Moeun Tola
Moeun Tola is a human rights defender and the Executive Director of the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), an NGO which supports Cambodian labourers by providing them with legal aid, and other appropriate means, to demand transparent and accountable governance on labour and human rights issues.
The Cambodian authorities use legislation and the judicial system to restrict free speech, jail government critics, and disperse workers, trade union representatives and farmers when engaging in peaceful assembly. The 2015 Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations imposes a range of restrictions on both domestic and foreign NGOs. Among other provisions, the law requires NGOs to register with the government and allows them to be shut down for undermining “national security,” “national unity,” “peace, stability and public order,” or Cambodian culture. Defamation and damaging the country’s image are widely used charges against HRDs and journalists. Under the 2010 Criminal Code, those who peacefully express views about political parties, government institutions or businesses risk criminal prosecution for defamation and spreading false information.
