U.S: Democracy and human rights in Cambodia deteriorate

US Ambassador Carol Rodley during an interview on 28 January 2010 (Photo: Den Ayuthyea, RFA)

Monday, 1 February 2010
By Khmerization
Source: RFA

The United States government had indirectly asked the Cambodian government to improve its shortcomings in relations to the application of democracy and the respect for human rights in accordance with international standards and regulations, reports Radio Free Asia.

The indirect request was made by Mrs. Carol Rodley (pictured), U.S Ambassador to Cambodia, in a speech after opposition leader Sam Rainsy and two villagers were convicted and sentenced to jail term after they protested about border encroachments by Vietnam. "We praise all fields that have improved relating to democracy and human rights and we regret the worsening in other fields such as the deterioration of democracy and human rights", she said through a translator.

The Cambodian government has come under heavy criticism from human rights groups, civil society and critics in relations to its human rights records, forced evictions, land grabbing, arrests and intimidation of opposition activists, human rights activists and the use of court to suppress freedom of expression against opposition parties etc.

Mrs. Rodley had also acknowledged in the improvement in some fields as well. "There have been improvements in some fields and deterioration in others", she said.

Mrs. Rodley also said she is following the trials of opposition Sam Rainsy and other two villagers very closely. “We are closely following this trial, and it’s not just trials involving politicians and VIPs, but also on various other trials as well. All trials should be conducted with transparency and fairness”, she added.

She did not want to elaborate on Mr. Rainsy's trial, however she hopes the Appeal Court could be fair and transparent. “I think that if this case reaches the Appeal court, and if the Appeal court could be transparent, just and fair [then it would be a good sign]”, she said.

Prof. Surya Subedi, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia who had visited Cambodia from 18th to 30th January, said that human rights situations in Cambodia had been slowly improving. However, he said that human rights situations in Cambodia had not been up to the standards and benchmarks set by international conventions which Cambodia had been a signatory to.

Mr. Om Yintieng, chairman of the government-appointed Human Rights Commission, quoted recently by the media as saying that Cambodia has not yet become a hell of human rights and Cambodian not yet become a heaven of human rights either.