Hun Sen Renews Attack on UN Envoy Yash Ghai, Defends Burma

On 12 December, Cambodian Government-run Phnom Penh Television Kampuchea [ TVK ] in Cambodian at 0655 GMT carried a 60-minute recorded video report, following its midday newscast, on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife presiding over an inaugural ceremony for six female students living quarters buildings in Phnom Penh on the morning of 12 December.

At the event, before concluding his address on the importance of the living quarters and urging the students to take good care of them, Hun Sen renewed his tirade against UN special envoy for human rights in Cambodia, Yash Ghai, that he did not mention by name, for the latter's recent criticism of the human rights situation in Cambodia.

Hun Sen said, "There is someone who is a long-term tourist talking irresponsibly that I do not need to reveal his name. You are free to come, but Hun Sen has the right not to receive you. Various government officials have the right to receive or not to receive him, but Hun Sen will not receive him forever." He added he was not obliged to see the UN envoy and the latter deserved it. He said, "if UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon continually employed this kind of person, you are free to do so."

Hun Sen said, "You just come here for a few days, what do you know? Every time he comes, he causes trouble to other people. If his country is talked about, it is 100 times worse than ours. You should go and improve your country. He is a Kenyan; this should be said clearly like this."

Hun Sen said, "During [Khmer Rouge leader] Pol Pot's era, why did you not shout, and now you shout that Cambodia has no law and customs and is uncontrolled. If there is no law, do you think that all the people can live like this? If there is no law, can you travel to various provinces? Will you not be attacked in ambushes? If it is like Nairobi, will you not be in danger, as Nairobi is a breeding ground for robbers? You are so lousy.

"Anyway, I wish to inform UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that if he still employs that person, Cambodia's prime minister will continually refuse to work with him. Cabinet ministers and government officials have the right to receive or not to receive him. You do not need to blame them."

Again Hun Sen said, "He deserves it. He is in one's country, but one does not receive him. Whoever wants to receive him can do so, but I will not receive him. I have the right not to receive him." "I wish to declare that if that person is still used, I will continue to refuse to work with him," he pointed out.

Commenting on the Khmer Rouge [KR] trial, Hun Sen said, "Previously, they claimed that we did not have the goodwill to proceed with the trial. We dragged on negotiations. We made laws incorrectly. The Royal Government was like this or that. However, now, all what they claimed are completely wrong, because all the top KR leaders have been arrested by virtue of the court's warrants. Nonetheless, when they talked wrongly about the past, they have never compensated us. They know only what is right, but they never accept what is wrong. In the past, they supported the KR to sit at the United Nations. However, now, the KR leaders are brought to trial, the value of which equals a slap in their face. They have never said that their policy of supporting the KR at the United Nations is a wrongdoing. They have never mentioned this." Now, they have "acknowledge that we have fulfilled the commitment as a sovereign state and a host, contributing to the implementation of the agreement reached with the United Nations on the KR trial." However, if they just say that they are "very sorry for the past misunderstanding about the government's attitude, is that wrong, abject? It is not abject. But they only know one thing: right, right, and right."

On the question regarding Burma, Hun Sen said, "Now, Burma, Myanmar has proceeded smoothly, but they go and disturb it again. There are also reports on human rights situation in Myanmar. However, Cambodia will make a statement against it." He added, "If all continue to oppose and put pressure on it, how can Myanmar solve its problems. Not only is Mynanmar not be able to solve problems, but I am unable to do so either."

Hun Sen also said it was not because Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein just visited Cambodia that he defended Burma, "but can it be offered opportunities to work? And the problems in Myanmar cannot be solved in one day, and they do not concern only two or three people, but the entire nation."

Hun Sen said one might wonder why Rangoon and Phnom Penh were so in agreement, but "this is a question of principle. They [Burma] also want national union, democracy, and respect of human rights." He added, "We do not agree with the suppression [in Burma] either. However, the two sides should exhibit patience."

Sam Rainsy: Ghai's remarks were "100 percent correct"

Gov't Dismisses UN Rights Envoy Remarks

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
11 December 2007

The government Tuesday dismissed as "groundless" and "degrading" remarks from UN special rights envoy Yash Ghai, who wrapped up a 10-day visit Monday.

