Dey Krahorm forced eviction (Photo: John Vink/Magnum)
Silencing and intimidating the oppositionCrackdown on Dissent, Lack of Accountability, Forced Evictions Marr Country’s Record
Human Rights Watch
Cambodia is undergoing its first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Under the process, the rights record of each member state is reviewed once every four years. In its submission to the Council, Human Rights Watch highlighted political violence, the lack of punishment for senior government officials involved in serious rights abuses, forced evictions and land confiscation, arbitrary detention of drug users, and substandard prison conditions.
"In the past year there's been a sharp regression in Cambodia's respect for basic rights, with major setbacks in press freedom and a harsh crackdown on government critics," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Countries should ask Cambodia why it uses repressive tactics to silence peaceful dissent, while thrusting the poor even further into poverty by condoning illegal land grabbing."
In addition to intimidation, threats, and violence, the government increasingly uses the judicial system to muzzle journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition party members, who increasingly face unwarranted charges of criminal defamation and disinformation, Human Rights Watch said.
In recent months the government has pushed new laws through the National Assembly that further restrict freedom of expression and assembly, with little input from civil society. These include a new penal code and a law restricting demonstrations. A law regulating nongovernmental organizations (NGO) is expected to be taken up by the National Assembly soon, even though civil society groups have not been provided with the draft law for review and comment.
"Given the shrinking political space for human rights and advocacy groups in Cambodia, there's justified alarm that the NGO law will be used to shut down groups critical of the government," Adams said. "Countries at the Human Rights Council should ask the Cambodian government what it fears from a vibrant civil society."
Among Human Rights Watch's recommendations are for the Cambodian government to cease the harassment, arbitrary arrests, and physical attacks on human rights defenders, civil society activists, and opposition party members, and to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of such attacks. The government should also tackle longstanding cases in which those responsible have not been brought to justice, such as the deadly 1997 grenade attack on an opposition rally. And it should resolve more recent rights violations, such as excessive use of force by soldiers and police in forced evictions; physical abuse in detention centers of sex workers, people who use drugs, and homeless people; and the assassinations of labor leaders and journalists.
To address widespread evictions of people from their homes and their land, Human Rights Watch called on the Cambodian government to enact a moratorium on forced evictions until the government has properly adopted and implemented a strict legislative framework on land and housing rights in general, and evictions and resettlement in particular.
Human Rights Watch also highlighted the need for continued UN engagement in Cambodia, especially given the worsening rights situation. Countries should urge the Cambodian government to continue to work with the Cambodia Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to improve prisons, fight impunity, and enhance the protection of human rights.
"Without an impartial judiciary and other independent institutions to provide checks and balances on the government, a close partnership with the UN human rights office is crucial," Adams said. "Cambodia's worsening rights record should come under careful scrutiny, with the UN and its member states insisting that it abide by its international human rights commitments."
"In the past year there's been a sharp regression in Cambodia's respect for basic rights, with major setbacks in press freedom and a harsh crackdown on government critics. Countries should ask Cambodia why it uses repressive tactics to silence peaceful dissent, while thrusting the poor even further into poverty by condoning illegal land grabbing." - Brad Adams, Asia directorNovember 30, 2009
Human Rights Watch
- Related Materials: Universal Periodic Review Submission: Cambodia.
Cambodia is undergoing its first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Under the process, the rights record of each member state is reviewed once every four years. In its submission to the Council, Human Rights Watch highlighted political violence, the lack of punishment for senior government officials involved in serious rights abuses, forced evictions and land confiscation, arbitrary detention of drug users, and substandard prison conditions.
"In the past year there's been a sharp regression in Cambodia's respect for basic rights, with major setbacks in press freedom and a harsh crackdown on government critics," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Countries should ask Cambodia why it uses repressive tactics to silence peaceful dissent, while thrusting the poor even further into poverty by condoning illegal land grabbing."
In addition to intimidation, threats, and violence, the government increasingly uses the judicial system to muzzle journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition party members, who increasingly face unwarranted charges of criminal defamation and disinformation, Human Rights Watch said.
In recent months the government has pushed new laws through the National Assembly that further restrict freedom of expression and assembly, with little input from civil society. These include a new penal code and a law restricting demonstrations. A law regulating nongovernmental organizations (NGO) is expected to be taken up by the National Assembly soon, even though civil society groups have not been provided with the draft law for review and comment.
"Given the shrinking political space for human rights and advocacy groups in Cambodia, there's justified alarm that the NGO law will be used to shut down groups critical of the government," Adams said. "Countries at the Human Rights Council should ask the Cambodian government what it fears from a vibrant civil society."
Among Human Rights Watch's recommendations are for the Cambodian government to cease the harassment, arbitrary arrests, and physical attacks on human rights defenders, civil society activists, and opposition party members, and to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of such attacks. The government should also tackle longstanding cases in which those responsible have not been brought to justice, such as the deadly 1997 grenade attack on an opposition rally. And it should resolve more recent rights violations, such as excessive use of force by soldiers and police in forced evictions; physical abuse in detention centers of sex workers, people who use drugs, and homeless people; and the assassinations of labor leaders and journalists.
To address widespread evictions of people from their homes and their land, Human Rights Watch called on the Cambodian government to enact a moratorium on forced evictions until the government has properly adopted and implemented a strict legislative framework on land and housing rights in general, and evictions and resettlement in particular.
Human Rights Watch also highlighted the need for continued UN engagement in Cambodia, especially given the worsening rights situation. Countries should urge the Cambodian government to continue to work with the Cambodia Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to improve prisons, fight impunity, and enhance the protection of human rights.
