Asia Pacific News
18 October 2012
18 October 2012
BANGKOK: US President Barack Obama will raise "grave concerns" over human rights and the need for political reform in Cambodia when he meets Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday, the White House said.
Obama, who opens a Southeast Asia swing in Thailand on Sunday, which also includes a historic trip to Myanmar, will meet Hun Sun before he takes part in the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh.
"We are going to Cambodia to attend a summit, and I think it's fair to say that we would not be having a bilateral visit in the absence of the multilateral business that we're doing in Cambodia," said Ben Rhodes, a deputy US national security advisor.
"As it relates to Cambodia's human rights situation, we have very grave concerns about human rights within Cambodia," Rhodes said aboard Air Force One, as Obama flew to Asia.
"The president will raise that certainly when he sees Hun Sen. We'll raise it publicly in every opportunity that we have to address it.
"We'll continue to make clear that we want to see greater political freedom in Cambodia. We want to see a movement towards an election that is credible and fair. We want to see the release of political prisoners there as well."
Obama will be the first sitting US president to visit Cambodia, where human rights groups accuse the government of stepping up a crackdown on dissidents and on protests, many linked to land disputes.
A dozen US senators and members of the House of Representatives last month urged Obama to speak out over Cambodia's "deteriorating human rights situation."
Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, earlier said that if Obama does not speak out over concerns "his visit will be seen by the government as an endorsement and deepen the sense of inviolability."
The group alleges more than 300 people have been killed in politically motivated attacks in over two decades of authoritarian rule by Hun Sen.
-AFP/ac
Obama, who opens a Southeast Asia swing in Thailand on Sunday, which also includes a historic trip to Myanmar, will meet Hun Sun before he takes part in the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh.
"We are going to Cambodia to attend a summit, and I think it's fair to say that we would not be having a bilateral visit in the absence of the multilateral business that we're doing in Cambodia," said Ben Rhodes, a deputy US national security advisor.
"As it relates to Cambodia's human rights situation, we have very grave concerns about human rights within Cambodia," Rhodes said aboard Air Force One, as Obama flew to Asia.
"The president will raise that certainly when he sees Hun Sen. We'll raise it publicly in every opportunity that we have to address it.
"We'll continue to make clear that we want to see greater political freedom in Cambodia. We want to see a movement towards an election that is credible and fair. We want to see the release of political prisoners there as well."
Obama will be the first sitting US president to visit Cambodia, where human rights groups accuse the government of stepping up a crackdown on dissidents and on protests, many linked to land disputes.
A dozen US senators and members of the House of Representatives last month urged Obama to speak out over Cambodia's "deteriorating human rights situation."
Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, earlier said that if Obama does not speak out over concerns "his visit will be seen by the government as an endorsement and deepen the sense of inviolability."
The group alleges more than 300 people have been killed in politically motivated attacks in over two decades of authoritarian rule by Hun Sen.
-AFP/ac
4 comments:
I love you President Obama! welcome to Cambodia! We want democracy system like American system. Please help Khmers!
We have no lands to farm any more President Obama! Please help us!
We have no house to live any more President Obama! Please help us!
Our love one was murdered by Hun Sen! Please help us Mr President!
Cambodia justice system kill the poor and serve the rich only, We have never been treat as human being in the court! Mr President!
Please help Khmers! we think you are the living God!
From the Voices of khmer Victims to President Obama!
Obama will be speaking to the killer to stop killing. Hun sen only know about killing; do you think he will stop? I suggest he take up - meditation- to bring himself out of abusing his power and beyond for his people.
President O to visit Cambodia is like former president George W. Bush to visit Iraq.
President O have no reason to be or meet a Priminister who oppress and killed his people. He shouldn't shake hands with Saddam Hussein Jr.
With that being said, Cambodian should caged (Hun Sen) the animal before my president showed up at his door step. I don't want him to catch any rabies.
Note: I don't want to spelled out the President's name so as to not let the NNNSSSAAA read my blog.
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