Tuesday September 26, 2006
Siem Reap, Cambodia- The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights in Cambodia was welcome to stay, even though in his opinion its role was limited and it was more useful elsewhere, Prime Minister Hun Sen told a human rights seminar Tuesday. Opening the two-day conference in the northern city, Hun Sen's comments, although tongue in cheek, appeared to be another tentative step towards patching up an old rift between the UNHCRC and the government which had at one point seen a senior government official threaten to cut the body's mandate.
"If the UN understands that it is necessary to continue to keep your human rights office here in Cambodia, please keep it, but if you want to close I will not oppose that either," Hun Sen told the meeting.
"If you want to stay, at least Cambodia can continue to make money from your rent," he added.
Hun Sen jokingly reiterated comments made earlier this year in which he referred to UNHCRC staff as "tourists" who lacked understanding of the country, and suggested countries which were not so peaceful may be more in need of the body's services.
"The most important thing is, what is your job here?" he asked. "I think you should move to Afghanistan or Baghdad, Iraq. That might be better than here, but I don't think you will go there. There is fighting."
Last March Hun Sen angrily denounced UN human rights envoy Yash Ghai and called for him to be sacked after Ghai told a news conference that power was too centralized in Cambodia and he believed that this had impacted on the country's human rights record.
In May, senior government lawmaker Cheam Yeap was quoted in local media as saying that the UN body may be thrown out of Cambodia if it failed to cooperate more fully with the government's human rights committee, headed by Hun Sen's advisor Om Yentieng.
The conference has attracted delegates from Australia, Canada, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Office of the UN High Commission in Geneva.
Geneva-based UNHCRC representative Marianne Haugaard later declined to comment on the prime minister's speech, saying she was not in a position to do so.
The meet is co-sponsored by the Cambodian government and will discuss strategies to strengthen the human rights record in the region as well as Cambodia.
"If the UN understands that it is necessary to continue to keep your human rights office here in Cambodia, please keep it, but if you want to close I will not oppose that either," Hun Sen told the meeting.
"If you want to stay, at least Cambodia can continue to make money from your rent," he added.
Hun Sen jokingly reiterated comments made earlier this year in which he referred to UNHCRC staff as "tourists" who lacked understanding of the country, and suggested countries which were not so peaceful may be more in need of the body's services.
"The most important thing is, what is your job here?" he asked. "I think you should move to Afghanistan or Baghdad, Iraq. That might be better than here, but I don't think you will go there. There is fighting."
Last March Hun Sen angrily denounced UN human rights envoy Yash Ghai and called for him to be sacked after Ghai told a news conference that power was too centralized in Cambodia and he believed that this had impacted on the country's human rights record.
In May, senior government lawmaker Cheam Yeap was quoted in local media as saying that the UN body may be thrown out of Cambodia if it failed to cooperate more fully with the government's human rights committee, headed by Hun Sen's advisor Om Yentieng.
The conference has attracted delegates from Australia, Canada, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Office of the UN High Commission in Geneva.
Geneva-based UNHCRC representative Marianne Haugaard later declined to comment on the prime minister's speech, saying she was not in a position to do so.
The meet is co-sponsored by the Cambodian government and will discuss strategies to strengthen the human rights record in the region as well as Cambodia.
4 comments:
Oh! A dicatator HUN SEN think that the UN is no longer needed? The UN had brought so many democratic systems to Cambodia and why would a dictator HUN SEN want the UN in Cambodia? Do you think a dictator like AH HUN SEN want peace and democratic system?. Of course not! Over the years, A dictator HUN SEN had attacked the UN nonstop especially deal with the human right violation in Cambodia!
Recently, AH HUN SEN had been too friendly with Uncle SAM. This could be one reason why he is so confident that Cambodia don't need the UN anymore! If any fool can please Uncle SAM, they can get what they want! ahahahahah!
USA=UN=Uncle SAM
usa=un=uncle sam, it is time to reforme Cambodia royal police and army! You give those corrupted Cambodia Leaders to long a time to prove that they are respected democracy!
Last year Hun Sen spoke at the UN HQ about "Cambodia's (CPP governemtn) committement to Human Rights and democratic government".
What Hun Sen said is in contrast to his actions. Since then more Khmer resident are forced out of their land and home, with compensation worth to nothing. The relocation of those people is a joke. They have done little to organise proper housing and helps all across the country.
The action to evict people if not put to the public to scrutinise for any proper planning.
When Hun Sen stopped performing lip service, which is never. UNHCR will always be needed in Cambodia, martial law is Hun Sen's word away.
This Guy Hun Sen will never change!
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