Stop Intimidation of Community Representatives and Respect COVID-19 Support Requests

Community representatives across Cambodia are calling on authorities to immediately stop harassment and intimidation related to petitions and requests for assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As communities face growing health and economic hardship, representatives have sought to engage authorities through lawful and peaceful means in order to protect the most vulnerable. Instead of receiving support, many community members have experienced pressure, intimidation, and disrespect while attempting to raise urgent concerns.

Communities are calling for authorities to handle petitions with dignity and good faith, recognizing that these requests reflect real and pressing needs on the ground. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected livelihoods, particularly among informal workers, rural communities, and those already facing economic insecurity.

Community representatives are requesting concrete and immediate support measures, including:

• Access to basic necessities such as food and medical supplies
  
  
• Strong public health protection measures
  
  
• Economic assistance for workers and families who have lost income
  
  
• Relief from the heavy burden of microfinance debt during the pandemic
  
  

Microfinance debt remains a critical concern for many communities. As incomes have collapsed due to lockdowns, job losses, and reduced working hours, families are struggling to meet loan repayments. Without intervention, this debt crisis risks pushing already vulnerable households deeper into poverty and insecurity.

Harassment and intimidation of community representatives only worsen these challenges. Such actions discourage communities from sharing vital information and undermine trust at a time when cooperation between authorities and citizens is essential to effectively respond to the public health crisis.

Community representatives are not acting out of political interest or external influence. They are voicing the collective concerns of their communities, grounded in lived experience and urgent need. Their right to speak, organize, and petition must be respected.

We therefore call on Cambodian authorities to:

• Immediately end all forms of harassment and intimidation of community representatives
  
  
• Respect the right of communities to peacefully petition and express concerns
  
  
• Provide meaningful and inclusive COVID-19 support that responds to the realities faced by vulnerable communities
  
  
• Address the burden of microfinance debt as part of the national pandemic response
  
  

Protecting public health requires listening to communities, not silencing them. Ensuring dignity, safety, and economic security for all must remain at the center of Cambodia’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.