Showing posts with label Ban Ki-Moon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ban Ki-Moon. Show all posts

Thursday, September 13, 2012

លទ្ធិ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​តម្រូវ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​យក​ចិត្ត​ទុក​ដាក់​ជា​និរន្តរ៍ - Democracy in Cambodia requires permanent attention

លោក បាន គីមូន​ អគ្គលេខាធិការ​ អង្គការសហ​ប្រជាជាតិ​ នៅ​ពេល​ផ្ដល់​កិច្ច​សម្ភាស​ដល់​អ្នក​យកព័ត៌មាន​​ Reuters កាលពីពេល​កន្លងមក​។ រូប Reuters

Wednesday, 12 September 2012
ភ្នំពេញ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍

ថ្ងៃ នេះ យើង​នាំ​គ្នា​ក្រឡេក​មើល​រយៈ​កាល​មួយ​ឆ្នាំ​កន្លង​ទៅ​នេះ​ដែល​ជា​ឆ្នាំ​ពោរ ​ពេញ​ដោយ​ព្រឹត្តិ​ការណ៍​ គួរ​ឲ្យ​កត់​សម្គាល់​ជា​ច្រើន​ ក្នុង​ដំណើរ​ការ​លទ្ធិ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ។ វា​ជា​ដំណើរ​រឿង​កំពុង​បន្ត​រៀបរៀង ចារ​ដោយ​ប្រជាជន ដែល​ទាម​ទារ​ចង់​បាន​សេចក្តី​ថ្លៃថ្នូរ ​និង​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស ចង់​បាន​ការ​បញ្ចប់​អំពើ​ពុក​រលួយ ចង់​បញ្ចេញ​សំឡេង​អំពី​អនាគត​របស់​ខ្លួន ចង់​បាន​ការងារ ចង់​បាន​យុត្តិធម៌​និង​ការ​ចែក​រំលែក​អំណាច​នយោបាយ​ឲ្យ​បាន​ត្រឹម ត្រូវ។

ដំណើរ​រឿង​របស់​ពួក​គេ​ គឺ​ទើប​តែ​ចាប់​ផ្តើម​តែ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​។ លទ្ធិ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​មិន​មែន​បង្កើត​បាន​​ ក្នុង​ពេល​តែ​មួយ​យប់​នោះ​ទេ ហើយ​វា​ក៏​មិន​អាច​កសាង​បាន​ក្នុង​ពេល​មួយ​ឆ្នាំ ឬ​ដោយ​គ្រាន់​តែ​ធ្វើ​ការ​បោះឆ្នោត​មួយ​ដង ឬពីរ​ដង​នោះ​ដែរ​។ លទ្ធិ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ​តម្រូវ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​យក​ចិត្ត​ទុក​ដាក់​ជា​និរន្តរ៍ និង​ដោយ​ផ្ចិតផ្ចង់​ដើម្បី​កសាង​វា​ឡើង។ យ៉ាង​ណា​មិញ កាល​ណា​វា​បោះ​ជំហាន​ចេញ​ដំណើរ​ទៅ​មុខ​ហើយ មិន​អាច​វិល​ត្រឡប់​បែរ​ក្រោយ​វិញ​បាន​ទេ​។

កំណែ​ទម្រង់​ត្រូវ​តែ​ធ្វើ​ ឲ្យ​មាន​ភាព​ប្រាកដ​ប្រជា​។ ប្រជាជន មិន​ចង់​បាន​ការ​គ្រប់គ្រង​អំណាច​បែប​ផ្តាច់​ការ​និយម​ទៀត​ទេ។ ពួក​គេ​ចង់​បាន​ពិភពលោក​ ប្រកប​ដោយ​គុណធម៌​មួយ​ ដែល​ផ្តល់​សិទ្ធិ​និង​ឱកាស ក្រោម​របប​នីតិរដ្ឋ សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល​រស់​រវើក និង​វិស័យ​ឯកជន​ស្វាហាប់​មួយ ទ្រទ្រង់​ដោយ​ស្ថាប័ន​រដ្ឋ​ដែល​ធ្វើ​ការ​ប្រកប​ដោយ​ប្រសិទ្ធភាព និង​គណនេយ្យ​ភាព​។ ការ​សន្ទនា​ដោយ​មាន​ការ​ចូល​រួម​ពី​គ្រប់​សមាស​ភាគ​សង្គម​ គឺជា​ភាព​ចាំបាច់។ពិពិធកម្ម​គឺជា​កម្លាំង។

Friday, August 24, 2012

U.S., Israel, Jewish groups apprehensive about Iran-hosted non-aligned summit

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the U.N. General Assembly, September 2011. (Courtesy United Nations)

By Ron Kampeas · August 23, 2012
JTA (Israel)

WASHINGTON (JTA) – As Iran gets set to host the Non-Aligned Movement triennial summit, Israel, the United States and a number of Jewish groups are worried that what happens in Tehran won’t stay there.

