Monday, December 14, 2009

Statement by Mr. Ros Visal


United Nations Human Rights Conferences in New York, December 11, 2009

Statement by Mr. Ros Visal, Sam Rainsy Party of Pennsylvania, USA

The United Nations was established as a body for facilitating international cooperation in law, security, economic development, social progress, human rights and conflict resolution. I am here today to discuss the challenges that we in Cambodia face on each of these points. As a member of the opposition political party, the views that I will share here would be dangerous to speak of in much of my home country. But I believe it is important for the truth to be heard.

Cambodians appreciate the democratic government structure that has been put in place since the UN's engagement with our country twenty years ago. Unfortunately, the political party that has ruled the country for that entire time has done more harm than good to our nation. Today I would like to share with you the most pressing threats to the well-being of our citizens, and the serious failures of the Cambodian government to properly manage our struggles.

Let us begin with the concrete examples of forced evictions and the abuse of property rights. The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, military police and civilian police officers armed with guns and lethal weapons, have been forcing tens of thousands of our citizens off of their farmland and from their urban homes. The government is engaged in a nation-wide scheme to install large agribusiness projects and commercial development. To accomplish this goal, they physically force thousands of families to leave their homes, their farms and their livelihoods. In their place, they plant the business ventures of foreign companies.

The entire process has felt like a nightmare that will never end. If a relocation site is offered, it often does not have schools or clean drinking water. Often sites are not offered, and small farmers are forced to live in make-shift tents along the side of roads. Livestock starve and die. Children become malnourished and listless. More than a quarter million of our citizens have been victims of government sponsored land grabbing. This is unconstitutional, of course, but the law is applied only to benefit the already wealthy and well connected. In a perversion of justice, the people typically sent to jail are not the thieves, but the farmers who attempt to defend access to the land they have been tilling for decades. Many of our citizens have been killed while trying to defend their plots of land from government take-over.

And what happens in our courts? Nothing. What is labeled "the justice system" in Cambodia has little to do with defending the rights of our citizens, and more to do with justifying the crimes of the powerful. Innocent people are falsely prosecuted for crimes, and high ranking government officials are above the law. Impunity is sadly the rule rather than the exception. The gravest of crimes - murder, torture, rape, the trafficking of women and children - go unpunished if the perpetrators have money or influential connections. Cambodia's justice system would be better called a justification system. Corruption is common in the police and behind the bench, and decisions regularly follow the instructions of the ruling political party.

Under such a sloppy legal regime, nothing could be easier than abusing human rights and getting away with it. As in many other semi-authoritarian states across the globe, Cambodian citizens, politicians and journalists who criticize the government face intimidation and violence. Labor leaders, community activists and journalists have been murdered, and their families sent into hiding. Many have no option but to leave the country.

In a legitimately democratic state, social problems would be debated, and the society would work together to determine solutions. In Cambodia, voices that question or criticize are silenced. The government consistently establishes rules and enacts policies to deny speech. Critics are thrown into jail, newspapers are forced to close their doors through intimidation, legal defenders of human rights are debarred, the legal rights of vocal Members of Parliament are stripped away, the size of demonstrations are restricted. At the core of a legitimate democracy lies a commitment to solving problems through mutual dialogue. At the core of the Cambodian government lies a commitment to push through what it wants while silencing any voices of dissent. While freedom of speech has never been particularly strong in post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia, the situation has worsened in recent years. Many of us believe that the country faces the gravest threats we have seen to democratic development, and the future seems most likely to bring further deterioration, unless a different course is taken than what has become standard practice.

All of these points contribute to a larger conclusion, that the Kingdom of Cambodia, under its current leadership, is not a legitimate democracy, but rather a semi-authoritarian state. 1991 was a watershed year in our nation's history. It was then that the Paris Peace Agreement was signed, ending a decade of violence that followed the terrible years of the Khmer Rouge. In 1991, all the relevant parties agreed to work towards the advancement of the Cambodian nation and people, without discrimination or prejudice, and with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. All of the rival political groups in Cambodia signed this pledge, as did the Secretary General of the United Nations, the United States of America and 18 other nations. The Cambodian People's Party, the current ruling party, has failed to follow through on its promise to the world. It has neither respected the rule of law nor kept the public well-being as its central goal. Rather, the party views the Kingdom of Cambodia as a fiefdom in which its word is unquestionable, and they back this up with force against their own citizens.

I do not believe that my country has to look like this forever. This is why I am involved with an opposition political party. I believe that with a public-minded leadership and the support of the United Nations, Cambodia's future could be bright and promising. To this end, we request the United Nations to continue their focus on Cambodia, particularly to monitor human rights abuses and to ensure the safety of Cambodian human rights activists. We need to draft and implement a human rights law, and would appreciate your support in that effort. We also believe that the UN has a role to play in pressuring the Cambodian government to accept opposition groups as legitimate actors in building a stronger Cambodia. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you today, and look forward to continued engagement with the UN on securing the rights of every Cambodian citizen.

