UN Envoy Departs With Barrage of Criticism

Cambodia Daily | 20 October 2016

The U.N.’s envoy to Cambodia concluded her 10-day fact-finding visit on Wednesday with a barrage of criticism over alleged human rights violations, decrying political jailings, land evictions affecting poor families and the “simply unacceptable” routine roundups and detention of Phnom Penh’s vagrants.

In a parting jab at the government, Rhona Smith, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, rejected assertions from officials that her work amounted to “interference” that infringed on the country’s sovereignty.

The UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, Rhona Smith, speaks at a press conference in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, marking the end of her 10-day fact-finding visit to the country. (Siv Channa/The Cambodia Daily)

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“The time for the government to blame the troubles of the last century for the situation today is surely over,” she said, apparently referencing the ruling party’s refrain in which officials blame poor performance on decades of civil war and brutality leading up to the 1980s.

Prime Minister Hun Sen did not meet with Ms. Smith during this visit, her third since assuming the role last year, which she attributed to his busy schedule with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Cambodia inked a slew of investment deals with Beijing and signed 31 agreements with Mr. Xi, who pledged $237 million in aid, erased almost $90 million in state debt and offered nearly $15 million in military support.

China has notably also defended Cambodia against international criticism at U.N. forums, including Ms. Smith’s critical report at the U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva last month.

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