Yash Ghai, U.N. special representative for human rights in Cambodia, speaks to journalists upon his arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 29, 2007. Yash Ghai visited Cambodia to seek discussion with government leaders about the country's human right situation. (AP photo/Heng Sinith)May 29, 2007
UN human rights envoy returns to Cambodia
DPA
Phnom Penh - United Nations Special Representative on Human Rights Yash Ghai returned to Cambodia Tuesday on a three-day visit, with uncertainty surrounding whether any senior government officials will see him after his stinging report issued in March.
The Kenyan UN official was met at Phnom Penh International Airport by a representative of his office and a handful of reporters but not one representative of the Cambodian government to kick off a visit aimed at garnering feedback on his last report, which sparked the fury of the government for its harsh criticism of its human rights record.
Ghai took over the position from the softly spoken Peter Leuprecht in 2005. This is his third official visit to Cambodia in the role.
In his last report, Ghai condemned the country's judicial system as a government-controlled tool of oppression and slammed Cambodia's leaders for a range of alleged human rights abuses.
Prime Minister Hun Sen retorted furiously, saying he would never meet Ghai again and advising him to return to his own country an fix that first before advising others.
Ghai hopes to make a presentation to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva later this month using information gleaned from this trip to round out that report.
The Kenyan UN official was met at Phnom Penh International Airport by a representative of his office and a handful of reporters but not one representative of the Cambodian government to kick off a visit aimed at garnering feedback on his last report, which sparked the fury of the government for its harsh criticism of its human rights record.
Ghai took over the position from the softly spoken Peter Leuprecht in 2005. This is his third official visit to Cambodia in the role.
In his last report, Ghai condemned the country's judicial system as a government-controlled tool of oppression and slammed Cambodia's leaders for a range of alleged human rights abuses.
Prime Minister Hun Sen retorted furiously, saying he would never meet Ghai again and advising him to return to his own country an fix that first before advising others.
Ghai hopes to make a presentation to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva later this month using information gleaned from this trip to round out that report.
12 comments:
Wellcom to Cambodia Mr.Yash Ghai.
Mr. Ghai, please also go to China & Vietnam. Those are the two biggest King Kong countries that needs to be dealt with seriously. They are doing nothing, but going around speading out this evil-terrible spells all over Cambodia everyday. Thank you
Everyone should throwed eggs at
Ah corrupted Kenyan bastard (Ghai).
Arrest that man in the picture!!!
It looks like he's carring heroin
in his shirt. Put him in Prey Sor,
and I will be there in a few days
to interrogate him.
As a Khmer national I dissociate myself from the two latest comments. They reflect the self-destructive, spiteful and malicious, death-to-others, woe-to-others mentalilty aptly described by Khmer moralist poet Krom Ngoy: you are strong and powerful, and can do anything to others because you have gold, money, swords, knives, prison, shackles, guillotines (arng meas arng prak arng dao arng phkeak arng kok arng chrovak arng masin kat kor).
And Krom Ngoy added: Son, there are such power cult and abuse of power and no happiness when religion is far away from our society (srok young min sabbay proh sasna noeu chngay.
We do not seem to learn from Krom Ngoy's teachings. Definitely the Khmer Rouge did not when they abolished all religions and exercised their power without any restraint, mercilessly killing, starving and sending people to jail.
It should be noted that Prof. Yash Ghai will present his report on the human rights situation in Cambodia to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in the next two weeks. Any negative reaction on the part of our leaders to his visit will only attract more attention and more publicity to him and his presentation, and will only confirm the human rights stitutation that he will present to the council.
Prof. Yash Ghai will have achieved his objective and will have well fulfilled his duty as a UN special Envoy for human rights in Cambodia.
The international image of our country and leadership will only be tarnished further, especially when we have international human rights obligations under the Paris Peace Agreements and our constitution to all of which our leaders have committed our nation.
In this situation a piece or two of Khmer wisdom is very helpful: when angry, restrain your anger; when poor, work harder (khoeung khom ot khsot khom rok); speak not beyond what you know, be not angry out of proportion (niyeay kom oy huoh doeung kheung kom oy huoh het).
In this situation too, Oliver Cromwell, English general and politician (1599 - 1658), if he were alive and were concerned with the plight of the Cambodian people, would say to the cambodian leaders: "I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken."
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Sorry, Dr. Lao, but we aint gonna
kiss no devil's asses who had
already ruined our image
unnecessary which consequently
detered bussinesses from comming
into Cambodia and further cause
millions of our people to continue
to suffer from lack of jobs. If
anyone who's violating any Human
Right, it will have to be Ah
corrupted Kenyan (Ghai). This
is clearly political bias. And
you know that fair well, Dr.
Loa. They could have handle
this silently as they did with
Tony Blair's case if they care
for Khmer people.
Thank,Dr. Lao, you are right. we
support Mr Ghay who had already
told truth our Cambodia image lead
by ah Hun Sen (Criminal against
humanity in Cambodia).
If there are no UN human rights, no
reporters, no NGO in Cambodia, no
Sam rainsy Party, ah Hun Sen will
be more criminal against humanity
in Cambodia, more dictator, more
corruptions. Mr Ghay helps
Cambodians against dictatorship, if
not, no foreign companies dare to
invest in Cambodia. Thank to NGOs
especially Mr Ghay that Cambodians
have more jobs. Because ah Hun Sen
CPP (Communist Pro youn Party)
violating human Right, so NGOs and
opposition parties always protest.
Dr Lao, It is better ah Hun Sen
must step down like the case of
Tony Blair.
Bravo Mr Ghai in the picture!!!
No you, Cambodia will be very dictator
because ah Criminal (ah Hun sen) will
act no fear in Cambodia. ah Hun Sen
is ah chief of Mafia, chief of
heroin, chief of corruption, in
Cambodia. Put ah Hun Sen to Prey Sar
and Hang ah Hun Sen to death by
Cambodian people.
Wow what a brave man.
Keep on fantasizing, Ah Khmer-Gringoes!
And don't forget to hang anon 11:37am also...
Yeah, that will be the day!
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