EU Parliament delegation announces its visit to Cambodia

13 March 2010
By Pen Bona
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

A group of EU Parliament delegates in charge of relationships with ASEAN countries will perform a visit to Cambodia next week. The 3-day visit which will start on 18 March will focus on a number of important issues, in particular the political problems and the human rights issues in Cambodia. The delegation will meet and discuss with a number of government officials, as well as opposition officials and civil society. The opposition is already prepared the raise the issue of Sam Rainsy’s case.

The 9 European Members of Parliament delegation plans to visit Cambodian on 18 March of next week for a 3-day visit. The aim of the visit is to understand the new evolution of the country in terms of politics and economics. In its Friday’s declaration, the office of the European Union in Cambodia indicated that a number of topics will be discussed during the visit, such as the impact of the international financial and economic crisis and the bilateral trade issue; the state of affairs in human rights; the EU cooperation program in Cambodia; and the commercial relations between the EU and Cambodia.

The EU delegation led by Werner Langen plans to hold working discussions with numerous top officials in the legislative and the executive branches. Furthermore, the delegation plans to meet with the opposition party and the civil society as well. It is not clear which problem the EU delegation will really discuss with the Cambodian government yet, but, what should be noted is the fact that the EU Parliament delegation conducts its visit at a time when opposition leader Sam Rainsy faces accusations from the court for border problems.

Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman, indicated that he will raise the human rights violation problems with the EU delegation, in particular, the violations of the rights of Cambodian MPs. Yim Sovann drew Sam Rainsy’s case as an example: just because Sam Rainsy fulfilled his parliamentary duty, he is now charged by the court.

Today, no government officials could be reached to obtain their comments. However, opposition MPs hope that the EU Parliament delegation visit will influence the Cambodian government to rethink its positions.