20 April 2008
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
A number of opposition and NGO officials claimed that Cambodia and China are under the spell of one single policy: the worrisome abuse of human rights.
This reaction came after Ms. Zhang Jin Feng, the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, thanked Cambodia for supporting China regarding the Olympics problems, and Cambodia blocked Cambodian NGOs from taking initiative to oppose to holding of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Kem Sokha, HRP party president, said that he is not surprised that the Chinese ambassador thanked the Cambodian government, because the latter is a satellite country to any country that provides support to the Cambodian regime, irrespective of whether the supporting country respects human rights or not.
Kem Sokha said: “Currently, Cambodia and China are on the same wavelength. On human rights issue, (Cambodia) opposes other countries that criticize the human rights issue, and the majority of the (government’s) friends are countries that violate human rights, therefore, the Cambodian government cannot oppose these countries. The government is even close to Burma as well.”
Eng Chhai Eang, SRP Secretary-general, also said that the Chinese government supports only something that it benefits from. He said that China does not care about the victims, such was the case in Tibet where the Chinese government is exerting pressure on. Furthermore, the Cambodian government supports China because it receives large amount of aid from China.
Eang Chhai Eang said: “If they (China) provide aid for the benefit of the authoritarian leader while the people in the countries receiving aid from China are being victimized, then there is no meaning (to this Chinese aid.) Therefore, regarding the Olympics issue, it brings honor to the Chinese people, but this honor must be earned, the Chinese government should not use this opportunity to pressure and oppress the freedom of its people.”
Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said that his party adopts the one-China policy, but his party does not support any government that abuses the rights of their own people.
Cheam Yeap, a CPP official, said that the issue of China respecting human rights or not is its internal affair, and it is a fact that China provided a lot of aid to Cambodia. Therefore, the CPP rejoices about the Olympics (being held in China) and it also rejoices the long-standing friendship between China and Cambodia.
Cheam Yeap said: “We cannot interfere in their internal affair, and China cannot interfere in our internal affair either.”
Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization, said that it is normal for the Chinese ambassador to thank Cambodia because the latter supports China. However, she said that the government should respect the people’s rights as a true democratic regime would.
Human rights abused has worsened in Tibet recently, and incidents took place where some used violence to kill 18 people, caused injuries to several people, and 300 fires were set up creating about 50 million yens in damage.
This reaction came after Ms. Zhang Jin Feng, the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, thanked Cambodia for supporting China regarding the Olympics problems, and Cambodia blocked Cambodian NGOs from taking initiative to oppose to holding of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Kem Sokha, HRP party president, said that he is not surprised that the Chinese ambassador thanked the Cambodian government, because the latter is a satellite country to any country that provides support to the Cambodian regime, irrespective of whether the supporting country respects human rights or not.
Kem Sokha said: “Currently, Cambodia and China are on the same wavelength. On human rights issue, (Cambodia) opposes other countries that criticize the human rights issue, and the majority of the (government’s) friends are countries that violate human rights, therefore, the Cambodian government cannot oppose these countries. The government is even close to Burma as well.”
Eng Chhai Eang, SRP Secretary-general, also said that the Chinese government supports only something that it benefits from. He said that China does not care about the victims, such was the case in Tibet where the Chinese government is exerting pressure on. Furthermore, the Cambodian government supports China because it receives large amount of aid from China.
Eang Chhai Eang said: “If they (China) provide aid for the benefit of the authoritarian leader while the people in the countries receiving aid from China are being victimized, then there is no meaning (to this Chinese aid.) Therefore, regarding the Olympics issue, it brings honor to the Chinese people, but this honor must be earned, the Chinese government should not use this opportunity to pressure and oppress the freedom of its people.”
Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said that his party adopts the one-China policy, but his party does not support any government that abuses the rights of their own people.
Cheam Yeap, a CPP official, said that the issue of China respecting human rights or not is its internal affair, and it is a fact that China provided a lot of aid to Cambodia. Therefore, the CPP rejoices about the Olympics (being held in China) and it also rejoices the long-standing friendship between China and Cambodia.
Cheam Yeap said: “We cannot interfere in their internal affair, and China cannot interfere in our internal affair either.”
Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization, said that it is normal for the Chinese ambassador to thank Cambodia because the latter supports China. However, she said that the government should respect the people’s rights as a true democratic regime would.
Human rights abused has worsened in Tibet recently, and incidents took place where some used violence to kill 18 people, caused injuries to several people, and 300 fires were set up creating about 50 million yens in damage.
