By Yun Samean and Erik Wasson
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Rights groups, union activists and international organizations said Thursday that they have not yet received permission from the government to mark International Human Rights Day on Sunday with a public rally.
An estimated 10,000 people are expected to participate in the rally planned for Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium, which will be addressed by a representative of King Norodom Shamoni as well as the UN Special Representative for Human Rights Defenders Hina Jilani.
Rally organizer An Nan said he did not know why the government had not yet granted permission for the rally, which has been sought since Nov 2. After weeks of delay, the Ministry of Interior only referred the request to hold the rally to the Phnom Penh Municipality on Nov 29, An Nan said.
"The delay to grant permission will create problems organizing the people who will participate," he added.
Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Pa Socheatvong said the municipality was still mulling over the request.
"We will try our best," he said, but added that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport had not yet granted permission for the rally.
Pa Socheatvong also blamed human rights groups, whom he accused of being purposely late in applying for permission.
"They want to create a problem with City Hall," he claimed.
Community Legal Education Center Executive Director Yeng Virak said the government had a responsibility to answer immediately whether it will allow the rally, which is the largest human rights event of the year. "I want a yes or no answer," he said.
Last year, anti-government graffiti scrawled on one human rights banner was later used as a reason to arrest Cambodian Center for Human Rights Director Kem Sokha and Yeng Virak on defamation charges.
US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said that it was crucial for human rights in Cambodia that the government allows Sunday’s rally to take place.
"I'm optimistic. In fact the latest information that I have received is that the discussions with City Hall and the Ministry of Interior are going very well," said Mussomeli, who is scheduled to address the rally.
In comments at a round table discussion sponsored by the Cambodian National Research Organization to be broadcast on 90 FM, the ambassador also warned Thursday that violations of the right to property could destabilize Cambodia.
"For political freedoms, there are no political prisoners," he said. "Where I would say they have fallen down is the land issue."
"It is disturbing that there seems to be no application of the Land Law to help poor people," he added. "Those with power and wealth seem to have great impunity to remove people from their land."
CPP parliamentarian Cheam Yeap defended the government, saying that it respects human rights and UN conventions. "The prime minister has already warned those who encroach on people's land. We will never forgive," he said.
An estimated 10,000 people are expected to participate in the rally planned for Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium, which will be addressed by a representative of King Norodom Shamoni as well as the UN Special Representative for Human Rights Defenders Hina Jilani.
Rally organizer An Nan said he did not know why the government had not yet granted permission for the rally, which has been sought since Nov 2. After weeks of delay, the Ministry of Interior only referred the request to hold the rally to the Phnom Penh Municipality on Nov 29, An Nan said.
"The delay to grant permission will create problems organizing the people who will participate," he added.
Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Pa Socheatvong said the municipality was still mulling over the request.
"We will try our best," he said, but added that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport had not yet granted permission for the rally.
Pa Socheatvong also blamed human rights groups, whom he accused of being purposely late in applying for permission.
"They want to create a problem with City Hall," he claimed.
Community Legal Education Center Executive Director Yeng Virak said the government had a responsibility to answer immediately whether it will allow the rally, which is the largest human rights event of the year. "I want a yes or no answer," he said.
Last year, anti-government graffiti scrawled on one human rights banner was later used as a reason to arrest Cambodian Center for Human Rights Director Kem Sokha and Yeng Virak on defamation charges.
US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said that it was crucial for human rights in Cambodia that the government allows Sunday’s rally to take place.
"I'm optimistic. In fact the latest information that I have received is that the discussions with City Hall and the Ministry of Interior are going very well," said Mussomeli, who is scheduled to address the rally.
In comments at a round table discussion sponsored by the Cambodian National Research Organization to be broadcast on 90 FM, the ambassador also warned Thursday that violations of the right to property could destabilize Cambodia.
"For political freedoms, there are no political prisoners," he said. "Where I would say they have fallen down is the land issue."
"It is disturbing that there seems to be no application of the Land Law to help poor people," he added. "Those with power and wealth seem to have great impunity to remove people from their land."
CPP parliamentarian Cheam Yeap defended the government, saying that it respects human rights and UN conventions. "The prime minister has already warned those who encroach on people's land. We will never forgive," he said.
2 comments:
Their lack of enthusiam to allow a human rights rally has shown the world where the CPP government stands on their respect of human rights, or lack of it. This is because the rally would highlight many aspects of human rights violation committed by the CPP government.
As a concession, the CPP government prefers to have the banners hanging over the main streets. But, the common folks cannot read and understand those slogans in English. A great number of illeterate folks also cannot read those slogans in Khmer on the banners. Riding or driving on the streets while looking up to read the banners would likely invite road accidents.
The CPP government will not allow such human rights banners to be displayed in front of the educational establishments, such as schools and universities, where students can see and understand the messages. But, they allowed anti-Sam-Rainsy banners in front those schools and universities when he was stripped of his parliament immunity and in exile.
The CPP government is run by crooks and criminals who attach very little value on human lives. They don't want the Cambodian population to know about their basic human rights. Because, doing so would be just like putting their own officials on trial.
Very well put. All points are noted.
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