Saturday, December 19, 2009

Ros Visal's letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

December 17, 2009

The Honorable Ann Syauta, Human Rights Officer
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations
Room DC2-1230
2 United Nations
New York, NY 10017

Dear Excellency Syauta,

I am writing to you today out of my deepest concerns for the rapid declining state of democracy in Cambodia. Furthermore, I wish to seek your support and intervention to end the Cambodian government’s policy and practices of forced land evictions in the name of development. On-going land grabbing activity has been increasingly widespread throughout the country. It has caused enormous pain and suffering, with unimaginable long term consequences to the lives of many poor, defenseless people. Much of those inhumane activities have been well documented by human rights organization such as LICAHDO, Human Rights Watch, and Center for Human Rights in Cambodia.

Defamation law has severe restrictions on fundamental of human freedom and liberties. It is truly a legal tool designed to effectively silencing any critics of the Cambodian government, corrupted officials as well as their relatives. In all cases, the Cambodian government and their corrupted officials has used its controlled courts to convict anyone, journalists, victims of land disputes, political activists, and even the people’s elected representatives. For example, on November 16, 2009, the National Assembly voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of Mr. Sam Rainsy, leader of the official opposition. It was done without any regard for his elected rights or the people whom he represented.

The immunity-stripping of Mr. Sam Rainsy is indicative to what lies ahead for a country which has become less and less tolerant on freedom of speech and expression by its people. It sends a very clear threatening message to all representatives of the people.

Cambodia is moving away from democracy, from its international obligations signed under Paris Peace Accord 1991. All country’s main institutions are either directly or indirectly controlled by the executive branch. The judiciary system is not independent as it should be. Cambodia has become a nation ruled by tyrant, camouflaged with a fake “Democracy,” while in reality it lacks all the central components to be called or recognized as such.

We seek your support to end the on-going erosion of civil liberties, and systematic human rights violations in Cambodia by putting the Cambodian government on notice that such abuses can no longer be tolerated.

Thank you for your precious time and your utmost consideration to this matter.

Sincerely yours,

Ros, Visal
Email: samrainsyparty.usa@gmail.com

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very good Ros Visal. In other side of the coin, government under Hun Sen leadership is very weak because they can tolerate the speech of opposition and the people.

This government is very weak b/c it has no self-determination.

Hun Sen government is not only violating the international regulations but also Cambodian supreme national constitution.

Let show our concerns more to the world!

KY

Anonymous said...

Who's who ?

William said...

Thanks you Visal,
With the respect from me , you are real khmer .
May Buddha bless you to be success with your real khmer politic carer.
May Khleang Moeung the khmer hero stay behind Visal at all the times1

Anonymous said...

Joyo Lok ViSal Jeyo Jeyo!

Anonymous said...

May God bless you Visal, for Cambodia to be survived.

Anonymous said...

Visal, thank you for your concern and your dedication for trying to help Cambodia from traitor, Hun Xen.

All Khmer that care about Cambodia shuold fallow Visal lead by on-going writing letter to US and UN Representatives. This is the least people can do living abroad. Also it will help to raise our issues to the international level. Can not depend on Cambodia government! They are the perpetrator.....

They sponsor all the violations and corruptions! Punish and false convict the poor citizens. This should not allow to continue in our country.

Anonymous said...

You are an inspiration to us all! All Khmer people, living in Cambodia and those who live abroad, need to unite and act on behalf of the people suffering under the dictatorship of Hun Sen and the CPP. This government's reign of corruption and terror must be put to a stop!

Anonymous said...

Great initiation! Visal