Sothea Tith
Voice of America
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
18/05/2006
Prime Minister Hun Sen agrees to cooperate with U.N. office of human rights officials in Cambodia after meeting with U.N. High Commissioner for human rights Louise Arbour.
He says that Cambodia is not a hell. This change of position happens after his attack against U.N. human rights special representative in Cambodia Yash Ghai.
Professor Ghai says that the power is centralized in one person, and he criticizes the judiciary system in Cambodia.
Ieng Sophalleth, spokesman for Mr. Hun Sen and Ms. Arbour at the meeting alleges that Mr. Hun Sen told Ms. Louise Arbour that he wants human rights officials to speak the truth.
Ms. Arbour has no comment about Mr. Hun Sen's statements, but that she will have a press conference Friday.
To clarify people's confusion about his intention to close the U.N. human rights office in Cambodia, Mr. Hun Sen says that he will not close it, alleges Mr. Sophalleth.
Mr. Sophalleth told Ms. Arbour that Mr. Hun Sen does not want praise but only the truth.
Ms. Arbour says that human rights and democracy in Cambodia are improving, for she sees the reporters' activities, and many NGOs.
Mr. Sophalleth says that Ms. Arbour feels that her visit to Cambodia does not reflect her intention as being an expert, but rather as a partner.
Opposition Sam Rainsy party (SRP) legislator Son Chhay welcomes the cooperation between Mr. Hun Sen and Ms. Arbour.
Relations between Cambodia and the U.N. have been tense since March when special envoy Yash Ghai criticized the Hun Sen government for "iron-fisted" leadership, suppression of dissent and lack of reform.
Ms. Arbour visits Cambodia for one week, having an audience with King Sihamoni, Thursday afternoon, meeting with high ranking government officials, and civil society organizations.
He says that Cambodia is not a hell. This change of position happens after his attack against U.N. human rights special representative in Cambodia Yash Ghai.
Professor Ghai says that the power is centralized in one person, and he criticizes the judiciary system in Cambodia.
Ieng Sophalleth, spokesman for Mr. Hun Sen and Ms. Arbour at the meeting alleges that Mr. Hun Sen told Ms. Louise Arbour that he wants human rights officials to speak the truth.
Ms. Arbour has no comment about Mr. Hun Sen's statements, but that she will have a press conference Friday.
To clarify people's confusion about his intention to close the U.N. human rights office in Cambodia, Mr. Hun Sen says that he will not close it, alleges Mr. Sophalleth.
Mr. Sophalleth told Ms. Arbour that Mr. Hun Sen does not want praise but only the truth.
Ms. Arbour says that human rights and democracy in Cambodia are improving, for she sees the reporters' activities, and many NGOs.
Mr. Sophalleth says that Ms. Arbour feels that her visit to Cambodia does not reflect her intention as being an expert, but rather as a partner.
Opposition Sam Rainsy party (SRP) legislator Son Chhay welcomes the cooperation between Mr. Hun Sen and Ms. Arbour.
Relations between Cambodia and the U.N. have been tense since March when special envoy Yash Ghai criticized the Hun Sen government for "iron-fisted" leadership, suppression of dissent and lack of reform.
Ms. Arbour visits Cambodia for one week, having an audience with King Sihamoni, Thursday afternoon, meeting with high ranking government officials, and civil society organizations.
4 comments:
Please do not feed the animal!
This dog must be hungry. He is not barking. Don't give him food or he will bite the hand that feeds him. This crazy animal has been around too long. Someone needs to put him to sleep.
Yes! it is hell in Cambodia. Just ask the Khmer people in the country side. They will tell you.
There were donations but never get to the ones who needed it most!!
Ms. Arbour, how can you concluded your judgement based on the visitation have had? You ONLY exposed yourself in Phnom Penh; you need to see where Hun Sen doesn't want you to see, then you'll understand the truth.
Did Hun Sen fell and hit his head before coming to the meeting with you, Ms. Arbour? Yes, he's not "barking" -- I gues his cronies probably sedated him. When he spoken of the word "the truth", I don't think he knew what it meant.
No, the democracy is not improving, the people have no freedom of expression. We can't criticize him anytime we wanted. Because if someone do, he arrested them without Due Process. Some of the opposition party members or supporters were being intimidated, and some were assassinated.
Hun Sen came in with a different mask. Ah Chke Chhkout!
Hey you two up there! sound like you had never been in our modern Cambodia!
You talk like it was in 1960 or 70's! you should come and visit Cambodia and its people of modernday! not 1900's but 2000's
22nd Cintury you know?
Also sound like you did not read much and follow up about cambodia either.
Let I tell you my dear Cambodian:
You do not have to go to country side to see hell in Cambodia or where Hun Sen want to hide, every where you can see hell even from the winow of 2007 model cars and the 5 stars hotels in Camdodia.
May be hell are different for different eyes! are poor kids and poor dirty almost no cloths begging or sleeping on the side walk is hell for you? No trafic roul and laws, who have newest most expensivest car has the right of way, lef or right, is what? Young gilds try to be overdress orve makup and over please rich people every store and restaurent, and being abused right in front of open public, is haven for you?
Do not need to go to the country side to ask for where is hell.Ask people right in the midle of Phnom Penh, ask the girls who serve you in the 5 stars hotel, ask the driver of morden car, ask the police man at the corner of the street! and ask yourself!
Donation is nothing!
what kind of donation are you talking about? Khmer Red Cross? Rasmey Hang Neak? CPP? Funsonpic? SRP? A bag of rice a year? that not the way of living! Some NGO is making a good impact on Cambodian, Foreinge AID help built alot of roads, bridgee,othe kind of infrastructure for us, but what is good for the people? if where the road and deminning are reaching, land grabing are starting!
Stealing donation is nothing for Cambodian to care. You both, if you read news in KI it happening now that we Cambodian hurt most: Land Grabing or right stealling, kick people out of there house for the space of Casino? right in the middle of Phnom Penh ( SamBokChap / exmpl).
Illegal loging, that cause drought,flooding, extra lightning, tornado, that kill 100's of Cambodian every year.
Not control of fishering, Tole Sap is run out of fish, do you belive that?
Do mination by Viet namese Company (Sokimex). Sokimex is taking from Hunsen soldia under wear contract, too gas, and Ankor Watt).
Who dare to said Ankor Watt belong to Cambodian? Hun Sen Gorverment receive only 4 millions per year from Ankor Watt entry fee, the rest go to Hanoi!
That hurt my friend ,that people get poor every where. Ask any Cambodian in Cambodia anonymously may be Hun Sen Himself!
Yes abou demorcrasy in Cambodia, Mr. Yash Ghai said it all!
Thank you Mr. Yash Ghai for your honesty.
If you lost site like Hun Sen you may mad (Chkout too)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agreed with you all. I just want to say a few words about the situation over there. I did not want to write essay or anything. We all know the type people running the country.
I can only pray and hope the new generation of Khmer people will change the country for the better.
No one will be in power forever. The people will soon have enough of it and stand up to protect themself.
May God be with you, Khmer people. One day soon the wave of change will come and justice will be served.
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