European Parliament Resolution on Cambodia Mentions Yorm Bopha, Tim Sakmony

by freethe15 22.10.2012 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure on the Situation in Cambodia José Ignacio Salafranca, Cristian Dan Preda, Bernd Posselt, Elmar Brok, Roberta Angelilli, Mario Mauro, Tunne Kelam, Philippe Boulland, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Sergio Silvestris, Zuzana Roithova, Monica Macovei, Sari Essayah, Giovanni La Via, Csaba Sogor, Laima Liucija Andrikiene, Eduard Kukan and Boguslaw Sonik on behalf of the EPP Group B7-000/2012 European Parliament resolution on the Situation in Cambodia The European Parliament, – having regard to the 16 July 2012 report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, – having regard to the 20 September 2012 report of the United Nations Secretary General on the role and achievements of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in assisting the Government and the people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rights, – having regard to the 21st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council of 24 September 2012, – having regard to the joint statement of the Cambodian Civil Society (CSO) of 25 September 2012 to the 19st meeting of the Government Development Partner Coordinating Committee (GDCC) on 26 September 2012 in Phnom Penh, – having regard to the Statement by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Aston of 1 October 2012 on the sentencing of Human Rights defenders in Cambodia, – having regard to the recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission report on National Assembly Elections of 27 July 2008 in Cambodia, – having regard to the Cambodia - European Community Strategy Paper for the period 2007-2013, – having regard to the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, – having regard to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, – having regard to its previous resolutions on Cambodia, especially the one of 21 October 2010, – having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure; A. whereas after two decades of conflict and since the Paris Peace Accords in 1991, Cambodia has made significant progress in strengthening democracy, human rights and the rule of law; B. whereas four human rights defenders Mr Mom Sonando, head of the Association of Democrats of Cambodia and director of the Beehive radio and his co-defendants, Mr Phorn Sreoun, Mr Touch Ream and Mr Kann Sovann were sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 1 October 2012; C. whereas according to human rights organisations, at least 50 activists or peaceful protestors (especially the cases of Yorm Bopha and Tim Sakmony) are known to have been subjected to intimidation, arbitrary arrests and detention or violence between January and September 2012; D. whereas according to media reports, Mr Chutt Wutty, a Cambodian environmental campaigner, was shot dead by the police on 26 April 2012 and 15-year-old girl was shot dead in Cambodia land protest on 16 May 2012; E. whereas according to main findings of the UN Special Rapporteur's report, major flaws exist in the administration of elections in Cambodia and urgent reforms are needed to give Cambodians confidence in the electoral process as the country approaches its general elections in July 2013; F. whereas following Cambodia's last national elections, the EU Election Observation Mission in Cambodia concluded that the elections did not meet international standards for democratic elections and called on the Cambodian government to undertake a number of fundamental electoral reforms; G. whereas land disputes and forced evictions continue unabated featuring the use of force by the authorities and enterprises leading to violent clashes with communities; H. whereas the EU is Cambodia’s single largest donor; 1. Expresses its concern on the sentencing of four human rights defenders in Cambodia on 1 October 2012 and intimidation, arbitrary arrests, detention and violence reported by the human rights organisations; 2.Stresses that all those responsible for human rights violations should be identified and be held accountable for their actions; 3. Urges the Cambodian government, the National Election Committee and the provincial elections committee to implement the recent UN recommendations to reform the electoral system by ensuring conformance to international standards before, during and after the casting of votes; calls on the European Commission to closely monitor the implementation of the UN recommendations by the Cambodian authorities; 4. Is concerned that increased intolerance towards the exercise of freedom of expression in criticising corruption, impunity and land grabbing is likely to limit the political space available to opposition parties in the run up to the elections; 5. Is concerned about the situation of Sam Rainsy, the leader of the Sam Rainsy Party, convicted on charges that are allegedly politically motivated; urges the Cambodian government and opposition parties to work towards reconciliation in order to enable Sam Rainsy, as the leader of the opposition, to play a full role in Cambodian politics; 6. Notes the decision of Prime Minister of Cambodia to halt new economic land concessions and pledges the review of existing concessions; 7. Calls on the Government of Cambodia to set up a transparent system for land demarcation / land classification and make information about land classification available to the public; 8 Encourages the Cambodian government to continue to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms - in particular freedom of expression and assembly; 9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the governments of the ASEAN member states, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the government and National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Australian Senate Pushes for Fair Elections in Cambodia [-បិទទ្វារ ប្រដៅហ៊ុនសែន?]

By Zsombor Peter- October 30, 2012 The Cambodia Daily The Australian Senate yesterday urged the Cambodian government to run free and fair national elections next year without the “harassment or intimidation” of opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who remains in self-imposed exile avoiding an 11-year jail sentence. The appeal comes only days after the European Parliament passed its own resolution condemning what it called Mr. Rainsy’s “politically motivated” sentence and urging the government to fix “major flaws” in how it runs the country’s elections. Both Australia and the European Union (E.U.) are major aid donors to Cambodia. The resolution from the Australian Senate “calls on the Cambodian government to hold free and fair elections in 2013 and to ensure that opposition parties are able to participate fully in Cambodian politics without physical or judicial harassment or intimidation, including opposition leader Sam Rainsy, as recommended by the U.N. special rapporteur.” Surya Subedi, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on human rights to Cambodia, in his latest report called for a political solution that would allow Mr. Rainsy to “play a full role in Cambodian politics” and recommended several other reforms to the election process. Government officials have been taking an increasingly harsh view of Mr. Subedi’s reports, however, and have repeatedly rejected calls to let Mr. Rainsy return to Cambodia without arrest. Mr. Rainsy, president of the eponymously named Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), was first convicted in 2010 of destroying public property for uprooting temporary border posts along Cambodia’s frontier with Vietnam and later of disinformation for posting maps of the area online. The SRP, the country’s largest opposition party, is threatening a possible boycott of July’s national elections unless Mr. Rainsy is allowed back to contest the poll and unless the government concedes to reforms of an electoral process it accuses of favoring the ruling CPP. On Friday, the European Parliament in Brussels passed a resolution of its own noting that E.U. observers found Cambodia’s last national elections in 2008 to have fallen short of international standards. Mirroring Mr. Subedi’s language, it called on the government to work with the opposition so that it could “play a full role in Cambodian politics and in the forthcoming elections in order to provide credibility to the electoral process.”

