AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2016/17

defamation suit against Sam Rainsy after the
latter had posted on Facebook that the
government may have been behind the
killing. Opposition senator Thak Lany was
convicted in her absence of defamation and
incitement for allegedly accusing Hun Sen of
ordering the killing.
No progress was made in holding anyone
to account for the killings of at least six
people and the enforced disappearance of
Khem Saphath during a violent crackdown by
security forces on freedom of peaceful
assembly in 2013 and 2014. A renewed
investigation ordered in 2013 into the fatal
shooting of trade union leader Chea Vichea
by unidentified perpetrators in January 2004
also appeared to be making no progress.
RIGHT TO ADEQUATE STANDARD
OF LIVING
Land grabbing, Economic Land Concessions
granted to private stakeholders, and major
development projects continued to impact
the right to adequate housing for
communities around the country. Work on
the proposed Lower Sesan II hydropower
dam in the northeast province of Stung Treng
progressed, with estimates that around 5,000
members of Indigenous minorities faced
relocation due to inundation. The UN Special
Rapporteur on Cambodia called for adequate
consultation, better understanding of cultural
practices and consideration of alternatives
proposed by the communities.
REFUGEES AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS
In January the Ministry of Interior confirmed
that more than 170 Montagnard asylumseekers
who had fled Viet Nam would have
their claims assessed for refugee status, after
initially refusing to do so. Thirteen who had
earlier been granted refugee status were
transferred to the Philippines pending
resettlement to a third country. During the
year, around 29 returned to Viet Nam
voluntarily with assistance from UNHCR, the
UN refugee agency.
CAMEROON
Republic of Cameroon
Head of state: Paul Biya
Head of government: Philémon Yang
The armed group Boko Haram continued to
commit serious human rights abuses and
violations of international humanitarian law
in the Far North region, including killing
and abducting hundreds of civilians. In
response, the authorities and security forces
committed human rights violations,
including arbitrary arrests, incommunicado
detentions, torture and enforced
disappearances. As a result of the conflict,
more than 170,000 people had fled their
homes since 2014. Freedoms of expression,
association and peaceful assembly
continued to be restricted. Demonstrations
in Anglophone regions from late October
were violently repressed by the security
forces. Journalists, students, human rights
defenders and members of opposition
parties were arrested and some faced trial
before military courts. Lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI)
people faced discrimination, intimidation
and harassment, although the number of
arrests and prosecutions continued to fall.
ABUSES BY ARMED GROUPS –
BOKO HARAM
Boko Haram committed crimes under
international law and human rights abuses,
including suicide bombings in civilian areas,
summary executions, torture, hostage-taking,
abductions, recruitment of child soldiers,
looting and destruction of public, private and
religious property. During the year, the group
carried out at least 150 attacks, including 22
suicide bombings, killing at least 260
civilians. The crimes were part of a
systematic attack on the civilian population
across the Lake Chad basin.
Boko Haram deliberately targeted civilians
in attacks on markets, mosques, churches,
schools and bus stations. In January alone, at
least nine suicide attacks killed more than 60
106 Amnesty International Report 2016/17