UN human rights chief Louise Arbour, seen here, is standing by her envoys in Cambodia following blistering attacks by Prime Minister Hun Sen, and urged reform of the country's notoriously weak judiciary (AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)UN rights chief stands by her envoys amid reform row in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH (AFP) - UN human rights chief Louise Arbour is standing by her envoys in Cambodia following blistering attacks by Prime Minister Hun Sen, and urged reform of the country's notoriously weak judiciary.
But despite months of deteriorating relations, Arbour called her visit a show of goodwill that included talks with Hun Sen during which the premier promised not to close the UN's rights offices in Cambodia.
"I came to this country to express ... the desire that I have to continue cooperating with the government," Arbour said at the end of her week-long visit, the first by a high commissioner for human rights since 2002.
Her visit followed demands by Hun Sen earlier this year that UN rights envoy Yash Ghai be sacked for questioning the lack of reform in Cambodia.
Ghai's unusually blunt comments also prompted a series of attacks from other top government officials, who blasted UN staff as "gods without virtue" and "tourists" in a country they know nothing about.
"Cambodia has been extremely well-served by four very distinguished special representatives to the secretary-general," Arbour told reporters.
"I believe their contributions over the years have been a remarkable blueprint for the way Cambodia can address any of its human rights shortcomings," Arbour told reporters when pressed over the most recent row.
"I believe we must take seriously their views, even though some may disagree with either the substance of what they -- or more importantly with the manner with which -- they express themselves," she said.
UN rights envoys have frequently been the target of public upbraiding by Hun Sen for their criticisms, including of Cambodia's courts.
Arbour also said Cambodia's courts are plagued by a lack of independence and trained jurists, calling court reform "the single most important area in which Cambodia needs to make progress".
"The problems with the judicial branch are profound," she said.
Cambodia's judicial credibility has recently come under fire as the government gears up for a long-awaited Khmer Rouge tribunal.
Legal experts have questioned some of the 17 Cambodian jurists selected to serve on the joint UN-Cambodian tribunal, saying they lack experience and political independence.
Arbour, who met with some tribunal officials during her stay, said it was "fundamental" that Cambodia enact its criminal code to facilitate the work of the Khmer Rouge tribunal, which is expected to start in July.
Cambodia's proposed penal code -- the country currently operates under a loose mix of French legal statutes and laws left over from the 1991-93 UN intervention -- has been stuck for years in parliament awaiting approval.
But despite months of deteriorating relations, Arbour called her visit a show of goodwill that included talks with Hun Sen during which the premier promised not to close the UN's rights offices in Cambodia.
"I came to this country to express ... the desire that I have to continue cooperating with the government," Arbour said at the end of her week-long visit, the first by a high commissioner for human rights since 2002.
Her visit followed demands by Hun Sen earlier this year that UN rights envoy Yash Ghai be sacked for questioning the lack of reform in Cambodia.
Ghai's unusually blunt comments also prompted a series of attacks from other top government officials, who blasted UN staff as "gods without virtue" and "tourists" in a country they know nothing about.
"Cambodia has been extremely well-served by four very distinguished special representatives to the secretary-general," Arbour told reporters.
"I believe their contributions over the years have been a remarkable blueprint for the way Cambodia can address any of its human rights shortcomings," Arbour told reporters when pressed over the most recent row.
"I believe we must take seriously their views, even though some may disagree with either the substance of what they -- or more importantly with the manner with which -- they express themselves," she said.
UN rights envoys have frequently been the target of public upbraiding by Hun Sen for their criticisms, including of Cambodia's courts.
Arbour also said Cambodia's courts are plagued by a lack of independence and trained jurists, calling court reform "the single most important area in which Cambodia needs to make progress".
"The problems with the judicial branch are profound," she said.
Cambodia's judicial credibility has recently come under fire as the government gears up for a long-awaited Khmer Rouge tribunal.
Legal experts have questioned some of the 17 Cambodian jurists selected to serve on the joint UN-Cambodian tribunal, saying they lack experience and political independence.
Arbour, who met with some tribunal officials during her stay, said it was "fundamental" that Cambodia enact its criminal code to facilitate the work of the Khmer Rouge tribunal, which is expected to start in July.
Cambodia's proposed penal code -- the country currently operates under a loose mix of French legal statutes and laws left over from the 1991-93 UN intervention -- has been stuck for years in parliament awaiting approval.
2 comments:
The truth will be the truth, the gold will be gold doesn't matter where they are. Mr. Hun Sen cannot hide his evil doing in front of the wise people. the truth will prevail evil and the end.
Do not wait for new generations! Try hard now so our new generation would have some thing to continue to make it better! If we do not thing Hun Sen's sons and Grand sons will do the same shit to us!
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