By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
On Monday, a representative of human rights NGOs in Cambodia accused the royal government of Cambodia of rejecting his group’s request to hold a peaceful parade walk with the participation of about 5,000 people on 10 December, in order to express their opinions during the upcoming celebration of the International Human Rights Day.
Thon Saray, President of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) which regroups about 30 member organizations and associations, said: “The city hall does not allow us to walk like that. They told us to organize (the meeting) in one public location, it’s only under this condition that they will authorize us, but to hold a walking parade, they will not allow us, they told us to ask the Ministry of Interior (MoI) instead. We did not receive any reply from MoI as to whether we will have the ability to hold this walking parade or not? For us, we want to hold a walking parade.”
Thon Saray claimed that Comfrel, the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), the NGOs Forum, the Cambodia Youth Council, and several other organizations plan to participate in the walking parade.
Thon Saray indicated that the official rejection to the request made by human rights NGOs was given during a meeting with Phnom Penh city hall officials on Friday of last week. The reason provided for the rejection of the request was because the city deemed the parade would create traffic jam, public disorder, and the city hall couldn’t provide safety protection.
Thon Saray indicated also that the various NGOs are waiting for an answer from the MoI to the same request.
Regarding this issue, General Khieu Sopheak, MoI spokesman, said the MoI received the rejection letter of the city hall two weeks ago, and the MoI agreed to the city hall decision.
Khieu Sopheak said that even if the NGOs ask to meet with the MoI directly, the MoI will maintain its position in rejecting this parade.
On 31 December 2006, while still being president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), Kem Sokha and Yeng Virak, director of the Cambodian Legal Education Center (CLEC), were arrested by the government which accused the pair of showing a number of handwritten signs defaming Hun Sen. These signs were displayed during the 10 December 2006 Human Rights Day celebration, near the Olympic Stadium, where thousands of people attended.
Currently, Prof. Yash Ghai, the UN Special envoy for Human Rights in Cambodia, is visiting Cambodia between 01-10 December. This is his fourth trip the Cambodia to evaluate the respect of human rights in Cambodia.
Thon Saray, President of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) which regroups about 30 member organizations and associations, said: “The city hall does not allow us to walk like that. They told us to organize (the meeting) in one public location, it’s only under this condition that they will authorize us, but to hold a walking parade, they will not allow us, they told us to ask the Ministry of Interior (MoI) instead. We did not receive any reply from MoI as to whether we will have the ability to hold this walking parade or not? For us, we want to hold a walking parade.”
Thon Saray claimed that Comfrel, the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), the NGOs Forum, the Cambodia Youth Council, and several other organizations plan to participate in the walking parade.
Thon Saray indicated that the official rejection to the request made by human rights NGOs was given during a meeting with Phnom Penh city hall officials on Friday of last week. The reason provided for the rejection of the request was because the city deemed the parade would create traffic jam, public disorder, and the city hall couldn’t provide safety protection.
Thon Saray indicated also that the various NGOs are waiting for an answer from the MoI to the same request.
Regarding this issue, General Khieu Sopheak, MoI spokesman, said the MoI received the rejection letter of the city hall two weeks ago, and the MoI agreed to the city hall decision.
Khieu Sopheak said that even if the NGOs ask to meet with the MoI directly, the MoI will maintain its position in rejecting this parade.
On 31 December 2006, while still being president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), Kem Sokha and Yeng Virak, director of the Cambodian Legal Education Center (CLEC), were arrested by the government which accused the pair of showing a number of handwritten signs defaming Hun Sen. These signs were displayed during the 10 December 2006 Human Rights Day celebration, near the Olympic Stadium, where thousands of people attended.
Currently, Prof. Yash Ghai, the UN Special envoy for Human Rights in Cambodia, is visiting Cambodia between 01-10 December. This is his fourth trip the Cambodia to evaluate the respect of human rights in Cambodia.
No comments:
Post a Comment