អ្នក​បឹងកក់-បុរី​កីឡា​បួងសួង​ឲ្យ​សម្តេច​ឪ​ជួយ

Tuesday, 30 October 2012 គឹម យុទ្ធណា The Phnom Penh Post ភ្នំពេញៈ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​បឹងកក់ និង​បុរី​កីឡា​ប្រមាណ ១០០ នាក់ ដែល​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​ស្លៀក​សម្លៀក​បំពាក់​ឈុត​ស និង​ខ្លះ​ទៀត​អាវ​ស សំពត់ ឬ​ខោ​ខ្មៅ បាន​នាំ​គ្នា​មក​គោរព​ព្រះ​វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធ​ព្រះ​បរមសព​សម្តេច​ឪ​នៅ​មុខ​ព្រះ​បរមរាជវាំង កាលពី​ព្រឹក​ម្សិលមិញ ដើម្បី​សុំ​ឲ្យ​ព្រះ​វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធ​របស់​ព្រះអង្គ ជួយ​ដល់​សកម្មជន​ដី​ធ្លី​ពួក​គេ ដែល​កំពុង​ជាប់​ឃុំ នៅ​ក្នុង​ពន្ធនាគារ​ព្រៃ​ស និង​សុំ​ជួយ​ឲ្យ​បន្ទន់​ចិត្ត​មន្ត្រី​តុលាការ ឲ្យ​ធ្វើ​ការ​កាត់​ក្តី​គោរព​ទៅ​តាម​ច្បាប់។ នេះ​ជា​ការ​ធ្វើ​សកម្មភាព​លើក​ដំបូង របស់​ពួក​គេ បន្ទាប់​ពី​បាន​ស្ងប់ស្ងាត់ ចាប់​តាំង​ពី​សម្តេច​ឪ នរោត្តម សីហនុ យាង​ចូល​ទិវង្គត និង​ពិធី​កាន់​ទុក្ខ​ជា​ផ្លូវ​ការ ត្រូវ​បាន​ចប់​កាលពី​ថ្ងៃទី ២៣ តុលា​កន្លង​ទៅ​នេះ។ ក្រុម​អ្នក​ភូមិ បាន​អះអាង​ថា ការ​ធ្វើ​ដំណើរ​មក​គោរព​ព្រះ​បរមសព​របស់​សម្ដេច​ឪ របស់​ពួកគេ ត្រូវ​បាន​រំខាន​បន្តិច​បន្តួច ដោយ​អាជ្ញាធរ​ប៉ូលិស។ អ្នកស្រី​ហេង មុំ តំណាង​ពលរដ្ឋ​បឹងកក់​បាន​ថ្លែង​ប្រាប់​ភ្នំពេញ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍​ថា អ្នក​ភូមិ​តំបន់​បឹងកក់ និង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​តំបន់​បុរី​កីឡា បាន​មូលមតិ​គ្នា មក​ធ្វើ​ការ​គោរព ព្រះ​វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធ​សម្តេច​ឪ ដោយ​ការ​គោរព និង​ការ​ដឹង​គុណ​យ៉ាង​ថ្លៃថ្លា ចំពោះ​ព្រះរាជ​បូជនីយកិច្ច​របស់​ព្រះអង្គ កាល​ពី​ព្រះអង្គ នៅ​មាន​ព្រះជន្ម។ អ្នក​ស្រី​បញ្ជាក់​ពី​គោលបំណង​នៃ​ការ​គោរព​នេះ​ថា ដើម្បី​តាំង​សមាធិ បួងសួង ឧទ្ទិស​កុសលផល​បុណ្យ​ជូន​ដល់​ដួង​ព្រះ​វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធ​របស់​ព្រះអង្គ និង​សូម​ឲ្យ​ដួង​វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធ​របស់​ព្រះអង្គ​ជួយ​តាម​ថែរក្សា​កូន​ចៅ និង​ប្រជានុរាស្ត្រ​របស់​ព្រះអង្គ នៅ​ទូទាំង​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ឲ្យ​ជួប​តែ​សេចក្តី​សុខសាន្ត។ អ្នក​ស្រី​បញ្ជាក់​ទៀត​ថា គោល​បំណង​សំខាន់​បំផុត​មួយ​ទៀត​គឺ៖«ដើម្បី​បួងសួង​ឲ្យ​ដួង​ព្រះ​វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធ​របស់​ព្រះ​អង្គ ជួយ​ថែរក្សា ការពារ ក៏​ដូចជា​លើក​កម្លាំង​ចិត្ត ដល់​អ្នក​ស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា និង អ្នក​ស្រី ទឹម សាក់មុន្នី ដែល​កំពុង​ជាប់​ពន្ធនាគារ កុំ​ឲ្យ​អស់​សង្ឃឹម និង​សុំ​ឲ្យ​ដួង​ព្រះ​វិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធ​របស់​ព្រះអង្គ ជួយ​តម្រែ​តម្រង់​ចិត្ត​របស់​មន្ត្រី​តុលា កុំ​ឲ្យ​ប្រព្រឹត្ត​អំពើ​ពុករលួយ កុំ​ធ្វើបាប​ប្រជារាស្ត្រ និង​កាត់ក្តី​ឲ្យ​ប្រជារាស្ត្រ​ដោយ​យុត្តិធម៌»។ អ្នកស្រី​បាន​ថ្លែង​ដោយ​ខ្សឹកខ្សួល​ថា៖«ខ្ញុំ​ចង់​ឃើញ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​អភិវឌ្ឍនា​សម័យកាល​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​នេះ មានការ​រីក​ចម្រើន និង​សម្បូរ​សប្បាយ ដូច​កាល​សម័យ​សង្គម​រាស្ត្រនិយម​របស់​ព្រះអង្គ​ដឹកនាំ»។ អ្នកស្រី​ទឹម សាក់មុន្នី តំណាង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បុរី​កីឡា ត្រូវ​បាន​តុលាការ​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ សម្រេច​ឃុំ​ខ្លួន​ជា​បណ្ដោះ​អាសន្ន នៅ​គុក​ព្រៃស ក្រោម​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ពី​បទ«ប្រកាស​ក្លែង​បន្លំ​ការពិត» កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ ៥ ខែ​កញ្ញា មួយ​ថ្ងៃ ក្រោយ​ពី​អ្នក​ស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា សកម្មជន​ដីធ្លី​នៅ​តំបន់​បឹងកក់ ត្រូវ​បាន​តុលាការ​ដដែល​នេះ សម្រេច​ឃុំ​ខ្លួន​នៅ​ក្នុង​ពន្ធនាគារ​ព្រៃ​ស​ពី​បទ «ហិង្សា​ដោយ​ចេតនា»។ លោក ស៊ុន រិទ្ធិ មេធាវី​ការពារ​ក្តី​ឲ្យ​សកម្មជន​ដីធ្លី​ទាំង​ពីរ​នាក់ បាន​ថ្លែង​ប្រាប់​ភ្នំពេញ ប៉ុស្តិ៍ កាលពី​ម្សិលមិញ​ថា ស្ថានភាព​សុខភាព​កូន​ក្តី​របស់​លោក ដែល​កំពុង​ជាប់​ឃុំឃាំង មាន​លក្ខណៈ​«ចុះ​ខ្សោយ»​ជាង​មុន ដោយ«ស្រក​ទម្ងន់» និង​មាន​ជំងឺ​បន្តិច​បន្តួច។ លោក​បាន​និយាយ​ថា៖ «ពួក​គេ​មាន​ការ​បារម្ភ​ច្រើន អំពី​ស្ថានភាព​សវនាការ​ក្តីនា​ពេល​ខាង​មុខ»។ លោក ស៊ុន រិទ្ធិ បន្ត​ថា សវនាការ​លើ​កូន​ក្តី​ទាំង​ពីរ​របស់​លោក មិន​ទាន់​ត្រូវ​បាន​តុលាការ​កំណត់​ពេល​បើក​សវនាការ​នៅ​ឡើយ​ទេ ខណៈ​ដែល​តុលាការ បាន​បិទ​ការ​ស៊ើប​រួច​រាល់​ហើយ​នោះ៕

KOH KONG SUGAR CASE REACHES U.S. GOVERNMENT

https://www.box.com/s/fw3e3h00ks8lay9bpf94 https://www.box.com/s/wx51e6ef9tyhp9n86r4d Koh Kong Sugar Case Reaches U.S. Government: Villagers file OECD complaint against purchaser of sugar central to controversial, long-running economic land concession case October 31, 2012, Phnom Penh – Two hundred and seven families from Sre Ambel District in Koh Kong Province Cambodia whose land was forcibly seized for a sugar plantation and factory have turned to the U.S. Government to help mediate the long-running dispute. Today, residents of Chouk, Chikor, and Trapeng Kendal village filed a case in Washington, D.C., against sugar giant American Sugar Refining (ASR). The villagers seek the government’s assistance in settling a land dispute that has caused severe economic and social impacts to hundreds of families since Thai and Taiwanese companies and powerful Senator Ly Yong Phat confiscated their land through two controversial Economic Land Concessions in 2006. “The companies that buy the sugar produced on our stolen land share in the responsibility for our suffering,” said Mr Teang Koa, one of the villagers who signed the complaint. “We hope the U.S. government can help ASR to recognize this.” The complaint was filed with the U.S. National Contact Point (NCP), a government office that handles disputes relating to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. This case is the first brought under the Guidelines, which are a U.S. endorsed international code of responsible business conduct, for corporate wrongdoing in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The communities’ representatives in the case are their lawyers, the Community Legal Education Center (CLEC), and international NGO EarthRigths International (ERI). In 2006, Thai sugar manufacturer Khon Kaen Sugar Co. Ltd. (KSL), Taiwanese food company Ve Wong, and Senator Ly Yong Phat formed two Cambodian companies to receive land concessions for a large-scale sugar plantation and factory. The land was occupied by Chuuk, Chikor, and Trapeng Kendal villagers, who have well-documented possession rights under Cambodian law. Over 450 families were forcibly evicted from their homes and lost farmland to make way for the development. Many households lost their livelihoods completely, and families that once sustained themselves by farming diverse crops and raising cattle have been reduced to poverty and malnutrition. The government’s actions violated Cambodian laws requiring consultation with affected communities and environmental impact statements, and limiting the size of land concessions. “For the villagers who were expelled, their land means everything – in losing it, they have lost their source of food, wealth, and security. The crisis is now affecting future generations too, since farmers have had to pull their children from school to work or guard cows from straying onto the plantation, where company guards may shoot them or hold them for ransom,” explained Vuthy Man of CLEC. KSL made a deal with Tate & Lyle, a British company, to export all its Cambodian sugar through Europe’s Everything But Arms trade promotion initiative. ASR, best known for producing Domino Sugar, bought Tate & Lyle’s sugar operations in 2009. The villagers believe ASR has not acted consistently with the OECD Guidelines because, as the buyer of all of the sugar produced at the Koh Kong plantation and factory, it is expected to exercise due diligence and use the leverage it has with its business partners to prevent, mitigate, and remedy negative human rights impacts. The villagers and their wide network of supporters have sought justice locally and internationally by taking their case to the companies themselves and to government agencies including the Cambodian courts, a European Union investigative body, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand. Recently, an international campaign has been launched targeting the global sugar industry for their complicity in illegal land-grabbing in Cambodia. More information on the campaign is available at: http://www.boycottbloodsugar.net/ CLEC is a Cambodian legal resource non-governmental organization (NGO) that specializes in land and natural resources, public interest legal advocacy, labor and good governance. More information on CLEC is available at http://www.clec.org.kh/. ERI is a NGO based in Thailand, the United States and Peru specializing in protecting human rights and the environment, and corporate and government accountability. More information on ERI is available at http://www.earthrights.org.

EU Council President To Visit Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- European Council president Herman Van Rompuy will visit Cambodia from Nov 2 to 4 to boost ties and pay his last respects to recently deceased former King Norodom Sihanouk. The visit is made at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Xinhua news agency reported. During his visit, Van Rompuy will hold official talks with Hun Sen and pay a courtesy call on National Assembly president Heng Samrin. Van Rompuy will pay his respects to late King-Father Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace and visit the National Museum, Toul Sleng Genocidal Museum and Angkor Wat Temples in Siem Reap province during his stay in Cambodia.

Cambodia says President Barack Obama due to attend Southeast Asia summit in November [-Will he? Will he not?]

Oct 30, 2012 Associated Press PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia’s foreign ministry says President Barack Obama is expected to visit Southeast Asia in mid-November. Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said Tuesday that Obama will travel to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The meeting of heads of state is due to take place Nov. 18-20, bringing together leaders of the 10-nation bloc. U.S. officials have declined to confirm Obama’s travel plans. Koy Kuong had no further details, but another senior Cambodian official said Obama is also expected to hold talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia virtually unchallenged since a 1997 coup.

