Phnom Penh (dpa) - US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill arrived late Monday to meet high-ranking Cambodian officials amid speculation he would use the visit to voice his country's concerns over the recent spate of arrests of human rights activists.
US embassy and Cambodian government officials were tight-lipped about the envoy's schedule, although embassy officials confirmed he would hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon. He was scheduled to leave later that day.
Government sources said he was tentatively scheduled to meet Deputy Prime Minister Sok An early Tuesday morning to discuss a range of topics, but it was not likely he would meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen at this stage.
The US has already made public statements highly critical of the sentencing in absentia to 18 months in jail of Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy last month on counts of defamation against both Hun Sen and his coalition partner, Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Rainsy remains in exile in France.
It has also condemned the arrests of half a dozen prominent human rights and opposition activists since late last year, many of whom remain in prison awaiting trial in an what critics say is a government crackdown and which has led to many other prominent figures fleeing the country saying they also feared arrest.
The Cambodian government has strongly denied using unduly forceful measures in the face of a barrage of international condemnation of the arrests, saying it is merely operating within the bounds of the law and the nation's constitution to defend itself against unfair attack.
Observers have noted the arrests have come as senate elections loom within weeks.
They hope Hill will renew calls for Cambodia to heed international pressure and reinforce State Department comments earlier this week that the US was concerned with the situation in Cambodia.
Hill is also scheduled to visit neighbouring Vietnam during his Asian tour.
US embassy and Cambodian government officials were tight-lipped about the envoy's schedule, although embassy officials confirmed he would hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon. He was scheduled to leave later that day.
Government sources said he was tentatively scheduled to meet Deputy Prime Minister Sok An early Tuesday morning to discuss a range of topics, but it was not likely he would meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen at this stage.
The US has already made public statements highly critical of the sentencing in absentia to 18 months in jail of Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy last month on counts of defamation against both Hun Sen and his coalition partner, Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Rainsy remains in exile in France.
It has also condemned the arrests of half a dozen prominent human rights and opposition activists since late last year, many of whom remain in prison awaiting trial in an what critics say is a government crackdown and which has led to many other prominent figures fleeing the country saying they also feared arrest.
The Cambodian government has strongly denied using unduly forceful measures in the face of a barrage of international condemnation of the arrests, saying it is merely operating within the bounds of the law and the nation's constitution to defend itself against unfair attack.
Observers have noted the arrests have come as senate elections loom within weeks.
They hope Hill will renew calls for Cambodia to heed international pressure and reinforce State Department comments earlier this week that the US was concerned with the situation in Cambodia.
Hill is also scheduled to visit neighbouring Vietnam during his Asian tour.
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