The decision Wednesday by Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. Secretary General, to attend the 16th triennial event from Aug. 29-31, has set off alarm bells in Washington and Jerusalem.

The U.S. State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, reiterated after Ban’s announcement “concerns that Iran is going to manipulate this opportunity and the attendees, to try to deflect attention from its own failings.”

U.S. Jewish groups that deal with the United Nations echoed that apprehension.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

UN secretary-general to visit Cambodia in November [-More arrest of evicted protesters will await Ban Ki-moon?]

Xinhua | 2012-8-23

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Cambodia in November to attend the 21st ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit, a senior UN official said here Thursday.

Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said that the UN-ESCAP will not only continue to help ASEAN in intra-ASEAN Connectivity, but also help connect the bloc with the whole Asia-Pacific.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said he would also invite Ban to attend the Global-ASEAN Dialogue Forum, which will be focused on global issues such as the troubled financial system, food safety, energy security, and climate change.

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

When the Human Rights Community Is Its Own Worst Enemy [-Did the UN really do the right thing by adhering to the travesty of justice? That's the real question!]

05/07/2012
Kip Hale
Senior Counsel, American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Human Rights.
Huffington Post

The global fight to uphold respect for international human rights is a daunting job. Governments flagrantly violate human rights on a daily basis -- as do multi-national conglomerates and extremists organizations, who have become the new human rights abusers on the block. International human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are often the vanguard in this global fight. So, it is perplexing when some of these NGOs undercut their own legitimacy by making public outcries that do little to help their overall causes, and in fact, undermine them. These typically resourceful and responsible groups sometimes fail to provide constructive solutions in times of need, and instead exemplify the aphorism, "the perfect is the enemy of the good."

An example of the human rights community's predilection to sabotage itself was recently displayed by NGOs that monitor the work of the United Nations (UN)-supported Khmer Rouge tribunal, officially the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). The ECCC is an international hybrid tribunal created to prosecute surviving senior members of the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime, which allegedly perpetrated mass atrocities that caused the death of nearly two million people in Cambodia. The ECCC's structure includes both Cambodian and international personnel that share equal power in the prosecutors' and judicial investigators' offices. However, the Cambodians have a majority in the pretrial, trial and appeals chambers. The first case at the ECCC (Case 001) recently came to a close with the appeal verdict of Duch, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the torture and murder of over 12,000 detainees -- including women and children -- at the notorious Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh. Case 002, the trial of the Khmer Rouge's four most senior-living leaders and referred to as "the largest and most complicated prosecution since Nuremberg," began in earnest in late 2011 and will likely last for the next few years.

Monday, April 02, 2012

Search on for new judges

Monday, 02 April 2012
Kristin Lynch and Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
Government officials refused to respond to the UN statement yesterday. Government spokesman Phay Siphan said “I have no business in this matter”, and referred all inquiries to Keo Remy, deputy president of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit, who hung up on a reporter and did not answer repeated phone calls after.
Citing “serious” concerns with the work of the Khmer Rouge tribunal, the United Nations said on Friday that it is in the process of selecting two international co-investigating judges to replace the ones who have resigned from the court, and urged the Cambodian government to offer them its “full cooperation”.

“Recent events at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia … have raised serious concerns about the ECCC judicial process in relation to Cases 003 and 004,” the statement, issued by the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, reads.

Less than two weeks ago, reserve international Co-Investigating Judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet resigned amid what he said was persistent stonewalling by the Cambodian court staff of his efforts to investigate government-opposed cases 003 and 004.

And in October, Kasper-Ansermet’s predecessor, Siegfried Blunk, resigned citing government interference.

The circumstances that have given rise to these two resignations remain worrying,” Ban’s statement says.

New judges [-Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the two resignations may be worrying, but your insistance to work with Hun Xen in a DEEP CONCERN!!!]

