"Calls grow for investigation over missing Cambodian land activist", 30 March 2019

…, Sum Moeun was last seen being beaten up by Cambodian soldiers following his arrest over an ongoing land dispute with an agro-industrial company.

Moeun and his fellow villagers have been in conflict with the Metrei Pheap company, which was granted 8,520 hectares of land within the Kulen Wildlife Sanctuary ... The villagers argue the concession includes their own farmland, and 15 community members were arrested during a crackdown …

Fourteen people, including Moeun's son Moeun Mean, remain in custody, facing up to 10 years in prison, while Moeun himself has disappeared without a trace.

Human rights groups have increased pressure on the Cambodian government with both Human Rights Watch and Licadho releasing statements demanding that Moeun be presented. The United Nations is also investigating the issue.

"Cambodian authorities should immediately reveal the whereabouts of a land activist forcibly disappeared in Preah Vihear province," said the HRW press release…

"Witnesses reported that Moeun was beaten following his arrest," reads the Licadho statement…

"The state must take appropriate measures to investigate cases of enforced disappearance and bring those responsible to justice," said CCHR director Chak Sopheap. "It is the duty of the state to fully investigate the disappearance of Sum Moeun, or to reveal his whereabouts if they are known."

Chum Socheat, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, declined to comment on whether such an investigation is under way. Preah Vihear Provincial Governor Un Chanda did not reply to repeated requests for comment, but told … that Moeun is not in custody…