សង្ស័យ ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្ដម សោម៉ា ចាប់ចំបូស បានជា ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ ស្រែក ឡូឡាយ៉ាងនេះ

លោក ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ ប្រតិកម្ម​លើ​អត្ថបទ​រិះគន់​របស់ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្ដម សោម៉ា 2012-10-29 ដោយ ទេព សុរ៉ាវី RFA ក្រោយ​ពេល​ដែល​ព្រះករុណា ព្រះបាទ​សម្ដេច​ព្រះ នរោត្តម សីហនុ សោយ​ទិវង្គត អនាគត​នៃ​រាជា​និយម​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ស្ថិត​នៅ​ក្នុង​ភាព​មន្ទិល បើ​ទោះ​បី​ជា​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បាន​ស្បថ​នៅ​មុខ​ព្រះបរមសព​របស់​ព្រះអង្គ សច្ចា​ថា លោក​នឹង​រក្សា​រាជា​និយម​ឲ្យ​គង់វង្ស​ស្ថិតស្ថេរ​ក៏ដោយ។ លោក ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​ព័ត៌មាន និង​ជា​សមាជិក​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ព្រះបរមសព ព្រះបាទ​សម្ដេច​ព្រះ នរោត្តម សីហនុ ធ្វើ​សន្និសីទ​សារព័ត៌មាន​ស្ដីពី​ការ​រៀបចំ​កម្មវិធី​ព្រះរាជ​បូជា​ព្រះបរមសព នា​ក្រសួង​ព័ត៌មាន កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៩ ខែ​តុលា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២។ ខ្សែ​រាជវង្ស​មួយ​អង្គ គឺ​ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្តម សោម៉ា បាន​សរសេរ​នៅ​ក្នុង​កាសែត​ភ្នំពេញ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍ កាល​ពី​ចុង​សប្ដាហ៍​មុន ដោយ​ភ្ជាប់​អនាគត​នៃ​រាជា​និយម​ទៅ​ក្នុង​កណ្ដាប់​ដៃ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា ដែល​ការ​លើក​ឡើង​នេះ ត្រូវ​បាន​អ្នក​នាំ​ពាក្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ច្រានចោល និង​ថា​ជា​ការ​បញ្ឆេះ​បំបែក​បំបាក់​ខ្សែ​រាជវង្សានុវង្ស​ជាមួយ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល។ អ្នក​នាំ​ពាក្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ប្រតិកម្ម​ចំពោះ​សំណេរ​អត្ថបទ​របស់​ខ្សែ​រាជវង្ស​មួយ​អង្គ គឺ​ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្តម សោម៉ា ដែល​បាន​សរសេរ​អត្ថបទ​មួយ​ផ្សាយ​ក្នុង​កាសែត​ភ្នំពេញ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍ ដែល​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​គិត​ថា​ជា​សំណេរ​មាន​ចេតនា​បង្ក​ការ​បំបែក​បំបាក់​ផ្ទៃ​ក្នុង​ជាតិ និង​បំបែក​បំបាក់​រវាង​ខ្សែ​រាជវង្សានុវង្ស និង​រដ្ឋាភិបាល។ ក្នុង​អត្ថបទ​របស់​កាសែត​ភ្នំពេញ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍ ចេញ​ផ្សាយ​ជា​ភាសា​ខ្មែរ និង​ភាសា​អង់គ្លេស កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៦ ខែ​តុលា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ ក្រោម​ចំណង​ជើង​ថា "អនាគត​រាជា​និយម​ស្ថិត​ក្នុង​កណ្ដាប់​ដៃ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន" ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្តម សោម៉ា ជា​ម្ចាស់​អត្ថបទ​នេះ​បាន​ពណ៌នា​ថា ក្នុង​អំឡុង​ពេល​ព្រះរាជ​ពិធី​បុណ្យ​ព្រះបរមសព ព្រះ​មហា​វីរក្សត្រ នរោត្តម សីហនុ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៧ ខែ​តុលា គាត់​ឃើញ​ការ​រួប​រួម​ក្នុង​ចំណោម​គ្រួសារ​រាជវង្ស​មាន​លក្ខណៈ​ពុំ​រឹងមាំ និង​មាន​ការ​បែង​ចែក​ក្នុង​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​បច្ចុប្បន្ន។ នៅ​ក្នុង​ព្រះរាជ​ពិធី​បុណ្យ​ព្រះបរមសព ខ្សែ​រាជវង្ស​មិន​សូវ​បាន​ចូល​ទៅ​សម្ដែង​គារវកិច្ច​ទេ ហើយ​ច្រើន​តែ​ជា​មន្ត្រី​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​មក​ពី​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន។ ក្នុង​សំណេរ​អត្ថបទ​ដដែល ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្តម សោម៉ា បន្ត​ថា អ្នក​រិះគន់​បាន​លើក​ឡើង​ថា លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន និង​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​គ្រប់គ្រង​សង្វៀន​នយោបាយ និង​រាជា​និយម ហើយ​នឹង​បន្ត​គ្រប់គ្រង​ដរាប​ណា​លោក​នៅ​កាន់​អំណាច ហើយ​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ នរោត្ត សីហមុនី ជា​មហាក្សត្រ​បច្ចុប្បន្ន ហាក់​ដូច​ជា​ទីងមោង​គ្មាន​អំណាច​អ្វី​ទាំង​អស់។ ថ្លែង​ក្នុង​សន្និសីទ​សារព័ត៌មាន​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៩ ខែ​តុលា លោក ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​ព័ត៌មាន និង​ជា​អ្នក​នាំ​ពាក្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ចាត់​ទុក​សំណេរ​របស់ ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្តម សោម៉ា ថា​ជា​សំណេរ​ចេតនា​បញ្ឆេះ​ញុះញង់​បំបែក​បំបាក់​រវាង​រាជវង្សានុវង្ស និង​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ដែល​មាន​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កំពុង​កាន់​អំណាច។ លោក ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ បញ្ជាក់​ថា ការ​សរសេរ​របស់ ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្តម សោម៉ា ជា​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​មិន​សម​ហេតុផល និង​ក្នុង​គំនិត​មួយ​ខ្មៅ​កខ្វក់។ លោក ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ៖ «ដែល​បង្ហាញ​ឲ្យ​ឃើញ​ថា ហាក់​ដូច​ជា​សម្ដេច ហ៊ុន សែន ជា​អ្នក​គ្រប់គ្រង​ទីតាំង​ហ្នឹង​ទាំង​មូល ហើយ​ព្រះករុណា​របស់​យើង​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​របស់​យើង​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​នេះ ហាក់​ដូច​ជា​ទីងមោង គ្មាន​អំណាច​អ្វី​ទាំង​អស់។ ចោទ​ថា​ការ​រៀបចំ​នៅ​ក្នុង​វាំង​មិន​ឲ្យ​រាជវង្សានុវង្ស​ចូល​ទៅ​នេះ គឺ​ជា​ការ​មួយ​មួលបង្កាច់ ហើយ​ក្នុង​ចេតនា​អាក្រក់​ណាស់ ហើយ​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ប៉ះពាល់​ដ៏​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ​ដល់​រាជ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ក៏​ដូច​ជា​គណបក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច ហើយ​ជា​ពិសេស សម្ដេច ហ៊ុន សែន ហាក់​ដូច​ជា​សម្ដេច ហ៊ុន សែន គឺ​ចង់​វាំង​ទី​លើ​វាំង​ទាំង​មូល»។ ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្តម សោម៉ា បាន​សរសេរ​រិះគន់​បន្ត​ថា រដ្ឋាភិបាល​មាន​អំណាច​ក្នុង​ការ​សម្រេច​ថា តើ​សមាជិក​រាជវង្ស​អង្គ​ណា​នឹង​ក្លាយ​ជា​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​បន្ទាប់។ អនាគត​រាជា​និយម ស្ថិត​ក្នុង​កណ្ដាប់​ដៃ​របស់​គណបក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច ហើយ​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​ជឿជាក់​ថា រាជា​និយម​នឹង​បាត់​បង់​ទៅ​បន្តិច​ម្តងៗ។ លោក ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ បញ្ជាក់​ថា នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​មិន​មាន​សិទ្ធ​ជ្រើស​រើស​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​បន្ទាប់​ទេ តែ​មាន​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​ព្រះរាជ​បល្ល័ង្ក​ជា​អ្នក​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ជ្រើស​រើស ហើយ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ប្រកាន់​ជំហរ​រក្សា​រាជា​និយម​ជា​ដរាប៖ «គ្រាន់​តែ​ឃើញ​អត្ថបទ​ជា​អង់គ្លេស ខ្មែរ យើង​ឃើញ​ថា ការ​បក​ប្រែ​ពាក្យ គឺ​ផ្សេង​គ្នា ហើយ​ទី២ អត្ថបទ​ខាង​ក្នុង គឺ​ពិសពុល​បន្តិច​ហើយ ដែល​ចោទ​មក​លើ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ក្នុង​ពេល​ដែល​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ខំ​ធ្វើ​គ្រប់​បែប​យ៉ាង ដើម្បី​ធ្វើ​យ៉ាង​ណា​ដើម្បី​លើក​ស្ទួយ​កិត្យានុភាព​របស់​ព្រះរាជា ក៏​ដូច​ជា​ព្រះរាជវង្សានុវង្ស ដូច្នេះ​មិន​គួរ​ចោទ​នេះ​ជា​ការ​ខុស​ឆ្គង»។ លោក ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ បាន​ចោទ​ជា​សំណួរ​ទៅ ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្តម សោម៉ា ថា​តើ​អ្វី​ដែល​សរសេរ​នេះ​ក្នុង​នាម​ជា​អ្នក​កាសែត​អាជីព ក្នុង​នាម​ជា​ខ្សែ​រាជវង្សានុវង្ស ឬ​ក្នុង​នាម​ជា​អ្នក​នយោបាយ ដែល​សរសេរ​ដើម្បី​កេង​ចំណេញ​នយោបាយ​លើ​ព្រះបរមសព​របស់ ព្រះបាទ នរោត្តម សីហនុ។ ទោះ​ជា​យ៉ាង​ណា លោក ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ មិន​បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ពី​នីតិវិធី​ណា​មួយ​តាម​ផ្លូវ​ច្បាប់​សម្រាប់​កាសែត​ភ្នំពេញ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍ ដែល​បាន​ចុះ​ផ្សាយ​នូវ​អត្ថបទ​របស់ ម្ចាស់​ក្សត្រិយ៍ នរោត្តម សោម៉ា នោះ​ទេ តែ​បញ្ជាក់​ថា ម្ចាស់​អត្ថបទ​នេះ​គួរ​កែ​តម្រូវ​លើ​អត្ថបទ​របស់​ខ្លួន​ដែល​បាន​ចេញ​ផ្សាយ៕

