Cambodia pardons 10 jailed female land rights activists

Ten female Cambodian land activists jailed over protests last year have been pardoned and released from prison, a rights group said yesterday, following an outcry over their arrests.

King Norodom Sihamoni granted a royal pardon to the activists – including a 75-year-old woman known locally as “Mommy” – who were released on Saturday, said Am Sam Ath of rights group Licadho, which provided legal assistance to the women.

“We regret that they made no mistake but were convicted and jailed,” he said.

In November the 10 women and a defrocked Buddhist monk were each sentenced to a year in prison for blocking traffic or obstructing the work of officials during protests in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia’s Appeal Court later reduced eight of their jail terms to 10 months while the sentence for the eldest campaigner was cut to six months. The one-year sentences for prominent rights activist Tep Vanny and the monk were upheld.

Vanny said she was happy to see her family again now the “fake convictions” had been dropped but vowed to continue campaigning.