Louise Arbour12 May 2006 – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour will travel next week to Cambodia – the first visit by the world body’s top rights official since 2002 –where she is scheduled to meet King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Ministers of the Interior and Justice, as well as representatives from national non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
According to a press release from her office in Geneva, the one-week visit – from 15-19 May – will also see the High Commissioner hold talks with representatives of the UN team as well as with officials from the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the prosecution of crimes committed during the period of the Khmer Rouge.
In March, the UN and Cambodia’s Government signed agreements putting in place the legal foundations for the administrative set-up and operations of the Extraordinary Chambers to try Khmer Rouge leaders, who are accused of horrific crimes, including mass killings, during the 1970s.
Next week’s scheduled visit comes less than two months after both Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Ms. Arbour called on Cambodia’s Government to continue to cooperate with UN human rights officials in the impoverished country, after expressing concerns at reported remarks that Prime Minister Hun Sen had denounced them.
In January, Ms. Arbour had also expressed “deep regret” over the Government’s arrest of two more human rights activists and warned that this trend threatened to undo efforts to build a just society in Cambodia.
During her trip, the Commissioner will also visit the Tuol Sleng genocide museum in the capital Phnom Penh and the Angkor temple complex.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has had a presence in Cambodia since October 1993, following the withdrawal of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
According to a press release from her office in Geneva, the one-week visit – from 15-19 May – will also see the High Commissioner hold talks with representatives of the UN team as well as with officials from the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the prosecution of crimes committed during the period of the Khmer Rouge.
In March, the UN and Cambodia’s Government signed agreements putting in place the legal foundations for the administrative set-up and operations of the Extraordinary Chambers to try Khmer Rouge leaders, who are accused of horrific crimes, including mass killings, during the 1970s.
Next week’s scheduled visit comes less than two months after both Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Ms. Arbour called on Cambodia’s Government to continue to cooperate with UN human rights officials in the impoverished country, after expressing concerns at reported remarks that Prime Minister Hun Sen had denounced them.
In January, Ms. Arbour had also expressed “deep regret” over the Government’s arrest of two more human rights activists and warned that this trend threatened to undo efforts to build a just society in Cambodia.
During her trip, the Commissioner will also visit the Tuol Sleng genocide museum in the capital Phnom Penh and the Angkor temple complex.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has had a presence in Cambodia since October 1993, following the withdrawal of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
2 comments:
Our kings used to be social workers of justice. But now we have a King that does what some people tell him to do without a thought.
If he is just like that anyway why don't we just do away with Royalty. Clearly Cambodians have no use for it now. If not to do away with, just completely severe monarchy from government.
Frankly I'm quite tire of hearing king concession to everything government wants.
He's there to gurantee that we have justice and independence. But so far all I see is he's there so powerful and corrupt people could hold more tighter grip on us ordinary citizens.
Please King. If you're not any use to Cambodian people, don't give us shame and just step down and absolve the whole monarchy. Join the political arena if you want. But don't represent corruption in the forms of "preserving Khmer tradition" title. You're not. But just preserving the rich and the powerful.
I don't ask much. But I do expect the King to be a little opinionated on issues.
No he preserve corrupted and betrayal
Post a Comment