and Ombudsmen.

Politics

•Served as General Secretary for the Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP) from 1992 to 1995
•Served as General Secretary for the Son San Party (SSP)—a split from BLDP— from 1995 to 1998
•Issued a report in 1995 on a “secret prison” torturing political prisoners; fled the country after receiving death threats from government military
•Served as Deputy General Secretary for the Union of Cambodian Democrats formed by opposition political parties in exile after a coup data in 1997
•Was one of the leaders of a months-long demonstration participated by tens of thousands to contest the fraudulent results of the 1998 general elections
•Took refuge at the U.S. Embassy Cambodia for 50 days after a security threat from the government for organizing a mass demonstration
•Served as Deputy General Secretary of the FUNCINPEC party after SSP merged with FUNCINPEC in 1999
•Established and became the President of the Human Rights Party in 2007

External links

* [http://www.hrpcambodia.com/ Human Rights Party]
* [http://cchr-cambodia.org/ CCHR - Cambodian Center for Human Rights website]
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10960823/site/newsweek/ Newsweek article]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4572208.stm Cambodia arrests rights activist, Guy De Launey, BBC, Phnom Penh]
* [http://www.aseanhrmech.org/ Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism]
* [http://www.vscht.cz/homepage/english/main Institute of Chemical Technology]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/09/international/asia/09cambodia.html Cambodian Leader Cracks Down in Bid to Solidify Power--New York Times]