UN hearing highlights deteriorating rights in Cambodia

By Lauren Crothers

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AA) - Nearly 40 countries came together to express concern over mounting tensions in Cambodia at the 33rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, citing the recent assassination of a government critic and upcoming election season next year.

Around 15 minutes after the session opened Wednesday morning, Keith Harper, the United States Representative to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, delivered a joint statement on behalf of 39 states.

The countries said that while they noted that Cambodia had made steps to reform its electoral body and registration procedures in the wake of allegations of fraud in 2013, the current political and social climate does not bode well for the next local and national elections in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

They said only free and fair elections could ensure the legitimacy of the next government.

“We are deeply concerned about the current escalation of political tensions in Cambodia, which threatens legitimate activities by opposition parties and human rights NGOs,” they said.

They cited the disproportionate use of legal action against government critics and the complete breakdown of dialogue between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

The most alarming setback this year has been the July murder of Kem Ley, a prominent and vocal critic of the government, who was shot dead at a gas station as he bought a morning coffee. The signatories said the murder needed a “full and transparent investigation”.

In the wake of Ley’s death, four of the UN’s special rapporteurs on Cambodia, the situation of human rights defenders, freedom of opinion and expression, rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and summary or arbitrary executions warned it would have a “chilling” effect on the country’s democratization.

“We support their call on Cambodian authorities ‘to ensure a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and civil society, which play a critical role in holding the Government to account and bringing benefits of human rights to the whole of Cambodian society’,” the 39 states said.

CNRP leader Sam Rainsy is in self-imposed exile to avoid a defamation prison conviction and last week, his deputy, Kem Sokha, was convicted for failing to appear in court as a witness in a prostitution case involving his mistress.

Armed forces have also begun deploying around the CNRP headquarters over the past few days after the party said it would stage mass demonstrations.

Nicolas Agostini, the UN representative of the International Federation of Human Rights, told Anadolu Agency by email Wednesday that the signatories “collectively made it clear to Cambodia's government that it is under scrutiny as the 25th anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements approaches”.

“Increased international attention on Cambodia was long overdue. The UN and states that have leverage on Cambodia must now show that they are ready to use it to prevent a return to political violence and instability,” he wrote.

In response four hours later, Ney Samol, Cambodia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, said Cambodia does not appreciate outside interference in its political situation.

He argued that “some parties and entities” tend to “dramatize” events “for the sake of political benefit”.

“The government has an obligation to implement the rule of law to maintain political stability,” he told the chamber, adding that “security and management of electoral process has been established to guarantee free and fair competition acceptable to all parties.”

He said interference in the country’s internal affairs betrayed “the spirit of the charter of the United Nations” and said dialogue should be “based on mutual respect”.

Cambodia will be back under scrutiny again Sept. 28, when reports by Cambodian human rights envoy Rhona Smith and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will be presented.