Rhona
Smith, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Cambodia, shakes hands with Prime Minister Hun Sen during a meeting at
the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh yesterday. AFP
Hun Sen, rapporteur meet
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday called on United Nations
special rapporteur Rhona Smith not to infringe on Cambodian sovereignty,
as the pair met in Phnom Penh during Smith’s first official visit to
the Kingdom.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting at the Peace Palace, Hun Sen’s spokesperson Eang Sophalleth said Smith had moved to reassure the prime minister on the issue.
“Her Excellency [Smith] informed [Hun Sen] that during her mandate she will work with the government to promote the protection of human rights without violating the sovereignty and integrity of the Cambodian government,” he said.
Smith’s office also confirmed the exchange yesterday by email.
“The issue was raised by the Prime Minister. The Special Rapporteur assured the Prime Minister that the role of the Special Rapporteur does not compromise the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Cambodia,” wrote assistant to the special rapporteur Olga Nakajo.
“According to the mandate, the role involves monitoring the situation of human rights in Cambodia and providing technical advice to the Royal Government in its efforts to protect and promote human rights for all in Cambodia,” Nakajo wrote.
However, Sophalleth explicitly acknowledged yesterday that there was often a “gap” between the government and the UN’s interpretations of the protection and promotion of human rights.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting at the Peace Palace, Hun Sen’s spokesperson Eang Sophalleth said Smith had moved to reassure the prime minister on the issue.
“Her Excellency [Smith] informed [Hun Sen] that during her mandate she will work with the government to promote the protection of human rights without violating the sovereignty and integrity of the Cambodian government,” he said.
Smith’s office also confirmed the exchange yesterday by email.
“The issue was raised by the Prime Minister. The Special Rapporteur assured the Prime Minister that the role of the Special Rapporteur does not compromise the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Cambodia,” wrote assistant to the special rapporteur Olga Nakajo.
“According to the mandate, the role involves monitoring the situation of human rights in Cambodia and providing technical advice to the Royal Government in its efforts to protect and promote human rights for all in Cambodia,” Nakajo wrote.
However, Sophalleth explicitly acknowledged yesterday that there was often a “gap” between the government and the UN’s interpretations of the protection and promotion of human rights.
[Oh, really?!]
“Hun Sen told Smith during their meeting that human rights issues require understanding, and there are always different views from one case to another case in the proceedings of democracy and life,” he said.
One such case is the detention last month of three environmental activists with the NGO Mother Nature in Koh Kong province, who were involved in protests over a hydroelectric dam project and sand dredging.
According to her assistant, Smith yesterday visited Koh Kong and met with provincial authorities, though it was not reported whether she had visited the imprisoned activists.
Other cases mentioned in meetings with civil society include the recent conviction of members of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party on insurrection charges related to a July 2014 protest that turned violent in Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park. In July, 11 protesters received sentences of up to 20 years despite little hard evidence being provided during their trial.
Civil society groups raised these cases and other issues with Smith
during a meeting in Phnom Penh last Thursday. But some in attendance
cast doubt over the prospect of her visit significantly impacting on the
current situation.
“I think that her visit is just to survey the position of the
government on the human rights situation,” said Ny Chakrya, head of the
human rights section at rights group Adhoc.
Following her visit, Smith will submit a report that will be
presented at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council later this
month.
Ah Chor Hun Sen,
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to call on the UN's s rapporteur to focus on the K5 project, which you had vividly supported, resulting of hundreds of thousands of Khmer people dead. And Vietnam's goal was to obliterate Khmer race like it did to Cham people.
I am still wondering what did Hun Sen do, or how many Khmer people did Hun Sen kill, in order to gain trust from Vietnam and put him in power to replace Penn Sovann?
It looks like this one eye monster Hun Sen had promised some thing strange to Vietnam, that's why every time when the border issues arise, some Khmer nationalists go to jail. This has been the resolution that this devil Hun Sen has done to silence Khmer people from involving in the territorial integrity.
Finally, the crooked administrators at KI must stop abusing Heng Soy's principals and lift that stupid ID's requirement so that people can say something to help Cambodia.