Saturday, September 17, 2011

NGO warnings: Rights envoy speaks out

Friday, 16 September 2011
Mary Kozlovski
The Phnom Penh Post

NGO warnings

UN special rapporteur for Human Rights in Cambodia Surya Subedi said yesterday he had spoken with the government regarding warnings issued to land-rights groups and the recent suspension of NGO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut.

“I have raised the suspension of Sahmakum Teang Tnaut and the warnings given to other human-rights NGOs working in the land sector in Cambodia,” he said.

Subedi added that he had also expressed concern that a draft law on associations and NGOs could restrict civil society.


“I have shared my concerns with the Royal Government at the highest level and hope that a law that protects and enables civil society will result,” he said.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan could not be reached for comment.

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