EU Condemns ‘Political’ Court Actions, Rights Abuses

The European Union on Friday called on Cambodia to immediately release jailed Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando, while condemning political court actions and ongoing rightrs abuses. 30.10.2012 By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer PHNOM PENH - The European Union on Friday called on Cambodia to immediately release jailed Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando, while condemning political court actions and ongoing rightrs abuses. In a resolution on human rights passed last week, the EU lawmakers said Cambodia must reinforce its commitment to democracy and the respect of human rights. Cambodia benefits from preferred trade agreements with the EU, which is a major market for its goods. Mam Sonando has been in jail since his arrest in July and subsequent conviction on charges he helped foment a secessionist movement earlier this year, a charge he denies. Many rights groups have denounced the charges as a political attack on a journalist and media owner who is critical of the government. European parliamentarians said in a statement they “are alarmed by the politically motivated sentences and convictions against political critics, land activists and human rights defenders in Cambodia. "The EU parliament “urged the Cambodian government to cease all forced land evictions until a transparent and accountable framework guaranteeing adequate compensation and suitable alternative accommodation is in place. It also wants to see a reform of the electoral system.” Parliamentarians condemned “all sentencing” based on political motivation, including charges against opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who is in exile abroad and faces at least 10 years in jail terms if he returns to Cambodia. The lawmakers also censured Cambodia for the deaths of environmentalist Chut Wutty and of Heng Chantha, a 14-year-old girl shot by security forces in a crackdown on protesting villagers in Kratie province in May. And they censured Cambodia for continued forced evictions. Government spokesman Phay Siphan called the resolution “out of date” and “not a law.” “Cambodia is not under EU colonization,” he said. However, Am Sam Ath, lead investigator for the rights group Licahdo, said the resolution “reflects the reality” of Cambodia. The government should consider the EU’s recommendations, he said.

Australian Senate calls for free and fair election in Cambodia - now Carr must act

MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday 30 October 2012 Senate calls for free and fair elections in Cambodia – now Carr must act The Australian Greens called on Foreign Minister Bob Carr to push for free and fair elections in Cambodia, following Senate support for a motion moved by Senator Christine Milne. Senator Milne’s motion supports similar efforts passed by the European Parliament and the Parliament of the Philippines, in accordance with recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights who identified major flaws in the process and called for media freedom, freedom of expression and assembly, and the release of political prisoners. Christine Milne said ‘With the elections due in a year, now is the time to start taking constructive steps to ensure that this election runs as fairly and peacefully as possible, and Bob Carr should be using Australia’s influence to make that happen.’ ‘I am pleased that the Senate worked constructively with the Greens in the interest of the Cambodian people and in accordance with our commitment to democracy. Now it’s time to act. ‘I was privileged to meet recently with exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy. It is time he was allowed to return to Cambodia to fully participate in the election campaign without fear of intimidation or imprisonment. ‘As Australia focuses its attention on our region, following the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper, our actions will speak louder than our words. It’s critical that we engage positively and cooperatively with our neighbours, and in the best interest of the people of the region.’ The Senate passed the motion yesterday. Please see attached motion. Contact Alexandra Lamb on 0437 587 562 Alexandra Lamb Media Adviser for Senator Christine Milne Suite SG-111 Parliament House, Canberra ACT | P: 02 6277 3618 | F: 02 6277 3185 alexandra.lamb@aph.gov.au | M: 0437 587 562

Obama Should Stay Away From Cambodia

Samrang Pring/Reuters Riot police blocked the street outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Oct. 1, as protesters called for the release of jailed land-rights activist Mam Sonando. By SAM RAINSY Published: October 30, 2012 FACEBOOK TWITTER GOOGLE+ E-MAIL SHARE PRINT REPRINTS As the U.S. presidential election approaches, Barack Obama is in danger of allowing his good offices to be used as part of an attempt to deny Cambodians the opportunity for self-determination that Americans take for granted. Related in Opinion Op-Ed Contributor: Cambodia’s Brazen U.N. Bid (October 17, 2012) Connect With Us on Twitter For Op-Ed, follow @nytopinion and to hear from the editorial page editor, Andrew Rosenthal, follow @andyrNYT. President Obama is due to visit Cambodia next month as the country holds the presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2012. Ahead of Cambodian elections in July 2013, Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power since 1985, has been engaging in a familiar pattern of cracking down on the voices of opposition. He knows that it’s an easier and safer way to win elections than allowing democratic debate. The summit meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that Mr. Obama plans to attend should be moved to another country in order to deny Hun Sen the legitimacy he is seeking to garner from the event. Those with a record of opposition to Hun Sen are in dread of the period right after Mr. Obama’s scheduled visit. The owner of the Cambodia’s Beehive radio station, Mam Sonando, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Oct. 1 on politically motivated charges that he had been part of a secessionist movement. The radio station had allowed airtime for such inconvenient issues as maternal mortality, human trafficking, labor rights, environmental protection and the need for an independent judiciary. Hun Sen had publicly called for Mam Sonando’s arrest on June 26. He was held on July 15, two days after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton left the country after attending an Asean regional forum. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, in July recommended reform [pdf] of the country’s electoral system. Among his 18 recommendations was the key demand for the reform of the National Election Committee to make it a neutral body. This has been rejected by the Cambodian government. Hun Sen is counting on donors continuing to turn a blind eye to the fact that the election committee is dominated by members of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, and is even situated inside the Interior Ministry. The minimum requirement for proper elections next year is that the National Election Committee be reformed. Letting it operate in its current form would allow voter-registration fraud on a massive scale. This means that election results are a foregone conclusion. Meanwhile, as leader of the opposition, I remain abroad in forced exile to avoid a 12-year jail sentence on politically motivated charges. The Cambodian National Rescue Party — the united democratic opposition that I lead — won’t validate such a bogus exercise next year by taking part. There must be meaningful reform in advance or Cambodia will go the way of Belarus, reduced to international isolation after an opposition boycott led to a one-horse race in which the dictator Alexander Lukashenko was the only candidate. This year, the Cambodian political landscape saw what could prove to be its biggest change since the extinction of the Khmer Rouge in 1998. The Human Rights Party, led by Kem Sokha, agreed to merge with the Sam Rainsy Party to create a united democratic opposition. We believe that together we have enough support to win a free and fair election. We aim to carry out a New Deal for Cambodia. Prohibition of land theft will be at the core of our program. Our government will cancel all land, forest and mining concessions granted by Hun Sen that were associated with the eviction of legitimate landowners. Local communities will be given rights to decide how land, forest and fishing zones are managed. We will seek to rid the civil service of the corruption that cripples it and turn it into a meritocracy associated with a sense of public service. We will introduce a health service that gives Cambodians access to basic care. Our government will make it illegal for any organization, including political parties, to get new members through coercion. We will reform the National Election Committee to make it independent and introduce an age limit for prime ministers to avert the specter of Hun Sen, or anyone else, ruling the country for life. Hun Sen has been power for even longer than Mr. Lukashenko. He is the only Cold War communist leader to survive in power today. During the Cold War, states in Eastern Europe and Asia fell to communism like dominoes. But a domino can fall in either direction. The free world must seize the opportunity presented by Cambodia’s elections. Forcing Hun Sen to play by democratic rules would not only empower the Cambodian people to determine their own future, it would also give an impetus to democracy and human rights in countries such as Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and North Korea. Hun Sen responded to the recommendations from Mr. Subedi, a Nepalese professor of law, by telling him to go away and worry about his own country. He used similar language in 2006 and 2007 in response to criticism from the previous U.N. envoy to Cambodia, the Kenyan constitutional lawyer Yash Ghai. If everyone did that then the United Nations wouldn’t exist and neither would international law. If Hun Sen won’t engage with the international community and the Asean summit isn’t moved, President Obama, the leader of the world’s standard-bearer of democracy, should take Hun Sen at his word and stay away. Sam Rainsy is an exiled member of the Cambodian Parliament.

