Kem Sokha, CCHR President. (Photo Sok Serey/RFA)17 Feb. 2006
By Mayarith Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
Kem Sokha, the president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), expressed in a letter sent to prime minister Hun Sen yesterday that land disputes are an issue he (Kem Sokha) believes must be discussed with the prime minister in order to resolve them.
Kem Sokha indicated that land disputes constitute the major complaint reported to his organization by the population who is seeking intervention.
Kem Sokha indicated that only the prime minister can resolve this issue and that is why he is writing him to request for a meeting.
Kem Sokha said: "The main problem in Cambodia that is reported everywhere during public meetings organized by CCHR is the issue of the rich and powerful people who are land grabbing lands belonging to the population. This problem is a major issue for the population, that is why I raised this issue to request for a personal meeting with the prime minister to discuss about it. After providing him the information, we will hold talks with him in order to find acceptable resolution because if we just send letters back and forth, we don't know the truth, that's why we are going to explain it to him, to talk with each other, to consult each other, in order to resolve this common problem. I had already stressed that what I am pursuing with the government, is for the benefit of the nation. Furthermore, the meetings will be opened, they will not be held in secret, and we will bring up national issue to resolve …"
Kem Sokha's request letter did not yet receive any reply so far. The meeting request was sent to the prime minister after the latter declared on Thursday his encouragement to NGOs to express their opinion to criticize the conduct of his government.
Samdech Hun Sen said: "… sometimes, [opposition parties] are participating in the government, but there still NGOs who will help oppose, who will help observe … NGOs are not the opposition, but they help with their advice, this is something out of the ordinary…"
The meeting request with the prime minister to resolve the population's land issue came at the heel of the success of NGOs which received the prime minister support in the abolition of criminal charges for defamation court cases.
Kem Sokha is confident that he will receive a positive reply from the prime minister on his request for a meeting to resolve the current land problems between farmers and the powerful.
Kem Sokha indicated that land disputes constitute the major complaint reported to his organization by the population who is seeking intervention.
Kem Sokha indicated that only the prime minister can resolve this issue and that is why he is writing him to request for a meeting.
Kem Sokha said: "The main problem in Cambodia that is reported everywhere during public meetings organized by CCHR is the issue of the rich and powerful people who are land grabbing lands belonging to the population. This problem is a major issue for the population, that is why I raised this issue to request for a personal meeting with the prime minister to discuss about it. After providing him the information, we will hold talks with him in order to find acceptable resolution because if we just send letters back and forth, we don't know the truth, that's why we are going to explain it to him, to talk with each other, to consult each other, in order to resolve this common problem. I had already stressed that what I am pursuing with the government, is for the benefit of the nation. Furthermore, the meetings will be opened, they will not be held in secret, and we will bring up national issue to resolve …"
Kem Sokha's request letter did not yet receive any reply so far. The meeting request was sent to the prime minister after the latter declared on Thursday his encouragement to NGOs to express their opinion to criticize the conduct of his government.
Samdech Hun Sen said: "… sometimes, [opposition parties] are participating in the government, but there still NGOs who will help oppose, who will help observe … NGOs are not the opposition, but they help with their advice, this is something out of the ordinary…"
The meeting request with the prime minister to resolve the population's land issue came at the heel of the success of NGOs which received the prime minister support in the abolition of criminal charges for defamation court cases.
Kem Sokha is confident that he will receive a positive reply from the prime minister on his request for a meeting to resolve the current land problems between farmers and the powerful.
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