01 April 2012
Reuters

New York—U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced he would appoint two new judges for Cambodia’s troubled U.N.-backed Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal and urged the government of the Southeast Asian nation to cooperate with them.Swiss judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet quit as reserve co-investigating judge of the tribunal earlier this month, while his predecessor, German judge Siegfried Blunk, left the post in October.Critics have accused Cambodia of trying to stop further probes of cases tied to the communist-inspired Khmer Rouge’s rule of the country between 1975 and 1979, in which as many as 2.2 million Cambodians were killed.”The circumstances that have given rise to these two resignations remain worrying,” Ban’s office said in a statement.The Cambodian government has issued no comment on the resignations. But Prime Minister Hun Sen, himself a former Khmer Rouge soldier, in 2010 told Ban that more indictments were “not allowed” and has also said he would be happy if the court left.Kasper-Ansermet had been pursuing two unidentified suspects in the highly controversial cases known as 003 and 004.”The Secretary-General believes that it is essential that the judicial process in relation to Cases 003 and 004 be brought back onto a positive course,” said Ban’s office, adding that he would appoint a new international co-investigating judge and a new reserve co-investigating judge for the U.N.-backed court.”Their selection by the Secretary-General will not by itself, however, fully address the concerns that have arisen in regard to the judicial process in these cases,” the statement said.

Sunday, April 01, 2012

UN សាលាក្តី

On the replacement of the International Co-Investigating Judge for the KR Tribunal - Op-Ed by Pissed off


31 March 2012
Op-Ed by Pissed off

Mr. Ban needs to exert stronger and more pressure on PM Hun Sen to stay clear of and not interfere with the functioning of the ECCC first instead of wasting his time trying to find a new international co-investigation judge who will not be able to work with Mr. You Bun Leng who takes orders directly from the Cambodian government.

Mr. Ban needs to show leadership by demanding the respect of the independence of the ECCC. When that happens, money to finance the court's work will flow in.

Don't put a cart before a horse!

Mr. Ban also knows very well that the problem is not about the selection of the international co-investigation judge, but about whether to proceed to case 003 and 004. Thus, make up your mind, the UN!

A free advice to Mr. Ban: If you want a judge who can work well with Mr. You Bun Leng, appoint the one who does not want the court to proceed past case 002; otherwise, it won't work even though you appoint the judges from either China or Vietnam.

Pissed off

Cambodia Must Provide Full Cooperation to New Judges [-Wimpy Ban Ki-moon caves in to Hun Xen's culture of impunity?]

Press Release: United Nations
Cambodia Must Provide Full Cooperation to New Judges at Genocide Court, Ban Stresses

New York, Mar 30 2012 

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has decided to initiate a selection process for new international judges for the United Nations-backed Cambodia genocide tribunal, and stressed that the Government must provide full cooperation so they can carry out their duties.

Recent months have witnessed the resignations of the international co-investigating judge, Siegfried Blunk, and the reserve international co-investigating judge, Laurent Kasper-Ansermet, from the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

Judge Blunk cited attempted interference by Government officials in the court’s proceedings, while Judge Kasper-Ansermet stated that he was being prevented from properly and freely carrying out his duties at the tribunal, which was set up as an independent court using a mixture of Cambodian and foreign personnel.

“The circumstances that have given rise to these two resignations remain worrying,” said a <"http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=5961">statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.

Both judges were working on cases 003 and 004, which involve former senior members of the Khmer Rouge military suspected of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.

“The Secretary-General believes that it is essential that the judicial process in relation to cases 003 and 004 be brought back onto a positive course,” said the statement.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

UN to replace judge who quit troubled KRouge court

03-31-2012
AFP

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said he will appoint a replacement for a Swiss judge who quit Cambodia's Khmer Rouge war crimes court amid a row with Phnom Penh about whether to pursue more suspects.

Laurent Kasper-Ansermet rocked the UN-backed tribunal in March when he became the second international judge in six months to resign over difficulties investigating two new cases strongly opposed by the Cambodian government.

Ban believes that it is "essential" that those cases "be brought back onto a positive course", spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement emailed to AFP late on Friday.

"The secretary general has decided, in this regard, to initiate a process for the selection of a new international co-investigating judge, and a new reserve international co-investigating judge."

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Will Ban Ki-moon practices what he preaches? Will the UN pull out of the KRT if it can't deliver justice to Cambodian victims?

A wall of photos at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the site of infamous Security Prison S-21, documents the Khmer Rouge's brutal treatment of detainees.

On International Day, Ban pays tribute to all those seeking truth and justice


24 March 2012
UN News Centre


Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today paid tribute to all the brave individuals worldwide who have devoted their lives to protecting human rights and to promoting access to truth and justice.

The General Assembly in December 2010 proclaimed 24 March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims to honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

UN concerned over Khmer Rouge tribunal row

Thursday, 22 March, 2012
World Radio Switzerland

A spokesman for UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon said the United Nations is “very concerned with worrying developments” in Cambodia, after a second judge said investigations into the Khmer Rouge have been hampered.

