Prof. Yash Ghai, UN Special Envoy on Human Rights in Cambodia (Photo: AFP)Op-Ed by Jayakhmer
Posted at http://modernprogressivekhmer.blogspot.com
Chastising the UN special envoy over his comments about Cambodia’s current state of human rights issues does not solve the real problems.
The reality is that poor Khmer people are facing illegal forced evictions, and for many, their lands have been taking away. Their suffering is an urgent human rights issue that needs immediate resolution.
Who else is more appropriate than the UN Special Representative of Human Rights for Cambodia to discuss these issues when the government does not walk the talk? The failure to put a complete stop to land grabbing and illegal forced evictions are completely the government’s responsibility.
Mr.Yash Ghai, an Indian borne of Kenya, is a Special Representative for Human Rights in Cambodia. He was appointed to this post by the United Nation Secretary General Kofi Annan in November of 2005.
I know that good diplomacy requires that the issues should be discussed quietly behind closed door. On the other side of the same coin, I can certainly understand the special envoy’s position. His frustration over the lack of progress on this paramount issue must be tremendous that he made a choice to speak about the issue publicly.
It may play well into the notion of toughness by making speeches and personal attacks against Mr. Ghai, but ultimately, the Khmer people and the international community want to see the result.
The question is can the government’s intransigency and its toughness stop land grabbing and illegal forced evictions.
Now that the Cambodian government makes all the fuzz over the issues, it has no choice but to prove to the world of its effectiveness by ceasing completely of these illegal activities.
Otherwise, the Khmer people and the world will see the dispute between the government and the UN special envoy as a misplaced anger.
On top of that Mr. Ghai did not say any thing that has not been said before by others.
For example, in the August 2007 International Monetary Fund Article IV Consultation – staff report, it states, “Poor governance weakens the environment for broad-based development. Human and institutional capacity remains very weak, constraining the ability of the public sector to contribute to poverty reduction. Cambodia ranks very poorly on indicators of economic governance, hindering gains in external competitiveness. Corruption is endemic and human rights problems continue. Land grabbing and illegal loggings with damaging economic, social and environmental effects are widely reported.”
The Cambodian government may complaint over the behavior of the UN special envoy, but if what he did can shed some light and bring the world’s attention to this important human right issue on behalf of the poor Khmer whose desperate voice otherwise could not be heard, Mr. Ghai, perhaps, knows exactly what he is doing and not “human right tourist” after all.
The reality is that poor Khmer people are facing illegal forced evictions, and for many, their lands have been taking away. Their suffering is an urgent human rights issue that needs immediate resolution.
Who else is more appropriate than the UN Special Representative of Human Rights for Cambodia to discuss these issues when the government does not walk the talk? The failure to put a complete stop to land grabbing and illegal forced evictions are completely the government’s responsibility.
Mr.Yash Ghai, an Indian borne of Kenya, is a Special Representative for Human Rights in Cambodia. He was appointed to this post by the United Nation Secretary General Kofi Annan in November of 2005.
I know that good diplomacy requires that the issues should be discussed quietly behind closed door. On the other side of the same coin, I can certainly understand the special envoy’s position. His frustration over the lack of progress on this paramount issue must be tremendous that he made a choice to speak about the issue publicly.
It may play well into the notion of toughness by making speeches and personal attacks against Mr. Ghai, but ultimately, the Khmer people and the international community want to see the result.
The question is can the government’s intransigency and its toughness stop land grabbing and illegal forced evictions.
Now that the Cambodian government makes all the fuzz over the issues, it has no choice but to prove to the world of its effectiveness by ceasing completely of these illegal activities.
Otherwise, the Khmer people and the world will see the dispute between the government and the UN special envoy as a misplaced anger.
On top of that Mr. Ghai did not say any thing that has not been said before by others.
