By Mu Sochua
As for what needs to be done more to the Beung Kak Lake issue is the full return of their land, and all charges against them must be dropped. Their release is only to ease the tension and we are grateful to Sec. Clinton for her firm negotiation with the foreign minister during his visit to state department.
We expect Sec. Clinton to continue to press hard on free and fair election in 2013. She said it once during the FM visit and it is a firm stance of the US. This is very positive and an even firmer stance is for the US and the international community to immediately tied aid to electoral reforms.
ASEAN will benefit very positively and peace, security and regional stability depend on a democratically elected government in Cambodia next year. Cambodia is chair of ASEAN and it should serve as a role model-and follow Burma's step- in paving steps for true democracy. Burma has opened up and the momentum must be kept going.
Opposition leaders such as Mr. Sam Rainsy is a very strong potential and serious contender that will continue to challenge prime minister Hun Sen and will give Cambodia a break before it is too late. It is time for change. it is time to recognize that stability is never a reality when Cambodia continues to be a country for sale.
We are in full support of the statement released today by Human Rights Watch.
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For Immediate Release
Cambodia: Clinton Should Prioritize Improving Rights
(New York, July 10, 2012) – United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should make it clear in public and private to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that closer relations with the US will not be possible without significant improvements in the deteriorating human rights situation in Cambodia, Human Rights Watch said today. Clinton will visit Cambodia from July 11-13 for the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) heads of government meeting.
In recent months the Cambodian government has launched repeated attacks on critics, including the summary arrest and conviction of women protesting eviction from prime Phnom Penh real estate, the siege of a rural village opposing the allegedly corrupt sale of their land to cronies of the prime minister, and an armed attack by military personnel working as enforcers for a rubber company who wounded four villagers protesting what they said was encroachment on their land. In April 2012, Chut Wutty, Cambodia’s best-known environmental activist, was gunned down while researching illegal timber sales. The government first claimed he died in a shootout, then that he had been killed by a soldier who had subsequently managed to commit suicide by shooting himself twice in the chest.
“The Cambodian government is desperate for improved relations with the United States,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Clinton should tell Hun Sen that continuing grave human rights violations will come at the cost of US support. She should insist that the Cambodian government set out specific, time-bound measures to reverse the country’s increasingly disturbing rights record.”
Hun Sen’s approach to critics was exemplified in early 2011 when he responded with typically threatening language to the suggestion by a Cambodian critic that he should be worried about the overthrow of a dictator in Tunisia. “I not only weaken the opposition, I’m going to make them dead ... and if anyone is strong enough to try to hold a demonstration, I will beat all those dogs and put them in a cage.”
Human Rights Watch said the recent release of protesters from prison after a summary trial shows that pressure from the US and other donors works.
Cambodia’s Appeal Court in June released 13 women who had protested the seizure of their land from the Boeng Kak lake area of Phnom Penh and then sold to Cambodian and Chinese companies. The women had been convicted on May 24 of obstructing public officials and illegally occupying land. The court upheld their convictions but reduced their sentences to time already served in prison. Their releases occurred against a backdrop of increasing national and international pressure, including concerns expressed to the visiting Cambodian foreign minister during a June trip to Washington, D.C. Two other Boeng Kak lake activists remain charged for the same reason, making them vulnerable to arrest at any time. Also under threat is the Venerable Luon Sovat, Cambodia’s best known Buddhist monk activist, who was charged by the Phnom Penh Municipal court with “incitement to commit a felony” in a transparent attempt to silence a critic with a large and growing following.
Human Rights Watch said that Clinton should prioritize an end to illegal land seizures, which are often driving poor villagers off their land without adequate compensation. A number of Cambodian and foreign businesses have been implicated in the often violent abuses arising from government-instigated or condoned land-grabbing and other unbridled economic ventures in agriculture, manufacturing, and extractive industries. Elements of the Cambodian police and armed forces, including the military police, have also been involved.
