Government, UN at Loggerheads

Cambodia’s ambassador to the United Nations pulled no punches in his response to a joint statement from almost 40 countries condemning the government’s recent actions and threats against peaceful protests, implying in his own letter that the opposition party was participating in “unlawful and anarchic acts” and hiding “under the human rights umbrella” to “hijack public order.” Ney Sam Ol, Cambodia’s representative at the UN, said the government rejected any attempts by other nations to interfere in its internal affairs and claimed the opposition was dramatizing the political situation in the Kingdom to score political points with its supporters.
 

“Political parties or entities should not hide under the human rights umbrella to extort or hijack public order, tranquility and the harmonization of society for their ill political gain,” he said. “Unlawful and anarchic acts, racial incitement and hate speech should never be justified no matter who commits it.”
 

The statement he was responding to, read at the 33rd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council on Wednesday by US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council Keith Harper, applauded Cambodia’s progress, but criticized the government for its treatment of political opponents and human rights officials. It also mentioned the investigation into assassinated political analyst Kem Ley, the upcoming elections and the use of the judiciary to hamstring the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

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