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| United States' Michael Posner, right, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy Human Rights and Labor, and United States' Esther Brimmer, left, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations Affairs, attend a press conference after the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the United States of America of the Human Rights Council at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. (Photo: AP) |
Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Tuesday, 12 April 2011
“It is, to me, in some ways emblematic of this trend that I talked about, where governments are not happy with their critics, and so they decide to make it difficult or impossible for them to operate.”
The US issued its annual Human Rights Report last week, voicing concern among other things about an impending law to regulate NGOs.
US Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner told reporters in Washington on Friday the law will make it harder for civil society to operate and could run counter to the nation’s constitution.
Cambodia is among some 90 other countries that have adopted laws or regulations that will potentially curtail rights of civic organizations, he said.
“It is, to me, in some ways emblematic of this trend that I talked about, where governments are not happy with their critics, and so they decide to make it difficult or impossible for them to operate,” he said at the release of the report.
Numerous local rights groups and international organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called for the government to drop the draft law, which is being prepared by the Ministry of Interior for approval by the Council of Ministers.
Critics say the law will erode development progress Cambodia has made over the past 20 years by opening groups to potential legal attacks with little redress and by making it hard for small groups to form.
Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told VOA Khmer the law will not restrict freedoms, “but will ensure smooth implementation of civil society’s work.”
“This will ensure better cooperation between the government and civil society groups,” he said. “There is no reason to take it out.”
The law is not the only concern of the US in its 42-page report on Cambodia, which also cites arbitrary killings by security forces, forced evictions and limited freedoms as cause for concern.
The report highlights the abuse of the courts against members of the opposition, including a lawsuit brought against Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua by Prime Minister Hun Sen, and weighty charges of disinformation against self-exiled party leader Sam Rainsy.
“The fact that the criminal justice system is not as independent as it could be, and the fact that the government is not comfortable with dissent, whether it’s political opposition or the human rights types…these are concerns for us,” Posner said Friday.
Koy Kuong defended the government’s rights record as good “overall.”
“Despite some problems,” he said, “we are steadily moving forward and improving.”
5 comments:
PLease discuss more about 1997 coup. We shouldn't forget thousands of khmers lives that have been murdered by PhD Called Dr. Hun Sen and his PhD families.
KI media, Please post more articles about 1997 coup put more pictures and video clips about how CPP and PhD Dr. Hun Sen killed khmers at 1997 coup. Please Ki media I beg you.
Khmers victims of 1997 coup at cambodia
9:29 Am, You are really bad person. In the nesxt life, you and your mother will become cheap prostitute at very poor countries for eternity due to your sin.
I am bagging you KI media please post more articles about 1997 coup. We shouldn't forget thousands of khmer lives murdered by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his PhD families.
Please Ki media, Post more pictures and video clips on how PhD Hun Sen and his PhD families murdered thousands of cambodians at 1997 coup.
Please KI media, I beg you please!
Khmers victins og 1997 coup..
Stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy from the USA State Department should not surprise anyone. They do it all the time.
The USA government has no right to even be taken seriously whenever it pontificates on "human rights abuses" anywhere in the world. It is one of the worst offenders!
Wars of aggression, torture, use of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, imprisonment without charge or due legal process, secret prisons around the world, murder by drones and presidential decree, bailing out the rich while exploiting the ordinary people..... etc., etc.
The USA government is the world's worst hypocrite when it comes to "human rights"!!!
2:10 PM,
Do believe Hun Sen/CPP Yuon's Law under your Communist Hanoi masters in Vietnam is good? How come?
You are stupid!
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