The transfer of land through economic concessions and other state-sanctioned arrangements have reached an all-time high after government grants last year reportedly brought the total to at least 2.3 million hectares and as many as four million hectares. In response to outcries over rights abuses and other legal concerns, Prime Minister Hun Sen in May ordered a temporary halt to the granting of new economic land concessions and a review of existing ones, and in June he announced a program to reallocate at least 10 percent of the concessions to people living on them. However, at least six new grants have since been finalized and one other restored after review, with the government declaring such decisions are legal exceptions to the moratorium.
“Clinton should tell Hun Sen that corrupt land grabs from the poor through government concessions must end or the country may face widespread social unrest,” Adams said. “She should also make it clear that any hopes of a significant increase in American foreign investment depend on the end of pervasive corruption and establishing the rule of law.”
The Cambodian judiciary remains politically controlled by Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), effectively protecting the business interests and political positions of government officials. A recent example was in Kratie province, where on May 16, 2012, an estimated 1,000 members of the security forces stormed a village resisting a land concession controlled by the Casotim Company and shot dead Heng Chantha, a 14-year-old girl. The government justified the actions as necessary to suppress so-called secessionists. Instead of ordering an investigation into the killing, the provincial court issued warrants for the arrest of five protest leaders. The government is also using the incident to threaten the arrest of Mam Sanando, owner of a popular radio station and a veteran media critic of the government who has thus far remained out of the country to avoid detention.
It is crucial that Clinton press the Cambodian government to make the country safe for peaceful political opposition figures, Human Rights Watch said. Parliamentary opposition leader Sam Rainsy has been in exile, facing 12 years imprisonment on trumped up charges. Clinton should press the Cambodian government to quash all politically motivated court judgments against opposition politicians, transform national and local election commissions into truly independent bodies, and respect the right to freedom of expression via print, electronic, and social media.
“Where opposition leaders are hounded and prosecuted in politically motivated trials, the US often leads the international community in demanding that charges be dropped or convictions overturned,” Adams said. “The US and others have remained conspicuously quiet since Rainsy’s conviction, sending the message that they no longer consider pluralistic politics central to their relationship. Clinton should use this visit to demand that Rainsy be allowed to return to Cambodia so that he and his party can freely participate in elections in 2013, or the US will not consider the elections legitimate.”
For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Cambodia, please visit:
For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Asia, please visit:
For more information, please contact:
In London, Brad Adams (English): +44-7908-728-333 (mobile); or adamsb@hrw.org
In Bangkok, Phil Robertson (English, Thai): +66-85-060-8406 (mobile); or robertp@hrw.org
In New York, James Ross (English): +1-646-898-5487 (mobile); or rossj@hrw.org
29 comments:
I am unsure,if Mu Sochua operates her ambitious political agendas under Cambodia's Constitution. Her opinion seemed missing the clause that,regardless of Hun Sen egregious acts, Cambodia is a sovereign country and free to exercise its conduct in politics.
Although the US under Obama leadership is increasing interest in luring Cambodia to its side of geopolitical build up against China influencial sphere.
Placing bets on Hillary Clinton words in terms of advancing Cambodia democracy is so ignorant of Ms.Mu. From the start, US was the cause of war in region since the 50's up to the late 90's. And the on going feud over boundaries with neighboring countries, US has a role in intervention as it had claimed to recognize Cambodia territorial integrity in 1962.
Ms.MU is doing politics in Cambodia under the shadow of US long arms embrace. In all aspects of US policies, Cambodia is a pawn for its strategic moves in region. Ms.Clinton is not quite acclaimated the real history of Cambodia.
Beware of the chameleon politician likes this one who usually does more harms to the country and then flee to own haven abroad when situation turned ugly.
Of course, I agree that Cambodia needs a clean sleight of change but not to look up to those who switched political parties allegiances like changing under panty Maxi pad in every waken momemnts to hide how the insanitary odor may reveal own agendas.
