UN Envoy's Remarks Get Mixed Reviews
By Yun Samean and James Welsh
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Reaction to a scathing UN envoy's assessment of the human rights situation in Cambodia drew mixed reviews from foreign diplomats Thursday, while CPP lawmakers continued to attack its validity.
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap accused Yash Ghai, the UN special representative for human rights in Cambodia, of conducting flawed research and claimed that Ghai based his withering findings on the accounts of government critics.
But Canadian Ambassador Donica Pottie said Ghai's speech on Tuesday in Geneva was a reminder that the international community needs to do more to advocate for rights in Cambodia.
Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council, Ghai said rights violations in Cambodia continue on a "systematic scale," and accused Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling CPP of subverting the democratic process to retain its hold on power. He also accused the government of undermining legitimate political opposition and using the state "for the accumulation of private wealth."
"If the report was true it’s not a problem, but the report is just based on the fact that Yash Ghai only walked four or five steps in Cambodia," Cheam Yeap said.
He also denied that the CPP has consolidated power by undermining its opposition.
'The government has given many positions within the National Assembly to the opposition party," he said.
Cheam Yeap said human rights in Cambodia are improving, and that despite Ghai's report, the UN served a purpose in Cambodia.
"The government should not abandon the UN and the UN human rights office in Cambodia," he said, though he added that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan should pressure Ghai to "speak the truth."
Pottie said she agreed with Ghai's appeal to the international community to apply pressure to Cambodia to give higher priority to rights.
"It was clear that Yash Ghai's address did reflect his honest and genuine assessment of [Cambodia]," she said. "He made a reasoned appeal to the international community."
"We've tried to be an effective advocate of human rights. Mr Yash Ghai's speech is a reminder that we need to do more and it’s a reminder I take very much to heart," she added.
Officials in Geneva discussed Ghai's report Tuesday.
Kirsti Pohjankukka, speaking on behalf of the European Union, commended Ghai's report on Cambodia.
"The issue of impunity was of particular concern for the European Union, in particular for persons who were politically and economically well placed," she said, according to a statement issued by the UN Center for Human Rights.
Warren Tichenor, permanent representative of the US to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva said his country was encouraged by the improvements made in Cambodia according to the statement.
However, Tichenor expressed concern that Cambodia's ethnic minorities had difficulties in accessing water and land.
In Phnom Penh, Hun Sen's human rights adviser Om Yentieng, said simply: "We do not bother with [Ghai's] statement."
"His curse will not be victorious over the government," Om Yentieng added. "Many millions of people know the truth."
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights issued a statement supporting Ghai.
"CCHR appreciates Yash Ghai's report and supports his evaluation of the human rights situation in Cambodia, particularly what he said about the denial of fundamental freedoms to the citizens, the dependency of the courts and the corruption that is endemic in our country," the statement said.
The Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission issued a statement calling for donors and the international community to "work harder to impress upon the Cambodian government the need to ensure respect for the constitutional rights of the Cambodian people, especially the precious rights to freedom of expression and assembly."
Australian Embassy spokesman Guy Ruediger declined comment on Ghai's statement.
A receptionist at the British Embassy said the embassy's press officer was too busy to speak to the media this week. An official at the French Embassy said that they had not read the report and could not comment.
Australia, France and Britain provide significant amounts of official development assistance to the Cambodian government.
Cheam Yeap said Hun Sen will be the final judge of Ghai's report.
After Ghai stated in March that there was too much power concentrated in the hands of one person in Cambodia for freedom to flourish, Hun Sen branded him "rude," a "long-term tourist" and demanded that the UN fire him.
"The ultimate response to Yash Ghai is up to Samdech Hun Sen," Cheam Yeap said.
"No other prime minister is as good as Prime Minister Hun Sen because he walks in the dirty flooded water."
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap accused Yash Ghai, the UN special representative for human rights in Cambodia, of conducting flawed research and claimed that Ghai based his withering findings on the accounts of government critics.
But Canadian Ambassador Donica Pottie said Ghai's speech on Tuesday in Geneva was a reminder that the international community needs to do more to advocate for rights in Cambodia.
Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council, Ghai said rights violations in Cambodia continue on a "systematic scale," and accused Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling CPP of subverting the democratic process to retain its hold on power. He also accused the government of undermining legitimate political opposition and using the state "for the accumulation of private wealth."
"If the report was true it’s not a problem, but the report is just based on the fact that Yash Ghai only walked four or five steps in Cambodia," Cheam Yeap said.
He also denied that the CPP has consolidated power by undermining its opposition.
'The government has given many positions within the National Assembly to the opposition party," he said.
Cheam Yeap said human rights in Cambodia are improving, and that despite Ghai's report, the UN served a purpose in Cambodia.
"The government should not abandon the UN and the UN human rights office in Cambodia," he said, though he added that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan should pressure Ghai to "speak the truth."
Pottie said she agreed with Ghai's appeal to the international community to apply pressure to Cambodia to give higher priority to rights.
"It was clear that Yash Ghai's address did reflect his honest and genuine assessment of [Cambodia]," she said. "He made a reasoned appeal to the international community."
"We've tried to be an effective advocate of human rights. Mr Yash Ghai's speech is a reminder that we need to do more and it’s a reminder I take very much to heart," she added.
Officials in Geneva discussed Ghai's report Tuesday.
