Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights WatchBy Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
15 July 2008
Cambodia's political system has not moved closer to true democracy, international human rights leaders and political candidates say.
The Cambodian People's Party has strict control over state media, the courts, the bar association and the National Election Committee, said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch.
The July 27 election "is not competitive," Adams said. "Of course the CPP is going to win, and I think there is quite a lot of dissolution among Cambodian voters…. A lot of young people in particular think that there is no point to be involved in politics."
Om Yentieng, a permanent member of the CPP's central committee and a senior adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, objected.
"He doesn't love the Cambodian people more than the Cambodian people, and what he said is not for Cambodia’s benefit," Om Yentieng said of Adams. "He only speaks from abroad. He has white skin, [and] his democracy is older than Cambodia's, so he should not do what we call bad pretending on this issue.
"When millions of voters listen to his speech, they can judge whether it is true or not true, so that he should not destroy a wonderful democratic legacy," Om Yentieng said. "Democracy in Cambodia is getting better."
Not everyone believe Cambodia's democracy has shown progress, including political leaders competing in the upcoming election.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said Cambodia's democratic process was weak and slow.
"Ten days into the election campaign, we have seen so many problems happening to us, such as the pulling down of many non-ruling party political signs," he said. "One of our activists was killed in Kampong Cham province, and there has also been physical abuse of our activists."
Katie Redford, co-founder of the Washington-based Earth Rights International, told VOA Khmer the election process in Cambodia was not yet moving toward democracy.
Cambodia's political system had not moved in the direction of democracy and transparency, she said, "but really in the direction of corruption and one-party rule."
"I think that the upcoming election is going to reflect that trend," she said.
The Cambodian People's Party has strict control over state media, the courts, the bar association and the National Election Committee, said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch.
The July 27 election "is not competitive," Adams said. "Of course the CPP is going to win, and I think there is quite a lot of dissolution among Cambodian voters…. A lot of young people in particular think that there is no point to be involved in politics."
Om Yentieng, a permanent member of the CPP's central committee and a senior adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, objected.
"He doesn't love the Cambodian people more than the Cambodian people, and what he said is not for Cambodia’s benefit," Om Yentieng said of Adams. "He only speaks from abroad. He has white skin, [and] his democracy is older than Cambodia's, so he should not do what we call bad pretending on this issue.
"When millions of voters listen to his speech, they can judge whether it is true or not true, so that he should not destroy a wonderful democratic legacy," Om Yentieng said. "Democracy in Cambodia is getting better."
Not everyone believe Cambodia's democracy has shown progress, including political leaders competing in the upcoming election.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said Cambodia's democratic process was weak and slow.
"Ten days into the election campaign, we have seen so many problems happening to us, such as the pulling down of many non-ruling party political signs," he said. "One of our activists was killed in Kampong Cham province, and there has also been physical abuse of our activists."
Katie Redford, co-founder of the Washington-based Earth Rights International, told VOA Khmer the election process in Cambodia was not yet moving toward democracy.
Cambodia's political system had not moved in the direction of democracy and transparency, she said, "but really in the direction of corruption and one-party rule."
"I think that the upcoming election is going to reflect that trend," she said.
17 comments:
The minute ah Khmer Youn Om Yin Tieng opens his stinky mouth he admits he is too dumb.
I am Cambodian, I trust Mr. Brad Adams a lot more then Om Yentieng. Om Yentieng he is Vietnamese trying to destroy Cambodia.
Yetieng does not like to hear the truth, does not help the CPP right Yetieng.
PS: For an adviser you have an IQ of a monkey.
It would look better for the CPP if you had kept your mouth shot Yetieng.
Anyway the CPP will go down for the total lack of competence as head of the Cambodia.
Gentleman
It is interesting to know what sort of PLATFORMS that the RGC has applied in cambodia's development.
Democracy has NO color, but human respects and our social progresses. Cambodian democracy is not to follow China footsteps, and the legacy that Cambodia had to be communist state which ended with KR's killing field.
Neang SA
Ah Jkout Infidel (Brad Adam) is jealous at Cambodia being more democracy than the US. That is why he's always put us down.
People here loves the government as opposed to the US.
YietMeing,
what the fuck ur name is, I cursed you and your whole generation to come. May you have eternal demnation and your family. For your currupted ways and for defending what is wrong. You and your family is surviving upon khmer misery. Shame on you. (
Its doesn't matter , u hear this or read this note from me and other reader. But yes, I cursed you and your family.
It is a pleasure to hear Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch.
It is because of Brad Adams, the international community can hear the cry of Cambodian people and were able to save some Cambodian leaders and people for being anti-AH HUN SEN government otherwise would have been killed or put in prison without due process!
pleasea keep demanding the cambodian gov't to uphold the true democracy. no violence or suppressing of the freedom of speech should be tolerated by the gov't at all. usually, there is something not right for a political group like the opposition to say something. also, a test to see how tolerable is true democracy is in cambodia; otherwise there is no justice for the cambodian people.
Hey, A Dam, at least you agree and know that CPP will win, right?
Hey A Kdaw, with the state of the country right now, you should realize the CPP had already lost right?
I do not believe Youn Om Yin Tieng too. For exmample, how much do he and current government listen to affected people of forced eviction, injustice in court and corruption.
In addition, if you go further down to local area, you will see how CPP intimidate and systematically threaten the people for their votes.
Vietnamese is every where now.
LONG LIVE HUN SEN
I understand that Srok Khmer is not becoming true democracy yet. It takes time. However, if the international communities really want to improve Srok Khmer democracy, why didn't they intervene and presser China and Vietnam during the coup of 1997? Democracy in Asia takes time, espcially Laos, Srok Khmer, Vietnam and Burma.
HUN SEN the great
mr. ceo of human rights, it is good that you stand up for human rights, however, cambodia has come a long way since the aftermath of the KR atrocity. i think some individuals in politics are demanding a break-neck speed for cambodia to change overnight or something. you and i know what democracy takes times to take root and to become truly yours. even the USA took almost 300 years to get this far, and cambodia took only a little over 20 years times to get this far as well. so, i think we all should give the cambodian people in cambodia some credit for having achieved this in such a short amount of time, to say the least. yes, i'm for democracy in cambodia, however, at the same time, i understand new, if not strange phenomenon to cambodia, at least, will take time, abeit longer, i say. when we compare cambodia to some other countries in the region, i think cambodia has come a long, long way from having nothing to having something for everyone. thank you for your service and god bless cambodia.
I am Cambodian, I trust Youn more than anybody..
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