Spokesman Martin Nesirky said the UN supports a genocide tribunal to investigate the reign of the Khmer Rouge, during which an estimated 2.2 million people died.

This week, Geneva judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet quit the tribunal, saying there were serious irregularities with the investigation which prevented him from working freely.

Previously, German judge Siegfried Blunk also quit the tribunal, claiming interference from Cambodian authorities.

ASEAN and the United Nations see good potential for greater cooperation and exchange of ideas

The two leaders also discussed the latest situation on the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute, as well as the progress on the ASEAN Initiative on establishing the Institute of Peace and Reconciliation in which the UN would offer assistance, expertise, experience and best practices in preventive diplomacy—a priority on the UN agenda.

MANILA, March 21 (ASEAN/DFA) -- ASEAN and the United Nations share many goals and common objectives, and although the two differ in size and complexity, there are still many areas where the two organisations complement each other. This opens up opportunities for the two bodies to exchange ideas and cooperate on many issues.

This is the understanding that emerges after a meeting between United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and ASEAN Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan. The UN Chief is currently in Indonesia with a team of senior advisers, according to a release from the ASEAN.

The two leaders met over breakfast with their secretariat staff. Dr Surin updated Mr Ban on his observations and discussions with government, opposition and business leaders during a February 2012 visit to Myanmar.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

As UN No-Comments on Cambodia Court Resignation, HRW Praises UN

By Matthew Russell Lee
Inner City Press

UNITED NATIONS, March 19 -- After Laurent Kasper-Ansermet quit from the UN-affiliated Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), Inner City Press on March 19 asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Deputy Spokesman Eduardo Del Buey about it:
Inner City Press: a second judge of the Cambodian tribunal, extraordinary courts in the chambers of Cambodia has quit, Mr. Kasper-Ansermet, and he said that he has been interfered with by the Cambodian Government and disallowed from investigating further genocide suspects. Given the UN’s role in the court, what’s its response to this second resignation?

Deputy Spokesperson Del Buey: Well, the Secretary-General has received Judge Kasper-Ansermet’s resignation as reserve international Co-Investigating Judge of the ECCC. He is very grateful to Judge Kasper-Ansermet for his service and the situation of the ECCC continues to be of serious concern and we are examining it closely.

Question: This will be, I mean, given what he said publicly that he was undermined by the Government… I mean, do you have more to say, are you going to be naming…?

Deputy Spokesperson: Well, we have no comment at the time being for the reasons for his resignation.
Ban has been particularly weak on human rights in Cambodia, click here for just one previous Inner City Press story.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

UN names new adviser in Khmer Rouge trials

Jan 18, 2012

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) — United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday designated David Scheffer of the United States as Special Expert to advise on the UN Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (UNAKRT).

In a statement, the UN said Scheffer will be providing expert advice on UNAKRT during the critical phase for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts Cambodia (ECCC), which is set up under an agreement signed in 2003 by the UN and the Government.

The ECCC is tasked with trying those deemed most responsible for crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled Cambodia from April 1975 to January 1979 and is thought to be responsible for the deaths of as many as two million people.

US War Crimes Expert to Advise Khmer Rouge Tribunal

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
Voice of America

A leading American war crimes expert has been named to advise the international tribunal trying former Khmer Rouge leaders in Cambodia.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed David Scheffer as the U.N. “Special Expert” to advise the panel, which is currently trying the top three surviving Khmer Rouge leaders.

Scheffer, who served as ambassador at large for war crimes during the administration of former President Bill Clinton, played a role in establishing the Khmer Rouge tribunal as well as similar special courts to deal with atrocities in Rwanda and the Balkans.

UN names new advisor for Cambodia Khmer Rouge trials

Three Khmer Rouge leaders (photos from left) Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary are on trial
18 January 2012BBC News

The United Nations has named a new special expert to advise on assistance to the Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia.

David Scheffer, the former US ambassador-at-large for war crime issues, is ''very well qualified to provide expert advice'', the UN said in a statement released on Wednesday.

He replaces Clint Williamson, whose term expired on 30 September 2011.

Cambodia: Ban designates new adviser for Khmer Rouge trials

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

18 January 2012
UN News Centre

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has designated David Scheffer of the United States as the Special Expert to advise on the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (UNAKRT), it was announced today.

“Mr. Scheffer is very well qualified to provide expert advice on UNAKRT during this critical phase for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts Cambodia (ECCC),” stated the announcement.

The ECCC, set up under an agreement signed in 2003 by the UN and the Government, is tasked with trying those deemed most responsible for crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979 during which as many as two million people are thought to have died.