THE Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) has criticised the Court of Appeal for attempting to hold a hearing for opposition leader Sam Rainsy and two villagers convicted of destroying public property without allowing the jailed villagers to be present. “It’s just absurd to have a hearing without the charged person being there,” said Hang Chhaya, executive director of the Khmer Institute for Democracy and a member of CHRAC, which issued a statement yesterday. On Tuesday, the Appeal Court hearing was cancelled after defence lawyers walked out. The judge said the two villagers would be present at future hearings.