Cambodia: No more excuses for EU inaction on Cambodian exports tainted by land grabbing

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Press release Cambodia: No more excuses for EU inaction on Cambodian exports tainted by land grabbing Brussels, 30 October 2012. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) welcomes the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 26 October which calls on the European Commission to “investigate the escalation of human rights abuses in Cambodia.” The resolution points to the cause of this escalation being clearly tied to economic land concessions or land grabbing linked to exports to the European Union. The MEPs call upon the EU to “temporarily suspend Everything But Arms (EBA) preferences on agricultural products from Cambodia in cases where human rights abuses are identified.” This call should be heeded without delay. This past decade alone has seen over 400,000 Cambodians affected by land-grabbing and forced evictions in Phnom Penh and 12 other provinces. Human rights defenders assisting these victims of land rights violations have faced increasing intimidation, criminalisation, and even assassination. Violations of land and housing rights are on-going, widespread and systematic, and have considerably increased since Cambodia benefits from the EU’s EBA initiative. EU trade preferences have encouraged a race in the production and export of certain lucrative agricultural goods, notably sugar, which was shown to have contributed to serious human rights violations in Cambodia. “In light of credible and extensive evidence of widespread abuses, it has become more and more difficult for the European Commissioner for Trade to ignore the connection between these abuses and Cambodian exports benefiting from EU trade instruments. The European Commission can no longer afford to remain insular to the calls for action and concerns raised by farmers, human rights defenders and civil society organizations,” said Debbie Stothard, FIDH deputy Secretary General. Calls for an investigation have been reiterated to the European Commissioner for Trade, Karel de Gucht, for the past two years, including in a joint letter last June by ten Cambodian and international civil society organisations, and more recently by representatives of Cambodian communities affected by land-grabbing associated with sugar plantations. However, the reply received in August from Commissioner De Gucht was a 'wait and see position’. On 24 September, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, stated that "there are well documented serious and widespread human rights violations associated with land concessions that need to be addressed and remedied”. FIDH welcomes the step taken by the European Parliament and recalls that that EU has an obligation to ensure that it does not contribute to human rights violations through lack of action. Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and as confirmed in the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, the EU must put human rights at the heart of its external relations including those concerning trade policy. “This resolution reminds the EU that, while Cambodians are braving violence and imprisonment to fight for their rights in the face of an increasingly abusive government, it also has the obligations to make sure its own policies do not in any way contribute to the on-going abuses in Cambodia,” added Ms. Stothard. For more of our work on Cambodia, please visit: http://www.fidh.org/-Cambodia,226- To read FIDH’s briefing note, “Cambodia: A Mounting Human Rights Crisis,” please visit: http://www.fidh.org/Serious-and-systematic-violations-12197 Press Contacts: Audrey Couprie, presse@fidh.org, +33 1 43 55 14 12/+33 6 48 05 91 57 Shiwei Ye, FIDH Permanent Representative to the ASEAN, sye@fidh.org, +66 2 275 4233 (landline), +66 (0) 89.673.5265 (mobile).

European Parliament Adopts Resolution on Cambodian Rights Situation

By Zsombor Peter - October 29, 2012 Drawing from a long list of human rights abuses, the European Parliament has urged the Cambodian government to stop forced evictions, called on the European Commission (E.C.) to investigate the country’s controversial land concessions policy, and raised the prospect of sanctions. In a resolution passed Friday in Brussels, the Parliament also condemned two recent high-profile murders and court cases and urged the government to fix “major flaws” in its election process. The resolution is the strongest and highest level rebuke of Cambodia’s human rights record in recent years from the European Union (E.U.), Cambodia’s largest aid donor. Though the resolution does not force the (E.C.) to act, it does call on the commission “to investigate the escalation of human rights abuses in Cambodia as a result of economic land concessions…and to temporarily suspend [Everything But Arms] preferences on agricultural products from Cambodia in cases where human rights abuses are identified.” National and international human rights groups have singled out such concessions to large, well-connected agri-business firms as the leading rights issue now facing Cambodia, and blamed the policy for displacing hundreds of thousands of people across the country, often without due process and usually driving families further into poverty. After a record year of government-issued licensing in 2011, land concessions now cover 2 million hectares, about 10 percent of the country’s entire land mass. Through loopholes and a loose application of the rules, the government has granted many of those concessions in pristine, protected forests and well above the maximum legal size limits of 10,000 hectares. In his latest report, the U.N.’s human rights envoy to Cambodia, Surya Subedi, also singled out the concessions for criticism and noted no discernable benefits for the average Cambodian. Prime Minister Hun Sen in May ordered an immediate freeze on all new economic land concessions and a legal review of the ones that exist. But at least a dozen new concessions have come to light since the moratorium, which government officials claim were in the works before the announcement. Beyond land concessions, Friday’s resolution accuses Cambodia’s security forces of using “excessive force” against protesters and “deplores” the murders of environment activist Chut Wutty in April and of 14-year-old Heng Chantha in May during a forced eviction, both by security forces. The Koh Kong Provincial Court recently dropped its investigation into Chut Wutty’s murder, however, because his suspected killer was also dead. Government officials have dismissed the need to investigate the murder of Heng Chantha because they say it was an “accident.” The Parliament also called for the immediate release of Beehive Radio station owner Mam Sonando and “condemned” what it called the politically motivated conviction of opposition leader Sam Rainsy. Mr. Sonando was handed a 20-year prison sentence on October 1 on charges of fomenting an insurrection in rural Kratie province. Rights groups called the charges “trumped up” to silence one of the country’s few independent voices on the radio. Some of the country’s foreign donors joined them in condemning the verdict. Mr. Rainsy is in self-imposed exile avoiding a 11-year sentence for uprooting temporary border posts along Cambodian’s frontier with Vietnam and for posting maps of the disputed border area online. With national elections due in July, the resolution also said there are “major flaws” in the election process, noted the E.U.’s conclusion that the last national elections in 2008 failed to meet international standards, and urged the government to adopt the electoral reforms proposed by Mr. Subedi, the U.N.’s human rights envoy. Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, called the resolution’s claims unfair and said that any human rights abuses tied to land concessions were an “irregularity,” not the norm. “If there is one bad tree, does it mean the forest in bad? I don’t think so,” Mr. Siphan said, downplaying the prospect of losing free trade access to Europe. “If they feel they cannot do business with Cambodia, they should do it,” he said. “We still keep the E.U. as a good friend.” As for the murders and court cases against activists, Mr. Siphan said the local courts were well equipped to do their job. “We have a rule of law and a court to take care of that issue. Making noise does not help,” he said. Mr. Siphan also asked the E.U. to stop criticizing Cambodia and step up aid assistance. “The E.U. should pay attention to strengthen the rule of law rather than [play] politics.” Opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua welcomed Friday’s resolution in Europe. “The E.U. Parliament has taken a step forward to render justice to the victims of the Cambodian government’s economic land concession policy,” Ms. Sochua said in post to her personal blog Saturday. “This is the first time that we can see a sign of hope,” she said. “With mounting pressure from all fronts, including taking these companies to court, there is hope that the global blood sugar campaign is showing success. The next step is the actual suspension of the Everything But Arms scheme.” Land concessions that produce and export sugar to Europe, duty free, under the E.U.’s Everything But Arms (EBA) trade scheme has come in for particular rebuke by human rights and other groups. According to E.U. trade records, Cambodian sugar plantations—which are accused of violently driving hundreds of families off their land—exported $14.6 million worth of sugar to the U.K. with the help of EBA last year, more than double the value exported the year before. The evicted families have accused security forces of burning their homes and beating them during the eviction. At least two say they were shot. Families and NGOs leading a campaign to get E.U. consumers to boycott the Cambodian companies invested in the plantations and selling their product have dubbed the exports “blood sugar.” The European Parliament resolution does not force the E.C. to investigate the concessions. But it should help remind the E.U. of its legal obligations to not contribute to human rights abuses, said Shiwei Ye, Southeast Asia representative for the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights. “Foot dragging and half-cooked excuses for inaction will only further contribute to the perception that the E.U. only respects human rights when it is politically expedient,” he said. Coming from elected parliamentarians, the resolution also carries with it the will of the European people, said David Pred of Inclusive Development International, one of the NGOs behind the sugar boycott campaign. “If the commission doesn’t launch an investigation now, it will send the message that companies that grab poor people’s land, burn their homes and shoot those who protest are not only welcome to export their goods to Europe, but they’ll receive special trade privileges when they do,” he said. “This is the message that the European Parliament clearly rejected on Friday. Now let’s see if the bureaucrats will listen.”

EU may halt trade agreement with Cambodia [-It may spell disaster for Cambodia's economy]

Kampong Speu villagers in a land dispute with Phnom Penh Sugar Company are confronted by police during a protest. Photograph: Will Baxter/Phnom Penh Post Monday, 29 October 2012 Stuart White The Phnom Penh Post “A suspension of trade preferences will send a critical message [to] both the current and would-be land-grabbers that you can’t violate people’s rights and then expect to be able to benefit from the EBA” The European Parliament, representing one of the country’s largest donors, on Friday called for a moratorium on forced evictions, an overhaul of elections and even went so far as to suggest to the European Union that it suspend tariff-free imports of agricultural goods linked to human rights abuses in Cambodia. In the body’s motion, seven distinct areas of concern are listed, ranging from a rise in violence against protesters to specific cases such as that of Mam Sonando. The parliament then calls for a number of recommendations, the strongest of which is that the EU’s decision-making body, the European Commission, temporarily halt its “Everything But Arms” (EBA) trade agreement with the Cambodian government – which allows Cambodian goods free access to European markets – “in cases where human rights abuses are identified”. David Pred, of the fair development NGO Inclusive Development International, has long sought to convince the EU that its EBA initiatives were fuelling land grabbing by Cambodia’s sugar industry. Pred said yesterday that suspending the EBA on sugar exports would make companies think twice before disregarding residents’ rights. “A suspension of trade preferences will send a critical message [to] both the current and would-be land-grabbers that you can’t violate people’s rights and then expect to be able to benefit from the EBA,” he said yesterday, via email. “When the bottom lines of these companies are affected by sanctions, they will reconsider their approach to compensation of the communities they have affected with their operations.” According to Pred, the “vast majority” of Cambodian sugar is destined for EU consumers thanks to the agreement, the disruption of which would not go unnoticed. “A suspension of EBA benefits for sugar would absolutely cause these companies to lose profit,” he said. Forced evictions to make way for sugarcane plantations are not uncommon in the Kingdom. In 2006, a sugar company owned in part – at the time – by ruling-party Senator Ly Yong Phat bulldozed nearly 1,500 acres of farmland in Koh Kong province, saying that the occupants – who claimed to have cultivated the land since 1979 – lived there illegally. In 2010, another company owned by Yong Phat acquired 9,000 hectares of land for a sugar plantation in Kampong Speu province, displacing more than 2,000 families. Eang Vuthy, a representative for rights group Equitable Cambodia, noted that a suspension of the trade agreement would also make the Cambodian government sit up and take notice. “The company that has an interest in this business, now they have to address this problem, and the government also has to pay more attention,” he said. “It’s up to them to make sure that the laws are respected, and the agreement with the EU also.” Some, however, were not totally convinced. Peter Brimble, deputy country director of the Asian Development Bank Cambodia, said that while he didn’t have specific data on the proposed suspension’s economic impact on the sugar industry, just ensuring that improperly produced sugar doesn’t reach European markets would pose serious logistical challenges. “Sugar is white,” said Brimble. “Do they send a guard out to the factory to stamp it somehow? Sometimes it’s very difficult to even tell that it’s come from Cambodia. Rice, for instance, a lot of Cambodian rice goes to Thailand first, and is exported as Thai rice.” But, he added, the political implications of a suspension could be more significant than the economic ones. “I think it would put a bad symbol out for Cambodia, and I don’t think Cambodia needs that at this time,” he said. “But how do you implement it?” Jean-Francois Cautain, the EU’s ambassador to Cambodia, said via email yesterday that the issues contained in the resolution were “of concern” to the EU, and that the document was “part of the ongoing dialogue between the EU and the Royal Government of Cambodia”, but declined to comment on whether the EU would reduce its aid in the absence of improvements to Cambodia’s rights record. Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said yesterday that he had not yet read the resolution, and declined to comment on its contents.