"Without an impartial judiciary and other independent institutions to provide checks and balances on the government, a close partnership with the UN human rights office is crucial," Adams said. "Cambodia's worsening rights record should come under careful scrutiny, with the UN and its member states insisting that it abide by its international human rights commitments."
18 comments:
I live with khmer rouge regime for 3yrs I never see khmer shed their tears but, now hun sen regime people shed tear everyday.
Hun Sen said" Khmer never have happiness because of Abhisit" Did he mean Khmer crying like this?
This country need a new functional government that can rule ethically, this old regime need to go, too old,too long.
Eh 8:43 AM
How come you could say like this!!!
In KR regime, we were so starvation, so that we did have any power to release tear or cry out. But now Cambodia different, we are full of rice to eat, that's why Madam Mu have power to walk on streat to burn her fat and colesterol..
Khmer
I wish not to judge any of the comments above or to compare and contrast Pol Pot's regime and Hun Sen's regime. What I should focus on is the current situation the Cambodian people are facing. Do we think our people now are living in real peace and dignity? Do they have full freedom and rights or should they deserve more? What do we think and how do we feel if we were victims of land grab, abuses, and injustices? Let put ourselves in those victims' shoes and think about it?
I am very upset to hear all of thsi problem... why Hun Hen done like that ?what kind of president of Hun Hen said "Hunman right for khmer people"?
Hen Hun does like that will khmer people who very poor will die by him very soon and in the next fufure will not have khmer live in cambodia anymore.i would like to say very bad for him idea and political. talk talk for what no one want hear from Hun Hen say only for party of Hun Hen that afrad to lost theire job so after hun hen said right .....right on what and talk a lot for what? crazy
That's right, Hun Sen CPP says his government never be happy with Abhisit government. On the other hand, innocent Khmer people say they never be happy with Hun Sen CPP government either.
Looks at tears of innocent Khmer people, they are defenseless.
Living Under this CPP regime, the lives of our poor people are worse than under Pol Pot regime.
Land grabbing is the worst for the poor. They have enough suffering through out their life. The government needs to compensat fair amount of money for what they lost. Or relocate and build a descend place for the people. I hate those tycoons Yeay Phou (old bitch goes to hell soon and the rests) These are the land grabbers!
This is what happens to a regime ruled by one man. The loner he rules, the worst he will become. This is a comon sense. When there is no challenge, one will become a dictator and we know what a dictator like, don't we?
Khmer Rouge government was a one-man regime also known as Angkar (organization) or Angkar Leu ( literary means Suptreme Organization. When the Angkar is used, no question asked. When people are summoned by Angkar, they never return.
In the present government under Hun Sen, the word "Thnak Leu" (supreme authority) is very similar to Angkar Leu. Oficial usually use the Thnak Leu to for personal gain. For example, local authority can't stop the illegal logging because those who are logging businesses are authorized by Thnak Leu. People can't complain about the land grab because there are permissions from Thnak Leu to grab the land for conccession. Local people have no power to govern themselves brcause everything is decided by Thnak Leu.
So Angkar= Thnak Leu. This is very dangerous.
Me again 10:22.
There are many mistakes. So, please excuse me. I hope you know what I meant...After submitting, there are always mistakes found.
Is this happen to only Buddhist believer country? - According to the constitution 90%+ popolation are Buddhists - where are they? I see only foreingers come to help Khmers - Where are Buddhist believers????
THE ONLY WAY TO STOP TEARS IS TO HAVE WAR WITH THAILAND, BECAUSE THE THAI WILL DO THE JOB FOR US. PLEASE TRUST ME ON THIS ONE. THE THAI AIR FORCE AND NAVY WILL DESTROY THE HUN SEN'S COMPOUND AND UNDERGROUND TUNNELS.
THE HUN SEN'S ADMINISTRATION MUST BE TAUGHT LESSON AND DESTROYED FOR THE PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA TO STOP SHEDDING TEARS.
THAILAND: PLEASE I BEG OF YOU TO DO THIS FOR OUR KHMER PEOPLE. WE WILL CURSE OR CONDEMN YOU. KHMER WILL THANK YOU.
Yeay Phou is a vampire, Yeay Phou is an evil, Yeay Phou is a land grabber, Yeay Phou is a Viet Cong, Yeay Phou does not care about any body's life. Yes that's right, CPP Hun Sen is working for a Viet cong gov., and yes, Hun Sen is stupid insect that is working for Viet Cong and Yeay Phou. Hun Sen will be flushed out or smash flat when Yeay Phou and Viet gov. have their fills.
How can CPP Hun Sen government let Viet to own our land in Cambodia more than we ourseflves own our land.
How Stupid is CPP Hun Sen government!
Does any Khmer own land in Vietnam? Not a chance, Viet won't let us do that. They are smart only one way, not two ways. But Hun Sen CPP is stupid, very stupid, and very dump.
In our Khmer history, no government is stupid and dumb like Hun Sen CPP.
Khmer in WA, USA
Ah Hun Sen!
All Khmers,
Arm uprising is the best solution for getting rid of Hanoi's puppet Regime of Hun Sen and his cronies as our ancestors had been done in 1840.
But why we, as their descendants, won't do it again???
Hanoi will eliminate all Khmers by all means, demographic with over 5 millions Viet illegal immigrants, Lands concession from Khmers owners of the country, depleted all khmer resources, fish stock, all mineral ores, gas, petrol,...
we the world and khmer people cannot let cambodia become a helpless society or country like that during the stupid KR era. cambodia and khmer people deserve better. yes, there are more to cambodia than you and i, really.
I'd rather see foreign country invading Cambodia than see the people suffer.
Fuck the Vietnamese servants.
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