Thursday, June 17, 2010

UN human rights expert urges strengthening of Cambodian justice system

UN News Centre

17 June 2010 – An independent United Nations expert today urged Cambodian authorities to strengthen the country’s judiciary and improve human rights, saying the nation still has too many shortcomings in its justice system.

“There is an alarmingly high number of people in detention due to various shortcomings in the criminal justice system, and the instances of miscarriage of justice are far too numerous,” Surya Prasad Subedi, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, warned at the end of his 10-day fact-finding mission.

I call on the Royal Government of Cambodia to introduce appropriate measures to enhance the independence and capacity of the judiciary to enable it to function as an institution capable of providing justice to all in Cambodia,” he stated in a news release.

The expert concluded that Cambodia’s judiciary is facing tremendous challenges in delivering justice for its people, especially the poor and the marginalized.

He raised specific concerns relating to the judiciary’s role in protecting freedom of expression, and the narrowing of political space for critical debate in society, “due to the disproportionate use of defamation, disinformation and incitement lawsuits against journalists, human rights activists and political opponents.”

Another major concern was cases involving land-related rights. “If you are poor, weak and dispossessed of your land, you seem to have limited chance to obtain redress either through existing administrative land management systems, or through the courts,” said Mr. Subedi.

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the adoption of a series of new laws designed to strengthen the system of justice.

However, he warned that “a combination of a lack of adequate resources, organizational and institutional shortcomings, a lack of full awareness of the relevant human rights standards, and external interference, financial or otherwise, in the work of the judiciary, has resulted in an institution that does not command the confidence of people from many walks of life.”

Mr. Subedi, who met with King Norodom Sihamoni and members of the Government and judiciary during his visit, encouraged the Government to forge ahead with measures to enhance and strengthen the judiciary and to improve the situation of human rights, and offered his assistance for such efforts.

He will submit a report, including recommendations for judicial reform in Cambodia, to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council in September.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:46 PM

    agree! cambodia can use reforms in the judiciary system. maybe study the american judiciary system in order to reform khmer judicial system. we need it as some of our way needs some updating or amendment with the change of time, etc...

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  2. Anonymous11:01 PM

    This guy is much smarter than Yash Gaiy. Good hope that he can work with the Cambodian government to improve justice system and other human right issue.

    You got to praise them when they do something right and in a friendly manner point to the area that needed improvement. Then they will listen to you and try to improve. If you come in cursing and criticize them on everything, then they will put up a big fight and will not listen to you. This is all about psychology.

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  3. Anonymous12:20 AM

    Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime

    Members:
    Pol Pot
    Nuon Chea
    Ieng Sary
    Ta Mok
    Khieu Samphan
    Son Sen
    Ieng Thearith
    Kaing Kek Iev
    Hun Sen
    Chea Sim
    Heng Samrin
    Hor Namhong
    Keat Chhon
    Ouk Bunchhoeun
    Sim Ka...

    Committed:
    Tortures
    Brutality
    Executions
    Massacres
    Mass Murder
    Genocide
    Atrocities
    Crimes Against Humanity
    Starvations
    Slavery
    Force Labour
    Overwork to Death
    Human Abuses
    Persecution
    Unlawful Detention


    Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime

    Members:
    Hun Sen
    Chea Sim
    Heng Samrin
    Hor Namhong
    Keat Chhon
    Ouk Bunchhoeun
    Sim Ka...

    Committed:
    Attempted Murders
    Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
    Attempted Assassinations
    Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
    Assassinations
    Assassinated Journalists
    Assassinated Political Opponents
    Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
    Assassinated over 80 members of Sam Rainsy Party.

    "But as of today, over eighty members of my party have been assassinated. Countless others have been injured, arrested, jailed, or forced to go into hiding or into exile."
    Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
      
    Executions
    Executed over 100 members of FUNCINPEC Party
    Murders
    Murdered 3 Leaders of the Free Trade Union 
    Murdered Chea Vichea
    Murdered Ros Sovannareth
    Murdered Hy Vuthy
    Murdered 10 Journalists
    Murdered Khim Sambo
    Murdered Khim Sambo's son 
    Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
    Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
    Murdered Innocent Men
    Murdered Innocent Women
    Murdered Innocent Children
    Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
    Extrajudicial Execution
    Grenade Attack
    Terrorism
    Drive by Shooting
    Brutalities
    Police Brutality Against Monks
    Police Brutality Against Evictees
    Tortures
    Intimidations
    Death Threats
    Threatening
    Human Abductions
    Human Abuses
    Human Rights Abuses
    Human Trafficking
    Drugs Trafficking
    Under Age Child Sex
    Corruptions
    Bribery
    Embezzlement
    Treason
    Border Encroachment, allow Vietnam to encroaching into Cambodia.
    Signed away our territories to Vietnam; Koh Tral, almost half of our ocean territory oil field and others.  
    Illegal Arrest
    Illegal Mass Evictions
    Illegal Land Grabbing
    Illegal Firearms
    Illegal Logging
    Illegal Deforestation

    Illegally use of remote detonation bomb on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.

    Lightning strike many airplanes, but did not fall from the sky.  Lightning strike out side of airplane and discharge electricity to ground. 
    Source:  Lightning, Discovery Channel

    Illegally Sold State Properties
    Illegally Removed Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
    Plunder National Resources
    Acid Attacks
    Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country.
    Oppression
    Injustice
    Steal Votes
    Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
    Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
    Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters. 
    Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
    Abuse of Power
    Abuse the Laws
    Abuse the National Election Committee
    Abuse the National Assembly
    Violate the Laws
    Violate the Constitution
    Violate the Paris Accords
    Impunity
    Persecution
    Unlawful Detention
    Death in custody.

    Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice. 

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  4. Anonymous1:21 AM

    If you are a true buddhist and practice buddhism with you understanding and your good will, you DO not need any foreign system in management. Most of the time,the prcticle concepts have to be varified accordingly to fit developemental stages of any country.

    Buddhism is a study of humanity, unfortunately there are NOT many cambodians DO know about practicle exercises of Buddhism. Intellectuals,even monks who supposed to know and practice Buddhism,are NOT fully aware of the ESSENCE of Buddhism before they preach.

    Most of all,many cambodians have taken Buddhism very lightly.
    With less knowledge and understanding,we NOW practice mostly Hindu(magicas and power and so forth).

    Please take a deep breath and be patient and perserverance, you can learn alot more than just reciting Pali(Buddhist language).

    Causes and Effects are the keys,even Newton says about that too.

    Peasant

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  5. Anonymous2:22 AM

    i think buddhism is one good way to study about human relationship, etc; however, it's lot the only one, though. i say learn from everywhere, whoever, etc... also, it is important to understand the difference between managing and leading. you lead people and nation, but managing supplies, methods, statistics, taskes, records, etc, but you don't manage people. please know the difference, especially to become a good leader. leading requires a dialogue or conversation both sides; whereas as managing, you do it lonely with supplies without saying anything. if you failed to understand this difference, you get labeled as dictator. that's all.

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  6. Anonymous12:30 AM

    There has always been an attitude on the part of the rich and powerful, that intimidation of the judges can result in winning. I have heard of cases where the judges were threatened by innuendo if they did not prevail in the lawsuit. Also a couple of years ago that one judge was shot to death while stopped at a traffic light.

    The other problem is that when someone is accused, it presents an opportunity to extort money from the accused and/or his/her family.

    ReplyDelete