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Khmer Times/Taing Vida Friday, 10 June 2016 842 views
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his concern about the political and human rights situation in Cambodia, urging the ruling party to resume dialogue with the opposition only one day after the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) rejected a request from the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to meet and discuss ways to move forward.
According to a release on the UN website, Mr. Ban spoke with Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhon to discuss reports of widespread violence, intimidation, harassment and the arrests of civil society officials, the media, employees at the National Election Committee and members of the opposition.
The UN Secretary-General said he hoped the government would fully respect human rights, including freedom of expression, association and assembly, and resume dialogue with the CNRP and civil society organizations.
On Wednesday, the European Union released a similar statement voicing its own concerns about the political situation in Cambodia, saying the government’s treatment of both the opposition party and human rights activists had become worse. They condemned the government’s continued use of violence, detention and prosecution of those on the opposite side of the political spectrum.
CPP spokesman Sok Ey San sang a much nicer tune yesterday compared with the day before, when he rejected any dialogue with the opposition. He welcomed Mr. Ban’s comments and said working groups from each party had contacted each other to set up a specific schedule for discussions.
He added that the meetings would be held once they determined the issues the CNRP wanted to discuss, but turned statements from the UN and EU around by saying they both should restrain the opposition party.
“I think that there is no pressure in the current situation. The CNRP statement does not reflect the true social reality. Do not let a political crisis happen. I would like foreign communities to advise the opposition party not to act illegally,” he said.
CNRP spokesman Yem Ponhearith said the party wants a stable political scene so that free, fair and transparent elections can be held.
“Stability happens when laws are enforced fully and when justice and the implementation of the law are not tending to any party interests. The CNRP will continue to require all legal compliance,” he said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed there was no political crisis, saying it was only “individual problems” before demanding foreign countries stay out of Cambodia’s “internal affairs.”
The calls for political restraint from the UN and EU come after months of arrests and prosecutions of opposition officials on what many believe are politically motivated charges. Sam Rainsy, president of the CNRP, went into exile after multiple defamation charges were leveled against him, with the ruling party even going so far as to revive a long-settled court case to threaten him with jail.
Opposition senator Hong Sok Hour and CNRP member Um Sam An were charged with forging a public document and incitement for Facebook posts.
More than 10 of the party’s activists and officials were given lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in clashes at Freedom Park in 2014 with Daun Penh security guards.
Multiple human rights officials have been arrested this year and acting CNRP president Kem Sokha has been summoned to court in relation to a sex scandal based on suspiciously acquired audio recordings that were leaked on Facebook.
The scandal surrounding Mr. Sokha and Khom Chandaraty, his hairdresser, escalated in May when four Adhoc officials were charged with bribing a witness, while deputy secretary-general of the National Election Committee Ny Chakrya and UN official Sally Soen, despite his diplomatic immunity, were charged with conspiring to bribe a witness.
Clik here to view.
Khmer Times/Taing Vida Friday, 10 June 2016 842 views
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his concern about the political and human rights situation in Cambodia, urging the ruling party to resume dialogue with the opposition only one day after the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) rejected a request from the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to meet and discuss ways to move forward.
According to a release on the UN website, Mr. Ban spoke with Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhon to discuss reports of widespread violence, intimidation, harassment and the arrests of civil society officials, the media, employees at the National Election Committee and members of the opposition.
The UN Secretary-General said he hoped the government would fully respect human rights, including freedom of expression, association and assembly, and resume dialogue with the CNRP and civil society organizations.
On Wednesday, the European Union released a similar statement voicing its own concerns about the political situation in Cambodia, saying the government’s treatment of both the opposition party and human rights activists had become worse. They condemned the government’s continued use of violence, detention and prosecution of those on the opposite side of the political spectrum.
CPP spokesman Sok Ey San sang a much nicer tune yesterday compared with the day before, when he rejected any dialogue with the opposition. He welcomed Mr. Ban’s comments and said working groups from each party had contacted each other to set up a specific schedule for discussions.
He added that the meetings would be held once they determined the issues the CNRP wanted to discuss, but turned statements from the UN and EU around by saying they both should restrain the opposition party.
“I think that there is no pressure in the current situation. The CNRP statement does not reflect the true social reality. Do not let a political crisis happen. I would like foreign communities to advise the opposition party not to act illegally,” he said.
CNRP spokesman Yem Ponhearith said the party wants a stable political scene so that free, fair and transparent elections can be held.
“Stability happens when laws are enforced fully and when justice and the implementation of the law are not tending to any party interests. The CNRP will continue to require all legal compliance,” he said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed there was no political crisis, saying it was only “individual problems” before demanding foreign countries stay out of Cambodia’s “internal affairs.”
The calls for political restraint from the UN and EU come after months of arrests and prosecutions of opposition officials on what many believe are politically motivated charges. Sam Rainsy, president of the CNRP, went into exile after multiple defamation charges were leveled against him, with the ruling party even going so far as to revive a long-settled court case to threaten him with jail.
Opposition senator Hong Sok Hour and CNRP member Um Sam An were charged with forging a public document and incitement for Facebook posts.
More than 10 of the party’s activists and officials were given lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in clashes at Freedom Park in 2014 with Daun Penh security guards.
Multiple human rights officials have been arrested this year and acting CNRP president Kem Sokha has been summoned to court in relation to a sex scandal based on suspiciously acquired audio recordings that were leaked on Facebook.
The scandal surrounding Mr. Sokha and Khom Chandaraty, his hairdresser, escalated in May when four Adhoc officials were charged with bribing a witness, while deputy secretary-general of the National Election Committee Ny Chakrya and UN official Sally Soen, despite his diplomatic immunity, were charged with conspiring to bribe a witness.