Ros Visal
SRP of Pennsylvania, USA
samrainsyparty.usa@gmail.com

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulation for your very well said statement to the UN. I hope everyone has this mind from their beginning in politic and until the end of their political life.

Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

O.K. and where is the issue with our borders with Vietnam? who should bring that up?

Anonymous said...

Hey, isn't this the buffalo rider guy, the dude wearing the Temple University sweat shirt holding the sign during the Washington DC demostration couple of weeks ago.

Good job dude! You don't look like buffalo rider anymore.

Anonymous said...

United Nations Human Rights you ought help all suvivors khmer every where ,they knew the truth and they want to tell the UN Judges what had happened in Cambodia between 1970-1980.
Please help Dr Leakhena Nou,

May Buddha bless you all,

Anonymous said...

4:02AM, I think the meeting is abuut Human Rights. Also and it is obvious that there's time limit. No one have the time to bring up all issues. Especially Cambodia, it probably takes months if address all of our problem.

I think he did a fair job bringing to the UN. 4:02AM, you probably couldn't even take it this far.

We should be thanks for those who try, small or big.

Thank You!

Anonymous said...

4:02AM, Maybe border issues must address where else. Otherwise I believe this people would bring it up.

4:02AM, why don't you take the responsiblity in border issues. People only could do so much at a time. It is easy to say then done. You should try to do rather to say sometime, then you know how difficult it could get. I never done it but I know so.....

Thank you for everyone helping to bring Cambodia issues to UN. This will help our voice to be heard and our pain to feel.

Anonymous said...

Ros Visal you did a good job. Next time you should sue Hanoi's vietnamisartion of Cambodia and its puppet Hun Sen through international court of justice.
And sue Hun Sen about K5 too.
We must build all CPP's Crimes to the international and international court of justice, rather sue in Phnom Penh monkey court.. or French court.
Let everyone start build Sihanouk and Hun Sen's case crimes and sue them at international court of justice together we will prevail.

Anonymous said...

4:02AM
I think the border issues is dispute between Viet and Cambodida. I don't think UN have anything to do with it. Plus this is Human Rights week and I think border issues is a wrong topic for this type of events.

The only way UN can get involve if both country agree for them too. And we all know Viet and CPP won't allow it. Cambodian government keep denying of land lost to Viet. Although we all know we did.

Overall I think this people did a great job. At lease they work hard and invest lots of time to brought some of our current issues to the UN level.

Thanks guys.....

Anonymous said...

I'm proud of your work at UN.You're a few persons among 12-15 millions Khmer to commit your time and energy.Some people do good talk, but never dare to show up.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Ros Visal, for your courage to speak on behalf of the suffering Khmer people.

Anonymous said...

Ros Visal is always welcome to Cambodia and he will be arrested by Hun Xen and his entourage upon his arrival. If you don't trsust me, trust Hun Xen.

Anonymous said...

9:37AM
Not just Ros Visal, million other Khmer abroad don't really want to go back to Cambodia. Not even for vacation. As long as your corrupted government still ruling.

Although, it is very good that he cares about our country and our people. He don't have to go back if he don't want too.

Thank you Ros Visal! Thank you for trying to help and please continue to help. Khmer citizens are in captivity. They have no choice but to live with their teeth grind.

Anonymous said...

9:37AM, Yes you maybe right. We all trust Hun Xen of doing the wrong things. You name it!

When it comes to the right things, Hun Xen can not be trust. You must be one of the idiot like your master Xen and grandmast Youn.

Ros Visal, I want to thank you for your good intention unlike most just all talks.

Anonymous said...

Ros Visal,
I remember your group were at the Congressional Hearing on Cambodia in September at the US House of Congress in Washington, DC.

Also you guys were at the Demostration couple of weeks aga at the Cambodian Embassy in DC.

Now you took Cambodia issues to the next level, at UN. GREAT JOB! Keep up the good work. Khmer people should be proud of you guys for all your actions. What you have been doing should encourage more Khmer to have second thought of trying to help our people and nation. Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

Ros Visal,
According to sources in Phnom Penh
today said, Hun Sen will not allow Sam Rainsy to return to Cambodia. Sam Rainsy must face criminal trail and serves time in Prey Sar at least 10 years before he could run the public office again.
Some of his followers start defect to CPP more and more every day for their safe and to avoid Ghosh flag hanging in front of their house.
Hun Sen Added this morning at the airport "Sam Rainsy's political life is over or finished in Cambodia".

Anonymous said...

Good job Visal