By Thin Lei Win
BANGKOK (AlertNet) – Ten international human rights groups have raised concerns in a letter about a draft law in Cambodia which they say will allow the government to shut down aid agencies.
The letter addressed to the heads of 17 U.N. agencies, urged them to press the Cambodian government not to enact the law, which is being considered by the Council of Ministers, and to think about a funding freeze for programmes involving state agencies if the law is adopted in its current form.
Cambodia relies on foreign aid to cover as much as 60 percent of its spending.
"As written, (the law) will allow the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to intimidate and potentially shut down local, national, and foreign NGOs, associations, and informal groups that criticise the government or government officials," said the letter sent on Friday.
It was signed by groups including Global Witness, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House and Southeast Asian Press Alliance.
Some of the concerns about the proposed law relate to all the red tape it would create and expensive requirements that will make it difficult for grassroots organisations to register as non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
It will also make it more difficult for civil society groups to ensure transparency and accountability in government and donor-funded projects, the letter added.
"This draft law violates core human rights and will severely damage participatory, grassroots development efforts that are so critical for Cambodia's future," Phil Robertson, deputy director at Human Rights Watch Asia Division, said in a statement.
There has been growing tension in the Southeast Asian country between the government and a burgeoning civil society which has become openly critical of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Last month the Phnom Penh Post reported that the Cambodian Foreign Affairs Ministry had warned an umbrella organisation of 88 NGOs over critical letters it sent to international donors funding a $142-million railway project.
The government also suspended a land rights NGO that signed the letter for allegedly inciting villagers to protest against the railway project and summoned another to meet with officials.
12 comments:
i think it is good that cambodia have to weed out a few ethical or unprofessional NGOs in the country, especially the one that involves in politics and detrimental to cambodia's development and modernization, etc, you know!
NGOs is cannot be allowed to be above the law, you know! everything has to have regulations, you know! this is not the dark ages era, ok!
CPP is very scare when we the people talk about unfair election.We the people needs to stand up and talk this unfair election.Give them an conditions 1 2 3 ...,if they (CPP) are not accepted we the pwople will not join the election.Period.
I think it's even better to stop travelling to Cambodia altogether. Take your money and spend it somewhere else. Cut all fundings to this government. Don't feed the communist clowns and allow it to continues abusing people's rights. Without civil societies and NGOs, Cambodia is going right back to the dark years of state control where fear hang all over the entire nation. Time to take a stand, donors countries. Enough abuse already. Don't want to be the accomplice of a corrupted government which knows no boundaries when it comes to human rights abuse and anti-democracy.
2:23AM! you block head want me not to see my family! Go hit by lightning yourself!
Yes Mr. Hun Xen don't let them make you weaked!!!!! kick them ass show them you are Sdach Kan reincornation!
everybody has to respect cambodia law, no exception, ok!
hOW ABOUT AH kWACK CHILDREN KILLING AND RAPING PEOPLE?
The Hun Sen govt is corrupted and
unjust administration in the world.
After Gadhafi jailing,Hun Sen turn
will come soon.The evil deed gets
evil deed.
If the laws are fair,people respect
the laws;if the laws are unfair,
people are refused and rejected.
They will be risk their lives to
protect their rights.
Did Hun Sen respect the laws?
Hun Sen is above the laws.
Cambodia has had laws not to sell
drugs,but Hun Sen is a drug businessman.He is selling drugs.
Chea Sim,a lawmaker is selling drug too.
All laws in Cambodia are jungle laws.
whatever, don't be biased toward cambodia, ok! there are more to cambodia than you and i, really! and stop being stupid, jealous, evil, selfish, greedy, etc, forever, ok! everything on this planet has to have regulations, you know, not just in cambodia, really! even your work place has to have regulation and ethical code of conduct, really! no jungle law is allowed, period, this is not the dark ages era, ok! cambodia and the world is more advance now than during the dark ages era, you know! may god bless cambodia always.
Every time I hear about Cambodia this and/or Cambodia that I just wish these son of bitches of CPP who rule Cambodia be swallowed by the earth and mud slide soon.
Heh dummy 9:18 AM. GOD abandoned Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos for a long time ago. The Vietnamese & Chinese are the most evil people on the planet.
3:26 AM
Every body has to respect the law of Cambodia, no exceptional, but why don't everybody see Hun Sen and his family members who committed crimes didn't go to jail?
SHUT UP you bastard dummy.
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