For example, in the August 2007 International Monetary Fund Article IV Consultation – staff report, it states, “Poor governance weakens the environment for broad-based development. Human and institutional capacity remains very weak, constraining the ability of the public sector to contribute to poverty reduction. Cambodia ranks very poorly on indicators of economic governance, hindering gains in external competitiveness. Corruption is endemic and human rights problems continue. Land grabbing and illegal loggings with damaging economic, social and environmental effects are widely reported.”
The Cambodian government may complaint over the behavior of the UN special envoy, but if what he did can shed some light and bring the world’s attention to this important human right issue on behalf of the poor Khmer whose desperate voice otherwise could not be heard, Mr. Ghai, perhaps, knows exactly what he is doing and not “human right tourist” after all.
9 comments:
If my research is correct, Ex-king Sihanouk used to play cat and mouse with the U.N back then during his reign to please his masters Mao Tse Tung and Ho Chi Minh. Now Bejing and Hanoi continue to dictate that their puppet/valet, Hun Sen, playing the same dirty and disgusting political game with the U.N...
His leadership is at odd. I do not understand what he sees.
If this government votes by the peoples. It shall care the peoples’ pain. Why the pain exists in Cambodia is the cry of a foreigner?
Mr. Sen stops and looks back. What do you see?
Sen may do a lot but a lot more must do to improve. There are no such thing is perfect in any country. It is a big responsibility I have no doubt. But Ghai is not the issues. He is only the messenger of the poor Cambodian. The world has no intention to destroy you. The world gives you a chance to adjust and help the peoples.
Take you time. You have another 8 year to do or may be longer. Why? Why?
Let us sing together before 2007 ended,
Soriya laangiach thngai.....
Tonn-sorng gau prey raok see cheung phnom penh
See tauch doi tauch see thom doi thom roak see chueng phnom penh viet minh viet cong ross khnong waing...
Mr. Yash Ghai's comments are totally correct, Ah Khvak and his buch of crooks are guilty of this matters. These idiot See Pee Pee still deny and deny until they go to HELL.
With more than two billion spending in 1993 and more afterward, UN shpuld not give all power to the leader instead of people!
You make us put our arms down fool!
Can we cry for help now or we just a coward?
victime of the killing field!
GENTLEMAN
CAMBODIA IS A MONARCHY WITH A NATIONAL CONSTITUTION ADOPTED BY PEACE AGREEMENT IN PARIS IN 1991.
CAMBODIAN KING HAS A ROLE TO FULLFIL UNDER HIS DUTY OF CARE FOR HIS CITIZENS. ARTICLES 8 AND 9 SPECIFICALLY STIPULATE HIS DUTIES TO ENSURE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF CAMBODIANS.
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES HAVE CONTINUALLY PERSISTED BY BUNCH OF POWERFUL ON POWERLESS CAMBODIANS WHICH HAVE CREATED FEAR FOR CAMBODIANS. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND SPECIAL UN ENVOY SHOULD BRING THESE MATTERS CONCERNED, TO THE CURRENT KING OF CAMBODIA.
THE KING HAS TO CONSIDER THIS SERIOUS MATTERS DIPLOMATICALLY, AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS OF NATURE OF ABUSES; IE ANTI-CORRUPTION...AND SO ON.
I DO BELIEVE THAT SUFFERINGS OF CAMBODIANS IS SUFFERINGS OF THE KING. SO PLEASE RAISE THESE CONCERNS TO THE KING FOR BETTER RESOLUTION.
NEANG SA
JayaKhmer, thanks a bunch! Certaintly, your heart is in the right place in defending the messenger on behalf of the Khmers. We wish that we have a capable government. But, the future for Freedom in Khmerland is Very Bleak.
Our country maybe known as "Kingdom of Cambodia", but the True king die over 7 centuries ago. Neang Sa, you are asking us to go barking at the King. What king that realy has best interest of the nation and of her people? I have not seen anyone yet in my 39years of livlihood!
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE FIND A KHMER PERSON THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTRY!
AH HUN SEN needs anger management!
Please correct me if I'm wrong; however, it is my understanding that the democracy was bought for $13 billion from the UN.
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