Land-grabbers? Look no further than Hun Xen's nominated provincial governor

Land deals? Leave the Red Cross out of it Monday, 29 October 2012 May Titthara The Phnom Penh Post Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly castigated the Kampong Thom provincial governor in a speech on Saturday for allegedly claiming a large portion of land and saying it was needed for the local office of the Cambodian Red Cross, an agency lead by Hun Sen’s wife, Bun Rany. He brought up the provincial governor, Chhun Chhorn, during a ceremony to distribute land titles to citizens in Kampong Chhnang province’s Kraing Leav commune. Chhorn had submitted a proposal, later rejected by the prime minister’s office, that 500 hectares of land be used for the Cambodian Red Cross. He warned people to be wary of officials who attempt to acquire property using the name of the medical agency. “Please back away immediately if the provincial Red Cross is involved with lands,” he said in the speech, before offering another blunt warning to the officials themselves. “Don’t use my name and my wife’s name to grab lands.” Chhorn told the Post that nobody controlled the land when he submitted the proposal, but 250 families have set up makeshift homes there now, and their timing couldn’t have been better. Hun Sen, in the same speech, called on plots to be given to the new residents. Volunteer students who have been measuring land all over the country as part of a land titling initiative will help out, he added. Chhorn said he was pleased that a solution that accords property to the people already living there had been achieved, and that the job was, in fact, already under way. “Now, volunteer students are working on those lands,” he said. “Before, we had difficulty, but now, it is easy, because we have a recommendation,” he added. Chheng Sophors, investigating official for human rights group Licadho, said that on behalf of civil groups, he welcomed the prime minister’s recommendation, because it had been a common occurrence for officials to drop the names of even more powerful officials. “This is the best step, that people won’t lose their lands due to the cheating of officials or dealers,” he said. While he appreciated the warning from the highest office in the land, he said he was worried that it might not be followed on the ground. He expressed concern that the “subordinates and their subordinates won’t follow the prime minister’s recommendation”, he said.

Cambodge : les combattantes de Boeung Kak

Pendant neuf mois, Vincent Trintignant-Corneau et sa compagne Christine Chansou ont vécu aux côtés de celles qui, au coeur de la capitale cambodgienne, résistent aux expulsions forcées. Une expérience de vie qui a donné un documentaire, Même un oiseau a besoin de son nid, riche en émotions et plus encore en indignation. Les combattantes du quartier de Boeung Kak au coeur de la capitale cambodgienne. © Divali 25.10.2012 Par Camille Sarret « On a demandé une autorisation de tournage classique au ministère de la Culture en disant qu'on voulait faire un film sur le développement et on l'a eue. » Voilà par quel subterfuge Vincent Trintignant-Corneau (le fils du célèbre couple de comédiens Nadine et Jean-Louis Trintignant, adopté aussi par le réalisateur Alain Corneau) et sa compagne Christine Chansou ont pu filmer au plus près le combat de ces femmes qui résistent aux menaces d'expulsions dans leur quartier de Phnom Penh, aux abords du lac Boeung Kak. Un an d'enquête, 9 mois de tournage mouvementé et au bout un documentaire émouvant, soutenu par Amnesty International : "Même un oiseau a besoin de son nid". Bande annonce "Même un oiseau a besoin de son nid" par f100001862734218 On y découvre des femmes charismatiques qui osent réclamer justice face à une croissance folle qui dévore les maisons des plus pauvres au profit des plus riches. Elles réunissent leurs voisins, libèrent la parole, interpellent le gouvernement, multiplient les manifestations au risque de se faire agresser et arrêter. Treize d'entre elles, reconnues coupable d'occupation illégale de terrain, ont déjà passé plusieurs semaines derrière les barreaux. C'est grâce aux pressions internationales qu'elles ont été libérées en juin 2012. Mais pourquoi des femmes aux avant-postes de ce combat ? « Pour deux raisons majeures, explique le réalisateur. D'une part, parce que dans ce quartier de la capitale, les hommes sont très souvent fonctionnaires et risqueraient de perdre leur travail s'ils s'engageaient ouvertement contre les expulsions. D'autre part, ces femmes pour la plupart tenaient des échoppes devant chez elles et vivaient grâce à l'économie locale. Elles sont donc doublement victimes des expulsions forcées : elles y perdent leur maison et leur travail ! » Seins nus face à la violence Pour elles, il n'est pas question de faire de la politique et de s'afficher comme opposantes. Bien au contraire. Quand elles défilent dans la rue, elles le font en portant chacune le portrait du Premier ministre Hun Sen, l'homme fort du Parti du peuple qui a une main mise totale sur le pouvoir. « Elles l'implorent pour qu'il fasse quelque chose pour elles. Elles se battent pour leur maison, pour l'avenir de leurs enfants. Il n'y a pas de dimension politique, idéologique dans leur lutte », précise Vincent Trintignant-Corneau. Les femmes ont aussi cette capacité non négligeable à retenir la violence. « Avec les hommes, ça en vient plus rapidement aux mains, a pu constater le réalisateur à force de suivre les manifestations. Avec les femmes, la police charge moins facilement, même si elle le fait aussi. Il y a encore au Cambodge un respect de la femme. » Il n'empêche, la violence ne cesse de croitre entre les autorités et les manifestantes qui, à bout de force, se sont dénudées en pleine rue comme l'atteste une scène forte du film. « Ce jour-là, se souvient Christine Chesnou, les miliciens ont commencé à charger et elles se sont spontanément déshabillées jusqu'à dévoiler leurs seins. Je pense qu'elles l'ont fait pour montrer qu'elles étaient simplement des femmes et pour dire aussi "allez-y prenez tout". » Les effets de la corruption Dans leur quartier de Boeung Kak, le lac est devenu un champ de sable, les canons de boue ont été activés et une large partie des habitations ont été inondées. Avec la complicité des autorités qui disent agir au nom du développement économique, les investisseurs immobiliers qui ont obtenu un bail de 99 ans pour exploiter les terrains, ont déjà réussi à faire expulser 20 000 personnes en cinq ans selon un rapport d'Amnesty International. A l'échelle de la capitale, c'est environ 10% de la population qui ont été victimes d'expulsions forcées entre 1990 et 2011. Destruction de maisons aux abords du lac Boeung. © Divali « En apparence, le Cambodge va bien. Pas mal de gens ne se privent pas de dire que la croissance est forte, que tout va bien, que le pays va s'en sortir. Mais ce n'est qu'un développement de façade, explique Vincent Trintignant. En grattant un peu, on s'aperçoit que beaucoup de chantiers n'aboutissent, que tous ces investissements sont fort troubles. On ne sait pas d'où ça vient, où ça va. Dans ce pays, il y a bien sûr une corruption de survie comme les profs qui demandent un peu d'argent aux élèves qui veulent suivre leur cours mais il y aussi une corruption à un haut niveau qui est moins visible mais beaucoup plus importante. » Sur le plan juridique, il existe depuis 2001 une loi foncière « béton », indique Christine Chansou, qui garantit à ceux qui acceptent de quitter leur habitation des indemnités et une solution de relogement. Mais dans les faits, ce texte n'est absolument pas respecté. Les familles expulsées se retrouvent dans des camps dits de relogement à plus de 40 km de Phnom Penh, loin de tout. « On t'emmène dans un champ, on te dit que ça fait 4 m par 6 m, c'est délimité par des petits plots et du fils et que c'est chez toi maintenant, raconte, encore écoeuré, Vincent Trintignant. C’est la mort assurée ! Les trajets jusqu'au centre ville coûtent trop cher en essence. Les familles se disloquent. Les maris s'arrangent pour rester près de leur travail. Les femmes se retrouvent seules dans le camp avec les enfants où il n'y a ni école ni hôpital ni même de l'eau courante. Parfois, avec un peu de chance, il y une ONG qui s'occupe du camp mais c'est tout. Il n'y a absolument aucune aide de l'Etat. » Les souffrances de l’histoire Des expulsions qui s'apparentent à des déplacements de population voire à de « la déportation », renchérit Vincent Trintignant-Corneau. « Ce qui rappelle les déportations organisées sous la dictature Khmer. Nous n'avons jamais voulu aborder ce thème dans le documentaire mais les gens font eux-mêmes la comparaison. » « Une vielle dame qui témoigne dans le film, poursuit Christine Chansou, dit que c'est même pire aujourd’hui. Elle raconte qu'elle a été déportée sous Pol Pot mais qu'au moins Pol Pot donnait une maison et un bol de riz par jour… Je pense que ce qu'elle vit en ce moment est très violent. Elle a sans doute traversé de dures épreuves pour se reconstruire après la dictature Khmer et aujourd’hui toute sa vie est sur le point de s'écrouler de nouveau. » Dans cette lutte qui désormais perdure depuis cinq ans, y a-t-il une porte de sortie ? « Nous sommes très pessimistes, réplique le couple. Il y a eu un espoir en 2011 quand la Banque mondiale a stoppé son contrat avec le Cambodge en demandant au gouvernement de régler ce problème des expulsions forcées. Le Premier ministre a fait alors une tri belle déclaration. Il a promis de laisser aux habitants de Boeung Kak une zone de 12 hectares, de réhabiliter les camps de relogement… Mais depuis rien n'a été fait. Aucun document allant dans ce sens n'a été produit. C'est resté lettre morte. » Pour les Trintignant-Chesnou, il n'est pas question d'abandonner ces femmes. « Elles attendent maintenant que le film soit vu par le plus grand nombre. On va le défendre au Festival international du film documentaire d'Amsterdam début novembre pour trouver un diffuseur. » Il sera aussi projeté à Paris au Festival international du film des Droits de l'Homme en février 2013. "Un charisme incroyable" : le regard de Vincent Trintignant sur Tep Vanny la meneuse du mouvement - 2'

