Group: 'Charade' of Justice Needs Monitor

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 February 2008

Click here to read Licadho's report in English
Click here to read Licadho's report in Khmer

A prominent rights group said Monday the courts in Cambodia had failed and called on the international community to help establish a monitoring body to fix them.

In a special report, "Human Rights in Cambodia: The Charade of Justice," Licadho said that despite Untac intervention and 15 years of aid, the courts remained agents for the protection of the interests of the rich and powerful and for the prosecution of political opponents and government critics.

"The Cambodian government's claims to making progress in reforms need to be judged by the actual actions of the courts on a daily basis," Licadho said in the report.

The group appealed to donors to establish an independent commission of international experts and Cambodians to monitor the court system, including municipal, provincial and military courts.

Licadho founder Kek Galabru said she had not received a response from donors since the report was issued.

"We hope that they will take the recommendations into account, especially when the meeting between the donors and the government comes," she said.

Yoshimatsu Kaori, third secretary at the Japanese Embassy, said she has not yet seen the report.

"Regarding the judicial system in Cambodia, the Japanese government always pays attention to this, because the rule of law is one of the most important aspects of a country," she said. "We hope that the court and judicial system in Cambodia will be strengthened step by step."

Justice Minister Ang Vong Vatana could not be reached for comment Monday.

Ngin Sam An, investigating judge and deputy chief of the military court, and Phnom Penh Municipal Court Chief Chiv Keng declined to comment Monday.

CPP Gov't leaders too busy inventing excuses to have time to meet with UN Envoy Yash Ghai?

Cambodia slams UN criticism of courts

12/11/2007
Agence France-Presse

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia lashed out at the UN's special envoy for human rights on Tuesday after he accused the government and courts of failing to provide justice and leaving the population in fear of authorities.

After a 10-visit to Cambodia, UN rights representative Yash Ghai said the courts had failed the nation's people, especially in cases of land grabbing, which left victims of evictions with little hope of ever finding justice.

During his visit, Ghai said not a single Cambodian official was willing to meet with him.

But the foreign ministry's secretary of state Ouch Borith said Ghai's remarks were "unacceptable" and "amusing."

He said government leaders were unable to meet with Ghai because they were "busy with working to develop the country and to promote economic growth to eliminate poverty for the people."

"What Ghai did does not suit his role as a diplomat and the UN secretary general's representative, as well as a so-called protector of human rights," Ouch Borith said, calling Ghai a "tourist."

He said Cambodia always worked to "cooperate with the UN in order to build democracy and human rights."

Ghai, a Kenyan lawyer who has clashed repeatedly with the government over his blunt appraisals of Cambodia's rights record, said earlier this year that impunity for human rights violations threatened the rule of law there.

He also wrote a report that accused the government of systematically abusing human rights to keep a grip on power.

Relations between the government and UN rights envoys have historically been poor, with Prime Minister Hun Sen calling Ghai "stupid". He has also described Ghai as "rude" and a "god without virtue".