UN hearing highlights deteriorating rights in Cambodia
World Bulletin } 14 September 2016
Statement
on behalf of 39 states says current political, social climate doesn’t bode well
for elections in 2017 and 2018
World
Bulletin / News Desk
Nearly 40 countries came together to express
concern over mounting tensions in Cambodia at the 33rd session of the United
Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, citing the recent assassination of a
government critic and upcoming election season next year.
Around 15 minutes after the session opened
Wednesday morning, Keith Harper, the United States Representative to the Human
Rights Council in Geneva, delivered a joint statement on behalf of 39 states.
They said only free and fair elections could
ensure the legitimacy of the next government.
“We are deeply concerned about the current
escalation of political tensions in Cambodia, which threatens legitimate
activities by opposition parties and human rights NGOs,” they said.
They cited the disproportionate use of legal
action against government critics and the complete breakdown of dialogue
between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP).
The most alarming setback this year has been
the July murder of Kem Ley, a prominent and vocal critic of the government, who
was shot dead at a gas station as he bought a morning coffee. The signatories
said the murder needed a “full and transparent investigation”.
In the wake of Ley’s death, four of the UN’s
special rapporteurs on Cambodia, the situation of human rights defenders,
freedom of opinion and expression, rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and
of association, and summary or arbitrary executions warned it would have a “chilling”
effect on the country’s democratization.
“We support their call on Cambodian
authorities ‘to ensure a safe and enabling environment for human rights
defenders and civil society, which play a critical role in holding the
Government to account and bringing benefits of human rights to the whole of
Cambodian society’,” the 39 states said.
CNRP leader Sam Rainsy is in self-imposed
exile to avoid a defamation prison conviction and last week, his deputy, Kem
Sokha, was convicted for failing to appear in court as a witness in a
prostitution case involving his mistress.
Armed forces have also begun deploying
around the CNRP headquarters over the past few days after the party said it
would stage mass demonstrations.
Nicolas Agostini, the UN representative of
the International Federation of Human Rights, told Anadolu Agency by email
Wednesday that the signatories “collectively made it clear to Cambodia's
government that it is under scrutiny as the 25th anniversary of the Paris Peace
Agreements approaches”.
“Increased international attention on
Cambodia was long overdue. The UN and states that have leverage on Cambodia
must now show that they are ready to use it to prevent a return to political
violence and instability,” he wrote.
In response four hours later, Ney Samol,
Cambodia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, said Cambodia does not
appreciate outside interference in its political situation.
He argued that “some parties and entities”
tend to “dramatize” events “for the sake of political benefit”.
“The government has an obligation to
implement the rule of law to maintain political stability,” he told the
chamber, adding that “security and management of electoral process has been
established to guarantee free and fair competition acceptable to all parties.”
He said interference in the country’s
internal affairs betrayed “the spirit of the charter of the United Nations” and
said dialogue should be “based on mutual respect”.
Cambodia will be back under scrutiny again
Sept. 28, when reports by Cambodian human rights envoy Rhona Smith and the
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will be presented.
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