By Chun Sakada, VOA KhmerOriginal report from Phnom Penh
03 December 2007
Members of the opposition party and human rights groups launched an appeal Monday to the UN’s special human rights envoy to Cambodia to help them end abuses here, especially the theft of land from the poor and corruption and political influence in the courts.
The envoy, Yash Ghai, an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen, is in Cambodia for a 10-day visit and is expected to meet with government officials and human rights groups.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said groups were worried over human rights abuses, especially ahead of national elections.
“With the election getting close, we see concerns [and are] afraid that the situation will be tenser, with serious threats,” he said. While there was no clear measure on the number of “political rights violations,” such threats, harassment, assaults and murders were concerning, he said.
“There is impunity, and the authority in charge violates political issues, and the government never punishes it,” he said.
Koul Panha, director of the election watchdog Comfrel, said Ghai shoudl try to encourage the government to maintain a stable political environment, “and secure the upcoming election to proceed smoothly.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy welcomed the arrival of the envoy, who in the past has said too much power resides in Hun Sen.
Ghai comes as land grabbing from the poor and corruption in the courts remain looming issues, Sam Rainsy said.
Stronger laws could ensure judges were insulated from political pressure, said Sok Samoeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project.
The envoy, Yash Ghai, an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen, is in Cambodia for a 10-day visit and is expected to meet with government officials and human rights groups.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said groups were worried over human rights abuses, especially ahead of national elections.
“With the election getting close, we see concerns [and are] afraid that the situation will be tenser, with serious threats,” he said. While there was no clear measure on the number of “political rights violations,” such threats, harassment, assaults and murders were concerning, he said.
“There is impunity, and the authority in charge violates political issues, and the government never punishes it,” he said.
Koul Panha, director of the election watchdog Comfrel, said Ghai shoudl try to encourage the government to maintain a stable political environment, “and secure the upcoming election to proceed smoothly.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy welcomed the arrival of the envoy, who in the past has said too much power resides in Hun Sen.
Ghai comes as land grabbing from the poor and corruption in the courts remain looming issues, Sam Rainsy said.
Stronger laws could ensure judges were insulated from political pressure, said Sok Samoeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project.
11 comments:
Don't hold your breath, Ah Khmer-Yuon squatters. There is no way for you to steal any land from Khmer people, You got that, motherfuckers?
Tough talk from a little helpless Khmer abroad. The reality is land grabbing is so bad that a lot of poor khmers are sleeping in the streets these days.
Well, we didn't ask them to come to Cambodia. No country can afford to give free land to illegal immigrants.
YessendAh Hok Landy back to Hanoi!
Yes! we should have DNA checkeed and send those foreigner back to where they belong.
Ah Kwack may endup to hell!!
Yash Ghai doesn't even have any blood-related to Khmer, but he keeps fighting the Vietnamese puppet government very hard to bring back Cambodia to its own people. All Khmer people must stay behind him and support him no matter what. Yash Ghai
sees the crooked Hanoi takes advantage over weak armed countries like Cambodia and Lao.
Who are you kidding, 12:14? We all know Ah corrupted Kenyan (Yash Ghai) try to sell Khmer's land to Ah Khmer-Yuon criminals, and that will never going to work.
1:30AM, question for you.
Are you blind/deaf? Because it seems that you've gotten your facts screwed up, there's still time for you to get out of the CPP. You've gotten dumberer every time -- you posted your comment in this forum.
You ought to be thankful to be in the States. YOu have no idea how much suffering, Khmer people suffered when ah Youns or those officials stole their dignity.
Yeah, but we don't care about Ah Khmer Yuon. They are Yuon citizen; therefore, they are Yuon government responsibility to feed them. Cambodia is too poor to feed the world.
4:13AM is another dumb who got his logic reversed in the cpp sinkhole. ah khmer youn is ah hun sen, get it? i have noticed your stupidity... now go fuck yourself!
Nope, Hun Sen is not Yuon citizen.
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