If the US does not care about human rights issues in Cambodia as Tea Banh claimed, why would Hor 5 Hong has to approach Hillary Clinton on this issue?

Mu Sochua, Dr. Pung Chiv Kek and Moeun Tola giving their testimonies to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (Photo: SRP North America)

Hor 5 Hong plans to meet Hillary Clinton

23 September 2009
By Leng Maly Radio Free Asia Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy Click here to read the article in Khmer

The spokesman for the ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAIC) indicated that Hor 5 Hong, the Cambodian vice-PM and minister of Foreign Affairs, plans to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton soon, during his trip the US to participate in the UN General Assembly meeting on 22 September 2009.

Regarding the planned upcoming meeting between Hor 5 Hong and Hillary Clinton, Koy Kuong, MFAIC spokesman, declared: “His Excellency the vice will hold a bilateral meeting with a number of ministers of Foreign Affairs, including Mrs. Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State.”

Koy Kuong indicated also that in the meeting with Clinton, Hor 5 Hong will discuss the the US-Cambodian relationships issue, as well as the recent criticisms on human rights violations in Cambodia leveled by NGOs and the opposition party.

Koy Kuong said: “First, he will talk about the relationship, and the bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and the US. Second, regarding the 3 opposition persons who declared to the US Congress [Tom Lantos] Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) on 10 September that there is a restriction on the freedom of expression in Cambodia, it is completely opposite to what these people tell the foreign government.”

Recently, human rights issues in Cambodia was the topic of a hearing held by the US Congress’ TLHRC, an institution which reviews human rights conditions in the world. Dr. Pung Chiv Kek of the Licadho human rights group, Moeun Tola of the Community Legal Education Center (CLEC), and SRP MP Mu Sochua gave their testimonies to this commission.

Oeur Sam Ol, the deputy cabinet chief of the SRP, indicated that Mrs. Mu Sochua plans to return to Cambodia on 25 September 2009. “It was for the 24, by right now she has to go to San Francisco, and she will be back in Phnom Penh on the 25th.”

Koy Kuong said that Hor 5 Hong will comment on the criticisms leveled by Mrs. Mu Sochua regarding the human rights violations to Hillary Clinton.

Comrade Hor 5 Hong left to New York to attend the UN General Assembly ... will discuss freedom of expression with Hillary Clinton

Cambodian FM flies to New York to attend UN General Assembly

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong left here on Tuesday for New York to attend the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly to be held from Sept. 23 to 30.

Koy Kuong, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Tuesday that as planned Hor Namhongwill deliver a speech to the session with focuses on world economic crisis, millennium development goals, climate change, Doha Round, food and energy security and the reform of the United Nations Security Council.

Also, on the sidelines of the U.N forum, Koy Kuong said, Hor Namhong plans to have bilateral meetings with other foreign ministers including the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

For the meeting with Hillary Clinton which is planned on Sept. 28, Hor Namhong will discuss the issues on bilateral cooperation, freedom of expression, the U.S. trade act, ASEAN-U.S. relations and the U.S. assistance to Cambodia, Koy Kuong added.

It will be the first time for Hor Namhong to meet bilaterally with Hillary Clinton, according to Koy Kuong.