Cambodian leader says he will shun UN human rights envoy in retaliation for criticism
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday he will shun forever a senior U.N. envoy who sharply criticized his government's human rights record.
It was the latest scathing attack Hun Sen has unleashed against Yash Ghai, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for human rights in Cambodia.
Last year, Hun Sen called Ghai «totally deranged» after the U.N. envoy criticized the prime minister for centralizing too much power in his own hands, and the government for its poor human rights record.
Ghai was in Cambodia again last week to try to elicit official comment on a report he is to submit to the U.N. Human Rights Commission this month. He asked for a meeting with Hun Sen, but did not get one.
In the report Ghai accuses the government of committing systematic human rights abuses.
Hun Sen said in a nationally broadcast speech Monday that Ghai's accusations are unbelievable and very grave.
He did not mention Ghai, from Kenya, by name, but referred to him as a «person who came from a country where human rights abuses are being committed.»
«You came, but I refused to see you,» Hun Sen said.
«If I live for another 1,000 years, I will never want to see you. You enjoy your rights, and so do I mine. As a prime minister, I bear no obligation to see that guy,» he said.
In his report to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, Ghai will express deep concerns about land-grabbing by the powerful, and government land concessions given to business interests that have adversely affected many Cambodians, including ethnic minority groups, his office said in a statement last week.
Hun Sen also described the U.N. human rights staffers in Cambodia as «long-term tourists» who would find themselves jobless if they reported favorably about his government's human rights record.
But he said he has no plans to shut down their office because their presence has helped the local economy through property rentals and taxes.
He said the U.N. human rights workers can continue shouting about human rights and the government can keep ignoring them, «just like a Cambodian adage that says the dog barks while the man just keeps walking.»
It was the latest scathing attack Hun Sen has unleashed against Yash Ghai, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for human rights in Cambodia.
Last year, Hun Sen called Ghai «totally deranged» after the U.N. envoy criticized the prime minister for centralizing too much power in his own hands, and the government for its poor human rights record.
Ghai was in Cambodia again last week to try to elicit official comment on a report he is to submit to the U.N. Human Rights Commission this month. He asked for a meeting with Hun Sen, but did not get one.
In the report Ghai accuses the government of committing systematic human rights abuses.
Hun Sen said in a nationally broadcast speech Monday that Ghai's accusations are unbelievable and very grave.
He did not mention Ghai, from Kenya, by name, but referred to him as a «person who came from a country where human rights abuses are being committed.»
«You came, but I refused to see you,» Hun Sen said.
«If I live for another 1,000 years, I will never want to see you. You enjoy your rights, and so do I mine. As a prime minister, I bear no obligation to see that guy,» he said.
In his report to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, Ghai will express deep concerns about land-grabbing by the powerful, and government land concessions given to business interests that have adversely affected many Cambodians, including ethnic minority groups, his office said in a statement last week.
Hun Sen also described the U.N. human rights staffers in Cambodia as «long-term tourists» who would find themselves jobless if they reported favorably about his government's human rights record.
But he said he has no plans to shut down their office because their presence has helped the local economy through property rentals and taxes.
He said the U.N. human rights workers can continue shouting about human rights and the government can keep ignoring them, «just like a Cambodian adage that says the dog barks while the man just keeps walking.»
5 comments:
Hun Sen should be incharge of the whole world now because he is stronger than Saddam Hussen, Osama Bin Ladin and he could fight with United Nation.comment by Prohok Khmer lived in Mass.
Chhke chhmoauh Hun Sen Prous Pel Phgniev Tov Bat'
Does Kenya have diplomatic relationship with Khmer?
How Kenyian government reacts to Khmerian or Hunsian government?
Food Hun Sen is gradually performing his ignorance and stupidity...
Ah Chkout (Ghai) will never get
better without professional help.
They should burned all his stupid
textbooks to prevent severe damage
from being done to innocent people
unjustly.
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