Local rights group Adhoc yesterday met with an EU representative and four foreign embassy officials to ask for their support in safeguarding human rights in the Kingdom as prominent activist Ny Chakrya faces defamation charges.

The suggestion was made during a closed-door meeting with an EU counsellor and four embassy officials from France, Germany, Sweden and the UK.

Adhoc director Thun Saray said he had brought up concerns over land disputes and the government’s egregious use of Cambodia’s court system to intimidate activists such as Chakrya.

“We are human rights activists and we are facing intimidation by the courts,” he said.

“We therefore asked for moral and political support to enhance social justice, and the European Union has [said they] support our actions.”

Chakrya, head of the human rights and legal aid section at Adhoc, said yesterday that the EU's support for Adhoc was “encouraging”.