Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni pardons Tep Vanny and three other land rights activists

Pardons come less than a week after the second anniversary of Tep Vanny’s imprisonment on a charge of aggravated intentional violence in connection with a March 2013 protest

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Tep Vanny waves as she arrives home in Boeung Kak, Cambodia. Photo: AP

Published: 10:50am, 21 Aug 2018Updated: 9:22pm, 21 Aug 2018

A prominent leader of Cambodia’s land rights movement and three female activists imprisoned with her were freed under a royal pardon.

The pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen came less than a week after the second anniversary of Tep Vanny’s imprisonment on a charge of aggravated intentional violence in connection with a March 2013 protest outside Hun Sen’s residence.

Tep Vanny led protests against evictions from the capital’s Boeng Kak lakeshore community, where the government granted a land concession to a Cambodian tycoon and a Chinese company to develop a luxury residential and commercial community.

Hun Sen has a history of aggressive moves against his political enemies and critics. Photo: AP

Rights groups called the case against her and the other Boeng Kak activists an injustice.

Tep Vanny’s return home on Monday night was broadcast live on a colleague’s Facebook page, showing her friends cheering her freedom and shouting that she was a hero.

She received blessings from a Buddhist monk and thanked her guests for their support.

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