Police's show of force against people who supported Kem Sokha during his arrest on 31 Dec 2005 (Photo: AFP)11 March 2007
By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
On Sunday, Prime Minister Hun Sen had reacted strongly against the criticisms on the respect of human rights and democracy in Cambodia.
Hun Sen’s reaction was displayed during the inauguration of the Bayon TV station which is owned by his daughter. The prime minister declared that Cambodia allows an open freedom of expression, as well as allowing the freedom of press all over the country as can be seen by the hundreds of newspapers published. He claimed that his action is a proof of a full fledge democracy in Cambodia.
Hun Sen said: “[We] guarantee not to send to jail for expressing opinions, whether they are expressed to criticize the leadership of the government, the state institutions, and public officials. On this issue, when the UN came to Cambodia, according to the UNTAC law, if someone is accused of defamation, that person must be sent to jail. I don’t know what other democracy [they want], I don’t understand it. Is it until they take it [democracy] to bury for it to be called democracy?”
Hun Sen’s strong reaction came after a new report was issued by Yash Ghai, the UN Special Envoy in Charge of Human Rights in Cambodia, which stated that the violation of human rights in Cambodia is still endemic.
Mu Sochua, SRP Secretary-General, said that even Members of Parliament will be sent to jail for expressing unpleasing comments. “This is the same as the loss of the people’s rights, because when the people’s representatives have to worry about their immunities [regarding expressing their opinions], this is the same as the people losing their voices,” Mu Sochua said.
Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho NGO, added that freedom in Cambodia is still limited. “As I said before, in reality, there is some freedom of expression allowed for the news media, however, when they go somewhat beyond the limit, they start facing difficulties. [In fact], there are people still being jailed in land dispute cases, these people dare stand up to voice out their opinion.”
In this new report, Human Rights watch shows that democracy and the respect of human rights in Cambodia is unacceptable. Even though there are numerous newspapers [in Cambodia], the majority of them are only supporting the ruling party. On the other hand, when people are requesting to hold a demonstration, the government had prevented them to do so in the last few years.
Hun Sen’s reaction was displayed during the inauguration of the Bayon TV station which is owned by his daughter. The prime minister declared that Cambodia allows an open freedom of expression, as well as allowing the freedom of press all over the country as can be seen by the hundreds of newspapers published. He claimed that his action is a proof of a full fledge democracy in Cambodia.
Hun Sen said: “[We] guarantee not to send to jail for expressing opinions, whether they are expressed to criticize the leadership of the government, the state institutions, and public officials. On this issue, when the UN came to Cambodia, according to the UNTAC law, if someone is accused of defamation, that person must be sent to jail. I don’t know what other democracy [they want], I don’t understand it. Is it until they take it [democracy] to bury for it to be called democracy?”
Hun Sen’s strong reaction came after a new report was issued by Yash Ghai, the UN Special Envoy in Charge of Human Rights in Cambodia, which stated that the violation of human rights in Cambodia is still endemic.
Mu Sochua, SRP Secretary-General, said that even Members of Parliament will be sent to jail for expressing unpleasing comments. “This is the same as the loss of the people’s rights, because when the people’s representatives have to worry about their immunities [regarding expressing their opinions], this is the same as the people losing their voices,” Mu Sochua said.
Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho NGO, added that freedom in Cambodia is still limited. “As I said before, in reality, there is some freedom of expression allowed for the news media, however, when they go somewhat beyond the limit, they start facing difficulties. [In fact], there are people still being jailed in land dispute cases, these people dare stand up to voice out their opinion.”
In this new report, Human Rights watch shows that democracy and the respect of human rights in Cambodia is unacceptable. Even though there are numerous newspapers [in Cambodia], the majority of them are only supporting the ruling party. On the other hand, when people are requesting to hold a demonstration, the government had prevented them to do so in the last few years.
9 comments:
Regarding democracy in Cambodia ,PM Hun Sen said in Cambodia there are several TV and radio stations , and hundreds of Newspapers,but his Government did not allow the opposition Parties to own any radio and/or TV station.
