The Ratanakkiri Provincial Court has announced it will end the case against three officials accused of defamation and issuing threats after the plaintiffs – two rights workers – offered to withdraw their complaints, deputy prosecutor Ros Saram said yesterday.

Last August, Pen Bonnar and Chhem Savuth – rights workers for Adhoc and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, respectively – filed complaints against Batang commune chief Ki Chen, commune police chief Plang Nea, and Tabaing village chief Pheang Moang after they allegedly blocked a Ministry of Interior-approved human rights workshop.  

Bonnar said he had agreed to drop the case after the officials admitted to unlawfully blocking the gathering.

Village chief Moang acknowledged yesterday that he had been in the wrong but noted that rights organisa-tions should still inform authorities of their activities in advance.

To contact the reporter on this story: May Titthara at [email protected]