Amnesty International reports that on January 3, 2012, approximately 300 families in a poor neighbourhood in Phnom Penh were forcefully evicted and had their homes demolished. On January 11, 2012, twenty- four women and six children were peacefully protesting their forced eviction which led to them being promptly arrested by authorities.
These women and children were standing up for their rights as they had their houses ripped away from them. Such aggressive and unnecessary tactics used by the Cambodian government is unacceptable as these 300 families have no home to return to and have had their lives ripped apart. Furthermore, Amnesty International has been told that people who have been taken by authorities have been raped, abused and even killed.
Tell the government of Cambodia that these women and children need to be released immediately as they have done nothing to warrant arrest.
We the undersigned demand that the Cambodian government release the twenty-four women and six children arrested on January 11, 2012 while they were protesting in the region of Phnom Penh. Their homes have been destroyed and have every right to peacefully protest their case. The Cambodian government should not be locking away the poor and the homeless; they should be supporting the underprivileged and helping them improve their lives.
Please show your people that you support them by releasing these women and children. They have done nothing to warrant imprisonment and must be released.
Thank you.
