Cambodia-Thailand border conflict "very worrying," EU's Ashton says

Apr 27, 2011
DPA

Brussels - Border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand are 'very worrying,' a spokesman for European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said on Wednesday.

'The continued fighting on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, with attendant loss of life, displacement of civilians and damage to property, is very worrying,' Michael Mann said in a statement.

He said Ashton was calling 'on both sides to agree quickly a permanent ceasefire as called for by the (United Nations) Security Council in February, and to resolve their differences peacefully.'

Since Friday, at least 14 people have been killed and more than 50 injured in on-and-off clashes near several disputed temples along Cambodia's northwest border with Thailand.

How Will Hun Sen Respond to the European Parliament and the United Nations' Recommendations?

October 26, 2010

HOW WILL HUN SEN RESPOND TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

AND THE UNITED NATIONS' RECOMMENDATIONS?

Today, 17 opposition National Assembly members including Sam Rainsy wrote to Prime Minister Hun Sen asking the Government to elaborate on its position and action plan following last week’s Resolution from the European Parliament strongly condemning human rights violations in Cambodia and calling for corrective measures.

Referring to Article 96 of the Constitution which requires the Government to answer any question from any National Assembly member within seven days, the 17 Parliamentarians, who enclosed in their letter to Hun Sen the original text in English of the European Parliament October 21, 2010 “Resolution on Cambodia, in particular the case of Sam Rainsy”, asked the Prime Minister the following questions:

« What measures and what decisions will the Government take to respond to proposals and recommendations from the European Parliament, which wants to see the resolution of a number of political problems in Cambodia in accordance with the principles of true liberal democracy based on pluralism? »

« What attitude will the Government adopt to preserve aid from the European Union, which is a major donor institution, and to defend the honour of Cambodia, which is under international scrutiny? »

In their letter the 17 Parliamentarians reminded Hun Sen of the following points:

- « In its “Resolution on Cambodia, in particular the case of Sam Rainsy,” the European Parliament specifically calls on the Cambodian government to “engage in political and institutional reforms to build a democratic state governed by the rule of law and founded on respect for fundamental freedoms.” »

- « The European Parliament also calls on the Cambodian government to “draw up an action programme and timetable for implementing the recommendations made in the June 17, 2010 report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia”. This UN report notably “deplores external interference in the work of the judiciary.” »

- « All the political groups representing the 736 Members of the European Parliament representing 27 countries in all over Europe unanimously adopted the above-mentioned October 21, 2010 “Resolution on Cambodia, in particular the case of Sam Rainsy.” »

SRP Members of Parliament

• The original letter to Hun Sen in Khmer is in the attached file. (see below)
• The original text of the European Parliament October 21, 2010 “Resolution on Cambodia, in particular the case of Sam Rainsy” can be obtained at http://tinyurl.com/34cq5pe

EU condemns govt crackdown

Photo by: Sovan Philong

Monday, 10 August 2009
Sebastian Strangio
The Phnom Penh Post

POLICE ACTION IN THE SPOTLIGHT

THE violent scenes that followed the verdict in Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua’s defamation on Tuesday are a testament to the government’s hostility to democracy and freedom of expression, the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) said, describing the day of the conviction as “another dark day for justice and democracy in Cambodia”. “The CCHR regrets the verdict and condemns the manner in which the police handled a peaceful procession,” the group said in a statement Friday, noting several instances of violence against civil society members, opposition politicians and bystanders. Protestor Seng Hok Chher said that he was kicked by police before being detained and held by authorities for around an hour. “They kicked me when I ran to break up the clashes. They saw me as Sam Rainsy’s bodyguard, [and] I was arrested,” he said.

MEAS SOKCHEA

THE European Commission has strongly condemned the government's recent legal offensive against outspoken critics, warning it could lead to a severe narrowing of the democratic space in Cambodia.

During a meeting with foreign ministry officials, three EU representatives said a recent string of defamation and disinformation cases against opposition figures and journalists could have "serious consequences for civil society's willingness to engage in democratic debate".