Ghai, an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the government, said in a speech Monday that Cambodians would not live forever under the coercion they were now experiencing, especially in an environment where land was stolen from them with impunity.

"His eyes only see bad stories, but he does not see good stories," said Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak. "He always worries about this issue, that issue. It is bad when you listen. But the truth is not so."

Ghai's comments did not reflect the true nature of the government, he said.

"Those who don't know will believe him," Khieu Sopheak said. "Those who know will not believe him."

Ghai's observations were based on "grudges," he added.

Ghai toured Cambodia and met with dispossessed villagers in rural areas, many of whom have had land allegedly stolen from them by development companies, with the help of government officials and security forces.

The land disputes have led to violence in the provinces and the outskirts of Phnom Penh in recent months, despite a call by Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier this year for officials to cease the practice.

Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said Ghai's observations had "much truth" to them.

"I met many people. They are afraid of the government, of their immediate decision and seizure of land, to be given to this company, that company," he said. "And there is also fear of the companies directly, that when the people protest with the company, they usually lose the case."

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Ghai's remarks were "100 percent correct" and highlighted an "atmosphere of fear, the use of force [and] intimidation."

Authorities say "if people dare to go against them, they will mistreat them in many ways," Sam Rainsy said. "And they use the court to mistreat those who want justice."

Hun Sen running out of argument to criticize UN? He forgot that he cozied up with the KR also

Hun Sen having a good time with Khmer Rouge leaders Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan

13/12/2007
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has criticised the United Nations for not renouncing its past relations with the Khmer Rouge.

Up to two million people died of starvation and overwork or were executed under the Khmer Rouge, which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to1979.

During that period, the United Nations still allowed the regime to represent the country before the world body.

Opening a student building, Hun Sen made the statement that in the past, the UN supported the Khmer Rouge, but now it will try the regime's surviving leaders in court.

He says the UN has never said its past policy to allow Khmer Rouge leaders to represent Cambodia at the United Nations was wrong.

Established in July 2006 after nearly a decade of negotiations between Cambodia and the UN, the joint Cambodian UN tribunal seeks to prosecute crimes committed by senior Khmer Rouge leaders.

A wounded Hun Sen lashes at the entire UN body to leave his Myanmar buddies alone

Cambodian leader blasts report, says UN should leave Myanmar alone

Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: The U.N. should leave Myanmar alone and stop disrupting the junta's progress toward democracy by issuing critical reports on human rights abuses, Cambodia's leader said Wednesday.

"Myanmar has been moving smoothly ahead," Prime Minister Hun Sen said, becoming perhaps the first national leader to publicly praise the country's military junta since its bloody September crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

Hun Sen, whose government is regularly criticized for human rights abuses, lashed out at a report released Friday by U.N. human rights investigator Paulo Sergio Pinheiro.

The report found that at least 31 people were killed during the Myanmar crackdown, twice the toll acknowledged by the junta. It also said that 650 people remained in custody and another 74 people were missing.

Hun Sen said the report did nothing but "disturb" Myanmar's efforts toward reform.

"If you just keep opposing and pressuring (Myanmar), how can it solve its own problems?" Hun Sen said during a speech at the inauguration of a government women's dormitory.

"Leave them some space to work," Hun Sen said, adding that he believed the junta's goals for the future match the U.N.'s. "They also want to have national reconciliation, democracy and respect for human rights."

Myanmar sparked global outrage in September when troops opened fire on pro-democracy protests that were led by Buddhist monks. The junta has acknowledged killing 15 protesters, but diplomats and dissidents say the toll was much higher.

The U.N. has spearheaded efforts to coax the junta to start reconciliation talks with detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A Nobel peace laureate, Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years.

Myanmar and Cambodia are members of the 10-nation Associated of Southeast Asian Nations, which has come under criticism for failure to take a tough public stance against the junta's crackdown. ASEAN has a traditional policy of not interfering in the domestic affairs of its members.

Last week, Hun Sen hosted a visit by Myanmar's prime minister, Lt. Gen. Thein Sein, during which he reiterated a long-standing opposition to economic sanctions against Myanmar.