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Cambodia

(2012/2844(RSP)) The European Parliament, – having regard to the reports of 16 July and 24 September 2012 by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, – having regard to the 21st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council of 24 September 2012, – having regard to the Statement by the Spokesperson of the EU High Representative Catherine Aston of 1 October 2012 on the sentencing of human rights defenders in Cambodia, – having regard to the recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission report on the National Assembly Elections of 27 July 2008 in Cambodia, – having regard to the joint letter of 1 October 2012 from ten NGOs to the EU Trade Commissioner de Gucht, – having regard to the EU ‘everything but arms’ (EBA) trade scheme, which allows all least developed countries (LDCs), including Cambodia, unhindered access for all it’s exports, except arms, to the EU, – having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Cambodia is a party, – having regard to the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, – having regard to the Cooperation Agreement of 1997 between the European Community and the Kingdom of Cambodia[1], in particular Article 1 (respect for human rights), Article 19 (non-execution of the agreement) and Annex 1 regarding Article 19 (suspension of the agreement if one party violates Article 1), – having regard to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly during its 62nd session on 13 September 2007, – having regard to its previous resolutions on Cambodia, especially the one of 21 October 2010[2], – having regard to Rule 122(5) and 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure, A. whereas the latest report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia recognises that after two decades of conflict, and since the Paris Peace Accords in 1991, Cambodia has made progress in strengthening democracy, human rights and the rule of law; B. whereas four human rights defenders accused of anti-state crime – Mom Sonando, Head of the Association of Democrats of Cambodia and Director of Beehive Radio, and his co-defendants, Phorn Sreoun, Touch Ream and Kann Sovann – were sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 1 October 2012; C. whereas the security forces continue to use excessive force against protestors; whereas on 26 April 2012 Chut Wutty, a leading environmental campaigner who investigated illegal logging, was shot dead by the police; whereas on 22 May 2012 thirteen women activists from Boeung Kak area were arbitrarily arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison terms for holding a peaceful protest at the development site affecting their community; whereas they have been released upon international pressure though their convictions have been upheld; whereas on 16 May 2012 a 14-year old girl, Heng Chantha, was shot dead by the security forces and no investigation into her death is taking place; D whereas due to the Government’s Economic Land Concession (ELC) policy, over the past decade at least 400 000 people have been displaced and dispossessed of their land, homes and livelihoods by the authorities and by businesses, leading to violent clashes with communities and having aggravating effects on poverty; E whereas as of August 2012 the Cambodian Government has granted at least 2 157 744 hectares of economic land concessions to over 200 companies, often in violation of the provisions of the 2001 Land Law and bypassing legal safeguards such as the obligations to prevent concessions in protected areas, undertake social impact assessment and obtain the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous communities; F. whereas the Prime Minister, Hun Sen, issued in May 2012 a directive establishing a moratorium on new economic land concessions and stipulating a review of the existing concessions; whereas despite the directive at least 12 new concessions were granted, since a loophole in the directive allows conclusion of new land concessions already in an advanced stage of negotiations or agreed to in principle; whereas there has been no real review of existing land concessions and none of the problematic ones have been cancelled; G. whereas according to the main findings of the UN Special Rapporteur’s report, major flaws exist in the administration of elections in Cambodia and urgent reforms are needed to give Cambodians confidence in the electoral process as the country approaches its general elections in July 2013; H. whereas following Cambodia’s last national elections, the EU Election Observation Mission in Cambodia concluded that the elections did not meet international standards for democratic elections and called on the Cambodian Government to undertake a number of fundamental electoral reforms; I. whereas the EU is Cambodia’s single largest donor; 1. Condemns all politically motivated sentences and convictions against political critics, parliamentary opposition politicians, notably Sam Rainsy, human rights defenders and land activists, and deplores the deaths of Chut Wutty and Heng Chantha, both killed while exercising their right to peaceful protest; 2. Calls for an immediate and unconditional release of Mom Sonando and other government critics and land rights activists who are being held for political reasons only; 3. Stresses that all those responsible for human rights violations should be identified and held accountable for their actions; 4. Underlines the importance of the UN Special Rapporteur’s conclusion that the serious and widespread human rights violations associated with land concessions need to be addressed and remedied; 5. Urges the Cambodian Government to cease all forced evictions, review the May 2012 directive and introduce and enforce a moratorium on evictions in Cambodia until a transparent and accountable legal framework and relevant policies are in place to ensure that future economic land concessions are granted in accordance with international human rights law and to ensure that all those forcibly evicted are guaranteed adequate compensation and suitable alternative accommodation; 6. Calls on the Commission to investigate the escalation of human rights abuses in Cambodia as a result of economic land concessions being granted for agro-industrial development linked to the export of agricultural goods to the European Union, and to temporarily suspend EBA preferences on agricultural products from Cambodia in cases where human rights abuses are identified; notes the decision of the Prime Minister of Cambodia to halt new economic land concessions and his pledge to review existing concessions; 7. Urges the Cambodian Government, the National Election Committee and the provincial election committee to implement the recent UN recommendations on reforming the electoral system to ensure it conforms with international standards before, during and after the casting of votes; calls on the Commission closely to monitor the implementation of the UN recommendations by the Cambodian authorities; 8. Is concerned about the situation of Sam Rainsy, the leader of the Sam Rainsy Party, who has been convicted on charges that are allegedly politically motivated; urges the Cambodian Government and opposition parties to work towards reconciliation in order to enable the opposition to play a full role in Cambodian politics and in the forthcoming elections, in order to provide credibility to the electoral process; 9. Encourages the Cambodian Government to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms – in particular media freedom and freedom of expression and assembly – as these values constitute an essential element of the EU-Cambodia Cooperation Agreement, as defined in Article 1 of that Agreement; 10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States, the governments of the ASEAN Member States, the UN Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Human rights: Cambodia; girls in Pakistan; United Arab Emirates

OTHERS Human rights − 26-10-2012 - 12:16 Parliament expressed grave concerns about forced land evictions in Cambodia and the conditions faced by migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates and condemned the Taliban's harassment of girls in Pakistan, in three human rights resolutions passed on Friday. Violence against activists in Cambodia MEPs are alarmed by the politically motivated sentences and convictions against political critics, land activists and human rights defenders in Cambodia. It urged the Cambodian government to cease all forced land evictions until a transparent and accountable framework guaranteeing adequate compensation and suitable alternative accommodation is in place. It also wants to see a reform of the electoral system. Discrimination against girls in Pakistan: the case of Malala Yousafzai MEPs condemned the violent attack by the Taliban on 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai, for defending the right to education for girls in her blog. Deeply concerned about the worsening trend of violent extremism and repeated reports of violations of children's and women's rights, Parliament called on Pakistan's government to tackle discrimination and violence against women and girls effectively. It welcomed the widespread condemnation of the attack by large sections of Pakistani society and asked the government to increase funding for public schools, calling on the Commission to develop, jointly with Pakistan, education programmes for women. Migrants in the United Arab Emirates Parliament also voiced major concerns about assault, repression and intimidation against human rights activists in the United Arab Emirates and repeated its condemnation of the death penalty and torture. It stressed the need to improve the living and working conditions of thousands of migrant workers in the territory, especially women, and urged the government to reform its legal and regulatory system to address the abuse of migrant workers.