According to a classified terms of reference approved by the EU's 27 member states prior to the Friday meeting, EU representatives tabled concerns about "the use of criminal defamation and disinformation charges, including severe penalties imposed by the courts, to target those in civil society who raise minor criticisms of government policy".

The document, a copy of which has been obtained by the Post, also called attention to the government's "disregard" for protections of freedom of speech for elected representatives and the bringing of criminal charges against journalists "over articles critical of government policy".

Step by step

EU officials said they stopped short of threatening a withdrawal of financial support, saying that using development aid to punish or reward the government was "not a constructive way" to manage their relationship.

"It's not a matter of turning on and off taps in relation to good behaviour by the government," said British ambassador Andrew Mace, who represented the EU at the meeting.

But Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre of Human Rights, said that the threat of an aid withdrawal, whether or not it was made explicit, would be in the minds of government officials following the meeting.

He said that the government needed Western support for legitimacy, and that the EU's "unusually" strong position would keep officials guessing.

THE EU IS MAKING A VERY CLEAR STATEMENT TO THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT.

"I think that the EU is making a very clear statement to the Cambodian government," he said. "If I were [Prime Minister] Hun Sen I would be very concerned."

Mace said the atmosphere at the meeting was "frank and constructive", part of an ongoing process of dialogue between the EU and the government.

"They listened to our concerns and told us their view very openly," he said.

"They certainly expressed their intention to ensure that they were meeting their international human rights obligations. Though we didn't agree on everything, I think it took place in a friendly, constructive spirit."

He added: "We'll continue to raise our concerns when we have them. We have discussed these issues over a long period of time with the government."

Ouch Borith, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who represented the government at the meeting, could not be reached for comment Sunday.

When contacted Sunday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong did not wish to comment but said the ministry would be releasing a statement "responding to the EU's concerns" today.

The meeting, which also involved German Ambassador Frank Marcus Mann and Rafael Dochao-Moreno, head of the delegation of the European Commission, came following the conviction of Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua on defamation charges Tuesday.

The aftermath of the hearing at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which ordered Mu Sochua to pay 16.5 million riels (US$3,937) in fines and compensation for defaming Hun Sen, has also drawn fire from rights groups, who claim police used excessive force in their attempts to prevent SRP parliamentarians and supporters from marching through the city.

EU Marks Concern Over Freedom of Expression

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
07 August 2009

Three members of the European Union met with Foreign Ministry officials Friday to express their concerns over a recent deterioration of the human rights climate.

The EU, represented by British Ambassador, German Ambassador and the European Commission Charge d’Affairs, met with the ministry’s secretary of state, Ouch Borith, officials said.

The EU said it was concerned “specifically with regard to freedom of expression rule of law and the,” the British Embassy said in a statement.

“The EU expressed concern in this context over a number of instances in which criminal charges of defamation and disinformation have been used against representatives of civil society, the media and the political opposition,” the embassy said.

The EU has a rotating presidency, currently held by Sweden, but it is represented in Phnom Penh by the British Embassy.

Government and court officials are facing increased scrutiny after a raft of cases in the court that appear aimed at dissenters.

Respect for democratic principles and human rights “plays a central part in the political and development relationship between the EU and Cambodia,” the embassy said. “The EU noted that transparency, the rule of law, freedom of expression and open political debate are indisputable elements of democracy.”

One journalist has been jailed on defamation charges, another folded his newspaper to avoid the same, and two Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers, including Mu Sochua, were stripped of their immunity as they were sued in different cases for defamation.

Mu Sochua was fined more than $4,000 this week when she lost a suit to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who claimed she had defamed him by lodging a complaint in court over allegedly sexist remarks in a speech in April.

The EU representatives called on the government to take measures to ensure it was “conforming to its national and international commitments, including under the UN human rights instruments to which it is a party,” the embassy said.

Om Yentieng, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen and the head of the government’s human rights body, declined to comment, saying he had not yet seen the EU statement.