US politicians are not out to change Cambodia for your folks. The US is looking for where,who,what,how when and why to screw you over in advancing its interests. By all means,Hillary is no different than her predecessors from the last 60 years.
Words!
What destruction has Mrs. Mu Sochua done to our country than that of the Hun Sen government? Your claim is baseless and blind sided. I suggest you take a look at yourself in the mirror and ask who you are before you go judging others. This is a women who brave against all threats coming from your CPP franchise government. I can only suspect you are a CPP spy by your writings. You sound like every ignorant fresh off the plane Khmers that immigrated to the U.S recently. And yes I've spoken to many of them who claims not to be affiliated to the CPPs but when press on certain subject they sounded exactly like you. Facts check lately showed Mrs. Mu Sochua saving innocent lives. CPP, take everything they can from you and throw you in jail for getting in their way.
Stop embarrassing yourself on here. You sound like a fool and even worst you seem educated. Sad how you can have all the news through the internet and yet still ignorant.
7:12PM,
Stop for a breath please, Read the comment again!
You asked what Mu has done to destroy Cambodia? You tell me!
I don't live off Cambodia government pay roll so I don't keep record.
Don't worry I won't be angry at you since you were immature in debatin conduct.
Nevertheless, please enlighten me what my comment on matter was irrelevant to US foreign policies and wrongly accusatory of Ms.Mu past records.
You missed the point, looking for help from US to drive opposition to the score board was not going to happen any time sooner.It was unproductive. Invest in poor rural voters who will make impact not flying across atlantic for phot op and handshake.
Mark my words!
Chill,Khmer mannerism in check here!
To 5:04PM
Duh! Tell me AH HUN SEN have not destroyed Cambodia enough yet?
Cambodia had been through your stupid road before during the Khmer Rouge who was that main ally of China! Now look at what happen to Cambodia and 3 million Cambodian people died and Cambodia stuck with AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave who is selling more of Cambodia and of course continue to give away more Cambodian land to the Vietcong! For the following reasons no major powers can have exclusive right to Cambodia the same way as the Khmer Rouge to China and AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave to Vietname!
To balance major powers Cambodia must invite United States and China to the table whether Cambodian leaders like it or not and this is the way...otherwise Cambodia will be abused by China and Vietname as it in the past!
The solutions to Cambodian problems are found with the Cambodian leaders themselves if they have the political will and most of the fucken Cambodian problems will disappear overnight! So far these Cambodian leaders are creating too many internal problems for Cambodian people and how the fuck Cambodian leaders have the time and the energy to solve external problems that will eventually kill Cambodia politically, militarily, and economically!
816PM,
You lost me here. What was said in 504pm was that US was no lesser evil than China or Yuon or in combination.It will not resolve Cambodia problems.
And Cambodian politicinans,especially the turned coat ones, shouldn't expect much from US either.
That's it.
To 8:25PM
I did not lose you and it is you who lost me! You brag about Cambodian constitution and Cambodia as a pawn for United States!
Cambodian constitution doesn't mean a damn thing when Cambodians leaders don't respect Cambodian constitution! Tell me Cambodia is not a pawn right now under AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave leadership?
Again I will tell you that whether Cambodian leaders like it or not due to complexity and the nature of Cambodian politic the United States involvement in Cambodian politic is a must to balance out China and Vietshit influence!
You forgot that the world has many moving parts and Cambodia is one of the moving parts! So see Cambodia in a bigger picture!
839PM,
It is true that Cambodia has the Constitution sponsored and accepted by UN and all involved parties in 1993.
Also ask your King, Sihanouk for more details.
It was the big picture that 504pm remarked on: Cambodia Sovereignty and its free will of the Constitution not necessary acknowledging Hun Sen regime unforgiving deeds.
I know how was intolerable of Hun Sen and the opponents in putting people in miseries.
So what's your better suggestion that put Hun Sen out on the street in next election?
