Dear Ms. Arbour,
Re: the bleak human rights situation in Cambodia, twelve years after the peace process
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) directs your attention to the bleak human rights situation in Cambodia, twelve years after the peace process. The massive UN and international intervention of that time accomplished little in the way of improving the rights of ordinary Cambodian citizens. The last two years has worsened the situation and increased citizens’ fear through state propaganda and suppression. Political imprisonment has begun with the arrest and sentencing of Cheam Channy, a member of parliament from the opposition party, whose leader Sam Rainsy has fled the country in fear of his life.
It is time to courageously admit that over ten years of trying to assist the Cambodian people to rebuild their lives within the framework of law and justice has not taken root within the country. Fear, tyranny and dictatorship continue despite the government’s rhetoric of the rule of law and liberalism. The UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights in Cambodia has made numerous recommendations to the government on the rule of law and human rights since 1993. However, none of these recommendations have been implemented. Under these circumstances, it is time for the UN and international community to question whether further recommendations should continue to be futilely made, or whether it would be more useful to examine where things have gone wrong and what can be done to remedy the situation.
One area where some progress was made after the work of the United Nations Transitional Authority for Cambodia, was the growth of civil society movements, including human rights organisations. In this area as well, continued tyranny and repression are having an adverse impact. Many human rights activists have been assaulted or threatened, resulting in some fleeing the country. Demonstrators have been warned through state media that serious repercussions will follow their participation in such activities.
In consideration of the above factors, the AHRC requests you to review all the recommendations made by UN authorities since 1993 and to pursue more fruitful ways to improve the human rights of the Cambodian people. The international community should also be encouraged to take a more proactive role in establishing the rule of law in the country, by providing the necessary assistance to the police, prosecution and judicial institutions.
Yours sincerely,
Basil Fernando
Executive Director
Link to the Cambodia report: http://www.ahrchk.net/hrday2005/pdf/HRDay-Cambodia.pdf
Link to AHRC’s 2005 International Human Rights Day page: http://www.ahrchk.net/hrday2005/
Link to AHRC’s Human Rights Day Message: http://www.ahrchk.net/hrday2005/05message.htm