Kirsti Pohjankukka, speaking on behalf of the European Union, commended Ghai's report on Cambodia.
"The issue of impunity was of particular concern for the European Union, in particular for persons who were politically and economically well placed," she said, according to a statement issued by the UN Center for Human Rights.
Warren Tichenor, permanent representative of the US to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva said his country was encouraged by the improvements made in Cambodia according to the statement.
However, Tichenor expressed concern that Cambodia's ethnic minorities had difficulties in accessing water and land.
In Phnom Penh, Hun Sen's human rights adviser Om Yentieng, said simply: "We do not bother with [Ghai's] statement."
"His curse will not be victorious over the government," Om Yentieng added. "Many millions of people know the truth."
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights issued a statement supporting Ghai.
"CCHR appreciates Yash Ghai's report and supports his evaluation of the human rights situation in Cambodia, particularly what he said about the denial of fundamental freedoms to the citizens, the dependency of the courts and the corruption that is endemic in our country," the statement said.
The Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission issued a statement calling for donors and the international community to "work harder to impress upon the Cambodian government the need to ensure respect for the constitutional rights of the Cambodian people, especially the precious rights to freedom of expression and assembly."
Australian Embassy spokesman Guy Ruediger declined comment on Ghai's statement.
A receptionist at the British Embassy said the embassy's press officer was too busy to speak to the media this week. An official at the French Embassy said that they had not read the report and could not comment.
Australia, France and Britain provide significant amounts of official development assistance to the Cambodian government.
Cheam Yeap said Hun Sen will be the final judge of Ghai's report.
After Ghai stated in March that there was too much power concentrated in the hands of one person in Cambodia for freedom to flourish, Hun Sen branded him "rude," a "long-term tourist" and demanded that the UN fire him.
"The ultimate response to Yash Ghai is up to Samdech Hun Sen," Cheam Yeap said.
"No other prime minister is as good as Prime Minister Hun Sen because he walks in the dirty flooded water."
13 comments:
He is really good because he walks on dirty flood or (people's) blood?
Here we see the small dogs are trying to discredited the truth. When the International hit the nails on the head, we see a dog regime on defensive mode. "Many millions of people know the truth." ah Cheam/Yentieng, you are so right, many Khmers do knew the truth about your Dog master. Since he is an oppressor, none of Khmer living in the country dare to voice against ah Hun. Looked what your Saddam Hun Sen do to the professors, biographers, journalists.
Khmers officials are so predictable. When the TRUTH comes out, you DOGS chasing the CATS & attempting to zip the bag. The world know Ysh Ghai are rights. We knew Heng Pov is right about the CCP. It's time you guys stopped licking your master balls. Learned to accept the facts, give an individual his/her freedom.
OK, brother #4.
I think Hun sen is walking in the dirty blood of the people. And Cheam Yeap is the one that cleans that blood from his feet.
Ah Cheam ahh, your logic is so fallable. Does everyone who walked in the flooded water beneficient? No, of course not. When ah Hun distribute foods or water to the needy, doesn't mean he's an omnipotent one. He just attempting to convince's people that he's a concern leadeer.
Ah Cheam, you are so kindergarten. You only walk in the shady of ah Hun. You DO NOT knows him.
Ah Cheam Yeap! you can say that only with your dogs.
The world knows who is ah HUN Sen and who is ah HOK Longdy!
Cheam Yap you! What should I say? after all you are survuving under an excommunist dictator and dogof VietCong!
Thank you mr. Yash Ghai and Dunica Pottie from the hearth of freedom and justice!
Walking in the muddy water? No wonder why that Viet-dog HUN SEN is a stick in the mud!
09/29/06
AKnijaKhmer
[Blagues a part, ou etes-vous TirkphnekKhmer? Revenez nous rejoindre, SVP?]
09/29/06
AKnijaKHmer
AH CHEAM YAP is a Vietcong trained economist! He needs to be talking alot more about the state of Cambodian economy and it is ranked 111th.
According to Thanh Nien News (Vietname)
"Vietnam’s competitiveness is ranked 77th out of 125 global economies according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007 released by the World Economic Forum yesterday."
"Among the seven economies in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asia Nations) ranked in the report, following Singapore at the 5th position are Malaysia (26), Thailand (35), Indonesia (50), the Philippines (71), Vietnam (77) and Cambodia (111)."
Reported by The Vinh – Translated by Tuong Nhi
I would like to know what AH CHEAM YAP have to say about Cambodian economy based on Thanh Nien News(Vietnam). What kind of economic degree did AH CHEAM YAP got from Vietname anyway?
Million of people know the trust but only Cheam Yap and Om Yientiang do not know that Hun Sen is bad.
To all my beloved brother and sisters,
Your pain is my pain. Your suffering is my suffering. I'm in it with you. I don't believe a word those top dogs government said. They are a bunch of looser. The people that deserve the true credibility are you, all of you and a few other powerful voices from foreign countries like Mr. Ghia, Mr. Embassadoe and Mr. Jedres. I don't care what they say. They are not going to get thru to me and it won't happen. No!
Mr. Ghai and Embassador Mussomeli,
My sincere apology for missed spelling your name and the word Embassador up above paragraph.
These prominent CPP members usually have the official response prepared for them. When they actually use their brain to respond, that is the best kind of logic we can get from them. They all have questionable loyalty toward their country. These are the kind of people who are leading Cambodia in the 21st century. May God save Cambodia!
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