So what is your grand plan if your not going to ask major power to help? When you say U.S did you mean America in general in terms of their policy towards Cambodia? Or was it the administration during those times? Mrs. Mu Sochua is seeking help for Cambodia while you sit there and criticize they way she conduct things that are legal and in her power as a MP. LoL I find it funny that you see her as breaking the law while the CPP franchise are violating every rule in your so called rule of law that they are suppose to up hold.
Note that when I say CPP franchise that includes military,police, civil servant,the party, and opportunists like you. But that's just my opinion.
5:04 PM
"Cambodia is a sovereign country and free to exercise its conduct in politics."?
You are a LIAR!
Do you understand what exactly is meant by "Sovereignty?.
I means "Supreme and Independent power or Authority or Independence".
Is it "Independence"? No it is not.
Do you think you can fool others?
The Vietnamese soldiers are hiding all over in Cambodia, Every evening load of tracks collect money from every region in Cambodia back to Vietnam. Hun Sen and his family members are just thugs/slaves using to terrorize the people of Cambodia.
Who is the Foreign Minister? It is Hor Namhong who speaks broken Khmer. He run the country helped behind by Vietnamese expansionism.
Now tell us more your lies.
5:04 PM
"Cambodia is a sovereign country and free to exercise its conduct in politics."?
You are a LIAR!
Do you understand what exactly is meant by "Sovereignty?.
It means "Supreme and Independent power or Authority or Independence".
Is it "Independence"? No it is not.
Do you think you can fool others?
The Vietnamese soldiers are hiding all over in Cambodia, Every evening load of tracks collect money from every region in Cambodia back to Vietnam. Hun Sen and his family members are just thugs/slaves using to terrorize the people of Cambodia.
Who is the Foreign Minister? It is Hor Namhong who speaks broken Khmer. He run the country helped behind by Vietnamese expansionism.
Now tell us more your lies.
Hor has two sons and one son is good in barking. :)
boeung kak was history already, so stop creating boeung kak again in your dream world, ok! as far as cambodia is concerned, boeung kak was a mosquito infested water that cambodia wanted to have it developing into part of the city. and squatters have no rights, you know.
You're right MEEH KA TOOCH 11:17PM, most of BEUNGKOK residents are YOUN...So why are these ignorant KI-MEDIA fans cares so much? Besides, don't expect to much on MRS. HELL-A-RY CLEAN-TON's visit. trust me, it won't be a resolution for these people at all. Her mission is focusing on CHINA, she isn't coming for dumb ass cambodian people's problems.
Iraq is now peaceful and economically developed after the U.S removed Samdaim Hussain. And yes Cambodia will be as well if the U.S willing to remove Hun Sen regime.
Rainsy is a piece of shit and will be just as corrupted as Hun Sen, except he doesn't have the muscle like Hun Sen. Please find someone else!
@12:37 AM, Are you living under a fucking rock and have shit-filled ears and eyes? Iraq, Afganistan, Lybia, Egypt and Syria will soon be under chaos and civil war until some strongman dictators manage to rally the muscle around them to take control of those countries. Full democracy requires lots of pre-requisites including literacy rate, level of education, self-control culture, etc. Cambodian people and culture are not there yet, but hopefully will be one day.
