Five Khmer Rouge leaders immune from prosecution (2)
According to credible historians and academics, there are 60 former Khmer Rouge "senior leaders" and other "most responsible" cadres who should be interrogated and probably prosecuted for the mass killings that took place from April 17, 1975 to January 7, 1979. However, for practical reasons related to time, administrative and budget constraints, only 15 persons out of the 60 could be targeted by the recently created Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT). Out of the 15 persons, there are 5 former Khmer Rouge "senior leaders" or "most responsible" cadres who are currently holding high-ranking positions in the Cambodian government. Through appropriate channels, the Cambodian government has made it clear that it will allow the KRT to proceed only if the 5 now-CPP leaders are immune from prosecution.
Hun Sen reminded of government housing responsibility (1)
6 June 2007 marked the first anniversary of the brutal eviction of thousands of poor people from their homes in Phnom Penh 's Sambok Chab village and their dumping in an isolated place where they have since strived to survive in inhuman conditions. After visiting the victims and assuring them that they would not be forgotten, opposition leader Sam Rainsy wrote to Prime Minister Hun Sen reminding him of the government responsibility for ensuring a decent home for every citizen: "I am sure you share my view that in any country, the state has the obligation to provide a decent home to any citizen or any family who lives on the territory of that state."
Click here to view photos of the victims.
Click here to read the letter sent to Hun Sen in Khmer.
Inaccurate ID card figures and manipulation of voter list (2)
According to the Interior Ministry, 80 percent of the 8 million Cambodian citizens who are 18 years of age and older, have been given a standardized National ID card produced with the technical and financial support of the international community. Actually, only some 50 percent of the concerned population have received the card. Over 2 million cards are withheld by the police at police stations all over the country because of corruption and/or political discrimination. Besides, CPP-affiliated village chiefs refuse to issue documents that are required to apply for an ID card, to villagers whom they perceive as non-CPP supporters. The standardized National ID card has become crucial for voter identification since the suppression in 2007 of various previously-issued voter cards. The selective distribution of this ID card is leading to a continuous disenfranchisement of non-CPP voters.
Click here to read the letter in English about the ID card issue to the National Election Committee.
Click here to read the same letter in Khmer.
Human Rights Party still in limbo (2)
Former Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) president Kem Sokha apparently faces unexpected difficulties in trying to launch his political party named the Human Rights Party (HRP). In the civil society, prominent human rights activists, such as ADHOC president Thun Saray, have deplored the possible confusion stemming from a partisan use of the concept of human rights by a political party, which could affect the image of neutral human rights organizations. Besides, the HRP is likely to appear as a one man show since Kem Sokha has not succeeded in convincing any well known persons to join him. Moreover, well known journalists and lawyers who are former CCHR employees, such as Chhim Phal Vorun, Nhem Vanthorn, Hong Huong, Suy Pao Chhin and Savin San, are accusing Kem Sokha of corruption.
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According to credible historians and academics, there are 60 former Khmer Rouge "senior leaders" and other "most responsible" cadres who should be interrogated and probably prosecuted for the mass killings that took place from April 17, 1975 to January 7, 1979. However, for practical reasons related to time, administrative and budget constraints, only 15 persons out of the 60 could be targeted by the recently created Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT). Out of the 15 persons, there are 5 former Khmer Rouge "senior leaders" or "most responsible" cadres who are currently holding high-ranking positions in the Cambodian government. Through appropriate channels, the Cambodian government has made it clear that it will allow the KRT to proceed only if the 5 now-CPP leaders are immune from prosecution.
Hun Sen reminded of government housing responsibility (1)
6 June 2007 marked the first anniversary of the brutal eviction of thousands of poor people from their homes in Phnom Penh 's Sambok Chab village and their dumping in an isolated place where they have since strived to survive in inhuman conditions. After visiting the victims and assuring them that they would not be forgotten, opposition leader Sam Rainsy wrote to Prime Minister Hun Sen reminding him of the government responsibility for ensuring a decent home for every citizen: "I am sure you share my view that in any country, the state has the obligation to provide a decent home to any citizen or any family who lives on the territory of that state."
Click here to view photos of the victims.
Click here to read the letter sent to Hun Sen in Khmer.
Inaccurate ID card figures and manipulation of voter list (2)
According to the Interior Ministry, 80 percent of the 8 million Cambodian citizens who are 18 years of age and older, have been given a standardized National ID card produced with the technical and financial support of the international community. Actually, only some 50 percent of the concerned population have received the card. Over 2 million cards are withheld by the police at police stations all over the country because of corruption and/or political discrimination. Besides, CPP-affiliated village chiefs refuse to issue documents that are required to apply for an ID card, to villagers whom they perceive as non-CPP supporters. The standardized National ID card has become crucial for voter identification since the suppression in 2007 of various previously-issued voter cards. The selective distribution of this ID card is leading to a continuous disenfranchisement of non-CPP voters.
Click here to read the letter in English about the ID card issue to the National Election Committee.
Click here to read the same letter in Khmer.
Human Rights Party still in limbo (2)
Former Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) president Kem Sokha apparently faces unexpected difficulties in trying to launch his political party named the Human Rights Party (HRP). In the civil society, prominent human rights activists, such as ADHOC president Thun Saray, have deplored the possible confusion stemming from a partisan use of the concept of human rights by a political party, which could affect the image of neutral human rights organizations. Besides, the HRP is likely to appear as a one man show since Kem Sokha has not succeeded in convincing any well known persons to join him. Moreover, well known journalists and lawyers who are former CCHR employees, such as Chhim Phal Vorun, Nhem Vanthorn, Hong Huong, Suy Pao Chhin and Savin San, are accusing Kem Sokha of corruption.
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3 comments:
According to Steve Heder, who is arguably the most informed scholar in this field, none of the CPP leaders are among the 60 who should be prosecuted. They were KR alright, but not senior enough. He ought to know, as he made that list in the first place.
I wish I knew who are these five Khmer Rouge leaders immune from prosecution who are now ruling Cambodia... Any name?
Among the Five there are Chea Sim and Heng Samrin but not Hun Sen.
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