A/HRC/7/56 page 6 authorities stated that the death was a result of suicide but were unable to provide an adequate explanation as to how Mr. Oum, while in police custody, was able to escape and jump from a first floor balcony, after he had reportedly already made several attempts to take his own life. Similarly, they declined to provide an official record of the investigation, including a post-mortem examination certificate. 11. Following much welcomed changes to the defamation law in 2006 (removal of imprisonment as a penalty for defamation), there has been a clear decline in defamation charges, but a marked shift toward recourse to public prosecution for the crime of disinformation, which still carries a prison sentence. On 15 February 2007, the Office observed the trial of three Khmer Krom individuals at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of disinformation. They were accused of distributing leaflets in Cambodia accusing the Government of betraying the people and protecting Vietnamese interests. They were found guilty, even though no evidence was produced directly linking them to the leaflets, and sentenced to six months in prison. No witnesses were heard in court. On 28 February 2007, the Office monitored the trial of Tieng Narith, a university professor, on charges of disinformation. He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and fined 5 million riel for authorship of an unpublished book which was highly critical of the Government. The Office also monitored the case of Soeun Savan, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Friendship Association in Takeo Province, who had sought the release of a group of 48 Khmer Krom detained after crossing into Cambodia from Viet Nam in February 2007. Mr. Soeun was charged with disinformation for allegedly having referred to the group as “refugees” in statements to the press. The prosecution argued that the statement was aimed at misinforming the public in order to create public disorder, since the Cambodian Government considers Khmer Krom to be Khmer citizens. His case is pending at the Takeo Provincial Court. 12. As in previous years, there were marked restrictions on the exercise by citizens of their constitutionally-guaranteed right to peaceful assembly. On 27 February 2007, the Office intervened to defuse a stand-off between police and a group of Khmer Krom monks protesting outside the Vietnamese Embassy against the alleged repression of fellow monks in Viet Nam. One of the protesting monks was found dead two days later at his pagoda in Kandal Province. Despite the fact that his throat had been slit several times, police characterized the death as suicide. Attempts by monks on 21 March to hold a Buddhist ceremony for the dead monk at his pagoda were impeded by police. Following the February 2007 demonstrations which attracted international news coverage, Khmer Krom organizations came under increasing pressure from the authorities to temper their activities. On 8 June 2007, the Ministry of Cults and Religion and the Patriarch of Phnom Penh, Non Nget, issued a directive ordering monks to refrain from engaging in public demonstrations. The constitutionality of this directive has been publicly questioned by a member of the Constitutional Council. Monks are similarly barred from voting in elections. 13. The Office also intervened with the office of the Provincial Governor in Ratanakiri to ask for clarification of the grounds for prohibition of a workshop, planned in advance, gathering local communities and commune and district officials to discuss the implementation of the Land Law. Following the workshop, a small, peaceful march was organized in the capital of the province, calling for the effective implementation of a statement by the Prime Minister concerning the protection of land and forestry in the province. The march, which posed no security threat, was prohibited and eventually dispersed by the fire brigade.