This is Hun Sen's demogagy , not democracy, and he learned it from King Sihanouk.
How can this girl own a TV station? How much she earn a month and what business has she started to earn that monies? This proves that Hun Sen is the most corrupted person on earth.
Hun Sen is smart only to brainwash Cambodian people not to understand the reality of Cambodia and not to be able to protect their own destiny. Only him can protect their destinay. This is just a weak expression of incapable leader.
Hun Sen's words are viciously offending Cambodian's basic rights and dignitary.
Democracy and Human Rights Respect mean:
1. People are freely out of jail because of expressing. For example, recently Teang Narith is still sentenced to jail.
2. People are free of fear about their lives security; and bad perpetrators always arrested and punished. But in reality, Hun Sen's government has never arrested or punished any gun men since killing and shooting Piseth Phalika, Chea Vichea, Om Rasdy, Touch Sonich, Monk Som Buntheoun, Hy Vuthy and Miss Pov Pannapich...etc. The perpetrators have succeeded their mission in the same manner: ride mortobike and shot people on the street easily like Hun Sen and his colleagues are playing golf.
3. People are still not able freely to demonstrate or express their view. No permission to having public demonstration which a grave violation of human rights.
4. National medias are still biased, only government can broadcast everything while these medias are using national's budgets and under control of Communication Ministry.
5. More than 85% of newspapers are blindly pro-government. They speak well and praise government though the reality is opposite.
6. Court, justice and governmental implementation are only on the lip of Hun Sen. Power is gathering only around Hun Sen's seat is absolutely dictatorship, not democracy at all.
6. People are still living under poverty line which is a grave violation of fundemental Human Rights.
7. Land grabbings are still operating by higher officials of the government.
8. People who are dare to protest land grabbing are always jailed.
9. Rich and poor are still having distant gap which is the violation of economic equality distribution.
10. State of law is only under Hun Sen's butt and on Hun Sen's lip. This is grave violation of Hun Sen's promises in the treaty with UN as well as to implement real democracy in Cambodia.
"In Cambodia you have the peace of the cemetery, you have the stability or the security of the slave. I think Cambodia deserves better." - Sam Rainsy
"Now they speak of democracy, but it's just talk. It's communist inside. I have seen that the CPP's hierarchy and policies are formed in the communist fashion. They talk about democracy just because it sounds good. In reality what they implement is not the same as what they say. Cambodian people have never had real democracy. The country is controlled by powerful people, and the poor people are their slaves" - Pen Sovann
Sovann once said: "Cambodian politics has the head of a chicken and the ass of a duck. They speak about democracy and multiple political parties, but they practice communist ways."
Between Hun sen, Pen Sovann and Sam Rainsy; who know about democracy and human right than?
12:44pm
Ah PEN SOVANN was a communist who killed his own people to please his master the YUONS,.He changed his color after he witness the yuons did to his country, but by that time it's already too late.Ah pen sovann should be hang along with all the khmer rouges cadres include SIHANOUK....
The Bayon t.v station is funded by corrupt money, they then use this media for propeganda to swey people opinion about their evil government. It is sad but the devil is trying hard to win.
Hun Sen, le voyou Viet et le criminel du 21eme siecle n'a qu'une seule mission - abolir la race Khmere....
How many editors who were trageted?How many news outlets were not belong to state or better word Hun Sen and lackeys?
Let me say this Hun Sen did realize that women can wear pants and look as good as men.He made public request to have his part time suitor, Ranni, get full right to wear army pant.
That's democracy 101 for Doc Xen Politrical Science PhD paper.
If Hun Sen and his gang is still stay in power as today. Please do not dream about democracy in CAMBODIA.
Where does Arr sen's daughter got the money from to start a TV station? She probably has a printing money company? Or she just lend her name and got the bribe or profit from the real owner of the TV Station. This is how Cambodia do the share holders business by lending their names so those polices, MP, or whatsoever stay away from their business. Everybody should know how the business practice in Cambodia. You have to have someone name related to HS in your share holders for your protection.
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