Mussomeli: "there remains an abiding fear and distrust of dissent and criticism among certain Cambodian officials"

Remarks by Ambassador Joseph A. Mussomeli, International Human Rights Day

Phnom Penh
December 10, 2006

Ladies and gentlemen. I am honored to participate in this 2006 celebration of International Human Rights Day. Indeed, all year I have been regretting my inability to attend last year’s event, and so am delighted to finally join with all of you in such a fundamentally important event.

Let me begin by thanking those officials from City Hall and the Ministry of Interior for their cooperation in ensuring that this event took place today. I would also like to thank the organizers of this event for putting together such a varied and worthwhile program. I especially like the theme of this year’s event: “We Are All Human Rights Defenders.” The safety and security of those individuals who work to defend the rights of others is crucial to Cambodia’s democratic development.

What I especially like about this year’s theme is the emphasis on “Defenders.” Too often we forget that we are defenders -- and not just possessors of human rights or abusers of human rights or victims of the abusers of human rights. I like the emphasis on “defenders,” because that brings me back to something I have often said publicly about human rights, but always bears re-stating -- that it is up to each individual to ensure human rights for themselves and for those of their community. It does no good to expect outsiders and foreigners to protect and defend you. All we can do is offer some support and some advice, and that support and advice is a small thing compared to what you all must do.

Ultimately it is up to the Cambodian people to decide how to move forward and it is up to the Cambodian people to defend their rights. They are the defenders of their rights and the deciders of their fate.

When I think of the word “defender,” the first image that pops into my mind is someone with a sword and shield defending his family or his village or his country from some enemy. I like that imagery because too often people think that defending human rights is just about making speeches or joining demonstrations or otherwise expressing one’s views. Too often we forget that being a defender is a sometimes arduous task, and even sometimes a dangerous one. Being a defender is not for the faint hearted. Being a defender above all else takes courage. I always like to quote the ancient Romans who would say, “Courage is not the only virtue, but it is the one virtue that makes all other virtues possible.” I think we all need to keep that in mind. That courage is the foundation of everything that is good and enduring, from peace and prosperity to justice and freedom.

And, of course, courage means many things. Sometimes it means a willingness to go to jail or even to die. Other times it means a willingness to compromise and try to understand the other side’s fears. Sometimes it even means working with those who seem to be enemies, even at the risk of being called a coward or a traitor. And certainly courage always means that we act responsibly and are accountable for what we say and what we do, and do not risk other people’s lives recklessly.

For our part, the United States seeks to support democratic movements and institutions everywhere. We believe we must defend liberty and justice because these principles are universal and are true for all people. We do not believe that any people’s freedom is safe until all people are free. And we do believe that injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere. Today, in growing numbers across the globe, men and women are pressing for their right to be respected and their governments to be responsive, for their voices to be heard and their votes to count, for just laws and justice for all. Growing also is the recognition that democracy is the form of government that can, over time, best meet the demands of citizens for dignity, liberty, and equality.

In Cambodia, our current assistance programs are targeted to improve the capacity of human rights organizations and legal professionals to challenge, in a productive way, the political and judicial system in order to ensure equitable treatment for all Cambodian citizens. We believe that Cambodia is making important progress, and we openly acknowledge that the government has ensured greater stability and growth for the country.

In addition to this progress, there is another promising trend in Cambodia today: the growth of grassroots activism. In ever increasing numbers throughout the country, ordinary people are standing up for their rights. In some cases, they have resisted illegal land sales and won, in other cases they have halted local level corruption. Yet there are considerable risks in this sort of undertaking, and in cases where powerful interests are involved, the risks are very high.

So while we see cause for optimism in the emerging courage of ordinary citizens and responsible political leaders, we also acknowledge the tremendous human rights challenges that remain, including massive, illegal land grabbing. Human rights abuses persist and come in a wide variety of forms, most especially including corruption, a crippled judiciary, and the lack of political will to make the hard choices needed to eradicate corruption and strengthen the judiciary.

Working in these circumstances, human rights defenders have sometimes been killed for their efforts in Cambodia. And today, especially, we do not forget them. Other human rights defenders have been imprisoned. During the year, as many as 71 community or labor activists were illegally detained and/or had spurious charges brought against them. Specific examples include the recent death threats against an NGO worker advocating land rights in Ratanakiri, last year’s threats made to NGO lawyers representing a land rights case in Phnom Penh, and the recent conviction of several people for “inciting” the May 31, 2006 riot at Sombokchap. Peaceful assemblies and demonstrations are also routinely prohibited. During 2006, at least 39 gatherings or expressions of free speech were prevented or dispersed.

There is only one conclusion to be drawn from all of this: there remains an abiding fear and distrust of dissent and criticism among certain Cambodian officials. This apprehension is frankly understandable, even if not justifiable. It is understandable because of all the instability and conflict that Cambodia has had to endure for the last three decades. But it is not justifiable because these very critics can help further stabilize Cambodia and bring true peace and prosperity to this country. The government need not retain an iron grip on demonstrations, on criticism, on the ability of citizens to fight against injustice and corruption. Cambodia is a different country than it was even just five years ago. It has made remarkable progress and the citizens of this country are responsible enough and mature enough – and the government is stable enough and legitimate enough – to work together to create a more open, free society. Just as we admire the Cambodian government for its work to bring peace and growth to the country, so do we strongly urge it to put its fears aside and encourage diverse views and activities of Cambodia’s growing community of human rights defenders.

That there have been setbacks in some areas even as there has been progress in others should not discourage or frustrate anyone. That is the way every society evolves and develops. Democracy is always, eternally, a work in progress. And every nation, even the United States, is still developing, still refining its institutions and its principles, and even the United States has not had steady, smooth progress. All communities experience setbacks and all communities must continue to strive to defend freedom.