UN envoy to attend court

UN envoy to attend court

Phnom Penh Post | 10 January 2014

 

The UN special rapporteur for human rights in Cambodia, Surya Subedi, is expected to attend the court questioning of opposition leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha at Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday.

But Cambodia National Rescue Party president Rainsy said yesterday that Subedi’s presence will not have come at the request of the CNRP.

“I think the UN is doing their duty in line with relative provisions in the Paris Peace Accords with regards [to] Cambodia. We have not asked the UN to be present during our hearing,” he said.

Rainsy added that he was unconcerned ahead of his court questioning scheduled for Tuesday.

“I have no concerns at all. I will go [to court]. I will tell whoever asks me any questions that I have not incited violence. I will ask them: ‘Have you summoned those who pulled the trigger on demonstrators? Those who were wounded were wounded by live fire. Any investigation should start there.’”

Subedi declined to comment yesterday on the charges against Rainsy and Sokha.

Japan meanwhile has urged the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to resume talks with the CNRP in the aftermath of violence last week.

At least four people were killed after police fired on protesters on Veng Sreng Boulevard last Friday, a day after a peaceful rally devolved into rock throwing and looting.

“Japan … hopes that the dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the election results in July last year will resume in a timely manner,” a statement released by the Japanese embassy said.

But lawmakers from both sides of the political divide said this was unlikely.

CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said no talks would be held unless the party’s core demands were discussed, while CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said the party would not consider a re-election before the end of the current mandate.