you know, i think the way to help make a real, lasting difference in cambodia is not to take side nor use personal bias, prejudice, discrimination outdated policy, etc to fight among cambodia. the real, long-term, sound, realistic solution to making a difference in cambodia is to have cambodia look into the terms limit law and debate and talk about that, and ask public khmer people's opinion about it. the problem or issue in khmer society is the lack of trust, confidence, etc, not the way people perceive something to be. otherwise, you just not helping to solve any problem. the coup, the violence, etc is only the last resort type of solution, but there are many ways you(the world) that care to help make a concrete difference to cambodia with emphasis on ethics, professionalism, the rule of law more than using violence or unruly behavior to achieve their dream. remember this is not the dark ages era anymore, so why not do thing the way the rest of the world is doing it i.e., by using the rule of law, education with emphasis on good ethics in all fields and professionalism in all areas as well. like an organization, you cannot function without rules and regulations and ethics and professionalism and so on. this is what we are seeing happening in cambodia if we are to continue to allow chaos, unruly, violence to shape our policy, our thinking, etc, you know. why not use the education, the rule of law, the ethics and professionalism to achieve cooperation, peace, stability, prosperity, etc in cambodia? why continue to violate, to be unruly, to use violence and outdated system and thinking to achieve the evilness one wants to achieve. haven't cambodia seen enough of destruction, violence, unruly, bias, prejudice, discrimination, evil selfish, greed, etc in the past? why continue to wish all that bad trait on cambodia? don't say the world cares about cambodia when it is pretentious and hypocritic. again, the real solution to all this power contention is perhaps introducing to cambodia, the first in its history, the concept of the terms limit law like they have in america. of course, we haven't try it in cambodia because in america, it's the president system while in camobdia it's the prime minister, monarchy system. i think the terms limit concept or system can work for the prime ministership system. of course, the monarchy is inherited. i think this way, it will prevent people bickering over powerful position of the country like we see now, really. think wisely about it, really! it is about cambodia, not about anyone individual, really. do we or don't we want to see cambodia have peace, prosperity, stability, rule of law and contribute to the world, etc? then why continue to hurt cambodia and hurt more than cambodia? wake up already, i think there more to cambodia than you and i, really.
in the past, people read and saw a lot of bias, prejudice and political discrimination coming from thailand, etc toward cambodia. as time change and change cambodia, that cynical, skeptical, pessimistic view ought be changed as well toward cambodia. i think someone out there is always wanted to hurt cambodia and often not being fair to my country cambodia. i think that ought to stop, enough hurting and depriving cambodia already, you know. let's be fair and encourage more positive, good changes in cambodia. cambodia is not evil, is not a threat anyone and is shapable or molable country; in other words, cambodia can change and willing to change or reform nowadays as its people are better educated and able to think critically and see the world from many different angles, etc... cambodia want to change with time to be better. please continue to help to nurture and encourage that positive, good changes once and for all in camobdia. thank you and god bless my country cambodia.
the reality is cambodia people want to pick their choice of right, educated, reform minded leader(s), not have foreigner(s) pick one for us, really. if cambodia people see sam rainsy is not the right kind of leader for cambodia right now, then please respect khmer people's wish. it is really about cambodia, not about appointing some incompetent, ineffective, lame duck leader that no one want to work with, you know. let khmer people and citizens speak about who they want for their leader(s) to help lead and develop, and reform cambodia, etc. cambodia is here to stay, we're not going anywhere, we want the best for our country and we ask for help from the superpower to encourage and train and educate us to see the benefit from many different point of view. we don't want to be left alone and ignored and deprive and isolated again. we've been there, done that before, no more. thank you.
if all that bickering going on in cambodia now about mr. hun sen being in power too long or what have you, well, may i suggest the one of the better solution to help solve that once and for all is to have or encourage cambodia gov't to reform itself and its system by looking into the foreign or new concept of the terms limit clause. i think that can help solve many of cambodia political problem, honestly. it is a new or foreign concept for cambodia and khmer people to grasp, but it is workable and a sound solution to a better system in the long-terms. i'm sure other countries have used it, and cambodia ought to look into it; otherwise, political people should stop whining about this or that about cambodia leadership. that's cambodia's weakness and need to reform the system and the thinking too, i believe.
yes, and true and great democracy like america need lots of educated population and people and citizens. cambodia is not there not because the contrast in cambodia and america is that in cambodia there are still a lot of ignorant, uneducated people, not to mention the cultural mentality is way different as well. in america, people from top leaders to the bottom respect each other under the rule of law; whereas in cambodia the mentalit of top leadership walks all over the lower ones and not to mention ther are still class status existed in khmer society. in america, the class status issue is prevented by the rule of law because if you are rich and abuse or hurt other people in america, the law allowed the victim to sue, etc; whereas in cambodia the class status actually prevent the victim from suing, instead, make the victim worship the perpetrators, etc... so, there are a huge contrast in cambodia, so as a result of society and cultural differences, democracy in cambodia will need more time to mature and blossom. democracy in cambodia needs a facelift as in paradigm shift or thinking shift, and cambodia people need to be better educated and learn to see the world from any different angle, etc... and everyone of use can all help to make a reall, lasting difference once and for all in cambodia. in cambodia they more politicians are trained and trained and allowed to exposed and do more in the field, the more or the better cambodia and people can benefit from that training and education, and do emphasis the training of cambodia on ethics and professionalism, cambodia society need it the most, you know. god bless and guide cambodia.
not taking side is a good start.
11:10PM,
You can't contain your emotion in remarks with civility,can you?
That says a lot in the person's character.
You've gotten to change yourself first before change the world.
Dear 10:44PM,
You have no idea in what you are saying here.
Democracy without the proper level of knowledge and conducts guided by a self-restrained culture and rule-of-laws will lead to chaos and under-development as we have seen in Philippines, Bangladesh, Afghan, Lybia, Egypt, etc.
You have to know that the 3 Asian models of success, S.Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, all had to undergo early periods of dictatorship with the right elements and direction for the country, both of which Hun Sen lacks.
A country can only succeed when its leaders see the future for its country not for themselves. Cambodia lack that kind of leaders which is why there is such a big gap in class. People can argue all the want about this is how it is for a developing country. But they forgot that to develope a stable country requires strength in the rule of law. As you see now, Cambodia will reach to a breaking point because the rule of law is only used by the rich and powerful against the poor. And for the ignorant bloggers who say those Boueng Kak people are nothing but Viet, you are clueless, and shameful human beings. You must not know that the Viet people in Cambodia have more rights and supported by their home country than our Khmers.
I have nothing against any race because it is always the few bad apples that make everyone look bad. Until we all struggle together to fight this injustice. No one really can help us.
shut up and stop exploitation boeung kak squatters, racial discrimination, stupidity, etc, ok. why political people always like to exploit every situation on cambodia? why? don't be stupid forever, ok!
Blogger: 11:17pm, 12:51am, 1:05am, 1:05am, 1:17am, 1:34am, and 7:11am
YOU LACK THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW POLITIC (lack there of) WORK IN CAMBODIA.
Stop writing a long nonsense paragraph!
Try Hun Sen, he just might take you up on it.
បងប្អូនខ្មែរទាំងឡាយជាទីមេត្រី!
ដំណឹងល្អ...! ដំណឹងល្អ...!
តាមពត៌មានពីអ្នកនាំពាក្យរបស់គណបក្សប្រជាជន
គឺសមមិត្តខៀវ កញ្ញារិទ្ធ បានជូនដំណឹងមកថាអា
ហោ ណាំហុង បានងាប់ទៅហើយកាលពីម៉ោងបី
ទៀបភ្លឺដោយរោគគាំងបេះដូងនៅក្នុងពេទ្យកាល់
ម៉ែតនៅទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ។
សូមខ្មែរទាំងអស់គ្នាទាំងក្នុងប្រទេសទាំងក្រៅប្រ
ទេសនាំគ្នាសប្បាយរីករាយនឹងដំណឹងដ៏ល្អនេះឧ្យ
បានគ្រប់ៗគ្នា ហើយជួយផ្សាយពត៌មាននេះតៗៗ
គ្នាឧ្យបានជ្រាបជាដំណឹងល្អសម្រាប់ខ្មែរ ៕
បរាជ័យ! ពួកអាក្បត់ជាតិ !!!
បរាជ័យ! ពួកអាក្បត់ជាតិ !!!
បរាជ័យ! ពួកអាក្បត់ជាតិ !!!
What happen to Boueng Kak people is the model and the yard stick to measure AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave performance in human right in Cambodia!
AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave will not be off the hook that easy! The past will hunt AH HUN SEN to his grave for his sin!
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