Suspend EBA Resolution adopted by EU Parliament

The EU Parliament has taken a step forward to render justice to the victims of the Cambodian government economic land concession policy. This is the first time that we can see a sign of hope. With mounting pressure from all fronts including taking these companies to court, there is hope that the global Blood Sugar campaign is showing success. The next step is the actual suspension of the Everything But Arms scheme. Yes, we want development. But we do not need development with disastrous consequences on natural resources and a development that is of trickle down effect and that rips our families apart. The EU governments is committed to the protection of human rights, no doubt. But the facade of democracy and development policies that have taken Cambodia farther and father away from sustainability, protection and dignity of our people should not be rewarded. The EU recommendations must be enforced and the EU must call on the Cambodian government to honor the contract it has signed when receiving aid assistance from the EU. The EU with other major donors that champion democracy and human rights should urge the government to accept the proposal by the opposition for national reconciliation at this moment as the entire nation is mourning the passing away of our revered Father King. The EU Parliament call for free and fair elections is very legitimate and timely. Let there be free and fair election and let the people make their choice for a government that is legitimate and that can put Cambodia on the right track for democracy. https://www.box.com/s/ikc8p7ajkal73qa4ninu Posted by Socheata at 2:35 PM 0 comments Links to this post Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Petition in front of the UN HQ in Geneva on 23 October 2012 សូមជូនវីដេអូអានញាត្តិជាភាសាបារាំង នៅពេលបាតុកម្មនាថ្ងៃទី២៣ តុលា ២០១២ នាទីក្រុងសឺណែវ ។ La pétition prononcée en français devant le siège de l'ONU à Genève pendant la manifestation du 23 octobre 2012. Petition reading in french in front of the UN Headquarters in Geneva during the rally on October 23rd 2012. SRP-Europe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mOlyKpNJzM P

Human rights: Cambodia

Source: EU Parliament News Navigation language Close Human rights: Cambodia; girls in Pakistan; United Arab Emirates Others Human rights − 26-10-2012 - 12:16 Parliament expressed grave concerns about forced land evictions in Cambodia and the conditions faced by migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates and condemned the Taliban's harassment of girls in Pakistan, in three human rights resolutions passed on Friday. Violence against activists in Cambodia MEPs are alarmed by the politically motivated sentences and convictions against political critics, land activists and human rights defenders in Cambodia. It urged the Cambodian government to cease all forced land evictions until a transparent and accountable framework guaranteeing adequate compensation and suitable alternative accommodation is in place. It also wants to see a reform of the electoral system. -------- REF. : 20121024IPR54374 Droits de l'homme: Cambodge, jeunes filles au Pakistan, et Émirats arabes unis Autres Droits de l'homme − 26-10-2012 - 12:40 Le Parlement a fait part de sa vive inquiétude face aux évictions foncières forcées au Cambodge et aux conditions des travailleurs migrants aux Émirats arables unis, et a également condamné le harcèlement de jeunes filles au Pakistan par les Talibans, dans trois résolutions sur les droits de l'homme adoptées ce vendredi. Violence à l'encontre de militants au Cambodge Les députés s'inquiètent des verdicts et des condamnations fondés sur des motivations politiques à l'encontre de détracteurs politiques, de militants des droits de l'homme et de défenseurs du droit à la terre au Cambodge. Ils prient instamment le gouvernement cambodgien de mettre fin aux expulsions forcées, jusqu'à l'instauration d'un cadre juridique transparent, fondé sur l'obligation de rendre compte, garantissant une indemnisation correcte et un autre logement convenable. Ils souhaitent également une réforme du système électoral.

Actress Berenice Marlohe - James Bond girl

Actress Berenice Marlohe is interviewed as she arrives for the royal world premiere of the new 007 film "Skyfall" at the Royal Albert Hall in London October 23, 2012. Makers of the new James Bond movie "Skyfall" have striven to combine the old-school values that made 007 such a success over the last 50 years with enough modern mores to keep the silver screen's favourite super spy relevant in a post-Cold War world. REUTERS/Benjamin Beavan Actress Berenice Marlohe arrives for the royal world premiere of the new 007 film "Skyfall" at the Royal Albert Hall in London October 23, 2012. Makers of the new James Bond movie "Skyfall" have striven to combine the old-school values that made 007 such a success over the last 50 years with enough modern mores to keep the silver screen's favourite super spy relevant in a post-Cold War world. REUTERS/Paul Hackett Actress Berenice Marlohe arrives for the royal world premiere of the new 007 film "Skyfall" at the Royal Albert Hall in London October 23, 2012. Makers of the new James Bond movie "Skyfall" have striven to combine the old-school values that made 007 such a success over the last 50 years with enough modern mores to keep the silver screen's favourite super spy relevant in a post-Cold War world. REUTERS/Paul Hackett Actor Daniel Craig and actress Berenice Marlohe pose for photographers as they arrive for the royal world premiere of the new 007 film "Skyfall" at the Royal Albert Hall in London October 23, 2012. Makers of the new James Bond movie "Skyfall" have striven to combine the old-school values that made 007 such a success over the last 50 years with enough modern mores to keep the silver screen's favourite super spy relevant in a post-Cold War world. REUTERS/Paul Hackett LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Daniel Craig and Berenice Marlohe attend the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images

Residents grow desperate as forced eviction starts Wednesday, 24 October 2012 Chhay Channyda About 40 families in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district are disputing local authorities’ demand that they abandon their homes without compensation so the government can increase a nearby canal’s capacity. The residents, who were asked on September 28 to vacate their homes within a week by Meanchey district Governor Kouch Chamroeun, grew desperate yesterday as excavation work to clear rubbish and plants from the clogged canal caused nearby houses to shake. According to Sam Phan, chief of Niroth commune: “Families knew that living on the edge of the canal was illegal, because it was state property, so most agreed to move without compensation.” But several unsatisfied residents filed a complaint with rights group Adhoc, which agreed on Monday to assist them, Adhoc’s investigating officer Ny Chakrya said. Prern Phan, 79, said she has lived in the area since 1993 and cares for her 10 parentless grandchildren. “We have no money to build a new house, and our occupation also will be lost,” she said.

Paris Peace Agreement Anniversary Reinstated as National Holiday By Khuon Narim and Joshua Wilwohl - October 24, 2012 In a significant reversal for the ruling CPP government, the Council of Ministers announced yesterday that October 23, the anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreement in 1991, has been reinstated as a national holiday, eight years after it was dropped as a day of celebration. The decision reverses a 2004 government directive that dropped the date from the official calendar of national holidays in order to promote January 7 as National Liberation Day, which marks the toppling of the Khmer Rouge in 1979 by forces led by senior leaders of the CPP and backed by the Vietnamese army. “The government has decided to put October 23, the day of the Paris Peace Agreement, as a holiday for civil servants, employers and workers nationwide from 2013 and on,” the Council of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit said in a statement. The statement did not give a reason for the government reinstating the holiday, however, the move comes amid a national outpouring following the death of King Father Norodom Sihanouk, who was instrumental, along with Prime Minister Hun Sen, in ensuring the success of the Paris agreement. Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said that he was unaware of the decision to reintroduce the holiday and could not comment. In 1991, the U.N.-backed international agreement ended the country’s protracted civil war and paved the way for Cambodia to move from a communist state to a democracy and allowed the U.N. Transitional Authority to oversee free and fair national elections in 1993. But the agreement has been long criticized by the CPP for failing to disarm the Khmer Rouge, which continued to fight government forces until late 1998. The ruling CPP also lost the 1993 election, leading to an uneasy coalition government between the royalist Funcinpec, led by then First-Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and then Second-Prime Minister Hun Sen. The coalition finally descended into factional fighting in 1997, which saw forces loyal to Mr. Hun Sen defeat Prince Ranariddh’s forces in tank battles in Phnom Penh. Outside the Royal Palace yesterday, three people who had gathered to mourn the late King Father said the holiday should not have been removed in the first place. “This holiday should have been [on the calendar] every year,” said Long Visal, 34. “I don’t know why the government changed it. It is very special for all the Cambodian people because the King Father was important in bringing peace to the people with that agreement.”

Cambodia opens the door to juvenile justice reform Cambodia's justice system is changing. Photograph: Chiva Touch NGOs push to end the human-rights suffering of children caught in the country's judicial system Tuesday 23 October 2012 Carmela Ferraro Guardian Weekly Sixteen-year-old Pheakdei and Sakngea (not their real names) were jailed for two years for stealing a mobile phone worth just $20. The boys spent 18 months in detention awaiting trial, which was postponed twice because the prosecutor did not turn up, and once their case was heard they were sentenced to six months in prison – despite already having served time. It's not unusual for minors to have their human rights violated in Cambodia's judicial system, say NGO workers in the region, despite ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC) in 1992. Cambodian children are often held in pretrial detention where they wait months to have their cases heard; are tried without legal counsel in ordinary criminal courts; are given long and inappropriate sentences for petty crimes such as theft; and are placed in adult jails, where they can experience physical and sexual abuse from adult prisoners and prison staff. Child witnesses and victims of crime are also often subjected to violations, including giving testimony in open court, where they have direct exposure to the perpetrator and their supporters, and they can face harsh cross-examination. The impact of this system on minors can be great. As Kimleng Ouk, the legal director of Legal Aid Cambodia (LAC), a Khmer-run NGO that offers pro bono legal services to Cambodia's poor, says, children in contact with the law are at risk of "prolonged interruption to their family life, education and their personal development". However, a major initiative seeks to make a difference. Children's Rights International (CRI), an Australian-based organisation that promotes the rights of children mainly in developing countries, is working in partnership with LAC, as well as the department of justice (through a joint working party consisting of government and a range of NGOs such as Unicef and Save the Children) to introduce a child-friendly legal system in Cambodia. "Children represent the future of Cambodia," says Alastair Nicholson, CRI's chair and a former chief justice of the family court of Australia. "If the system respects their human rights, children are more likely to develop as law-abiding citizens and the future is good. If not, it is bleak." CRI's programme related to Cambodia's treatment of children will run over the next three years, and longer if necessary. It will consist of mainly volunteer Australian legal and social justice professionals who will work with Cambodian judges, prosecutors, court administrators, police, correction officials and others to raise awareness and expertise of child-friendly procedures that are in line with UNCROC principles. The programme will include the treatment of child offenders, victims and witnesses; the development and implementation of diversion programmes for child offenders away from the criminal justice system; improvement of court administration and case management in relation to children; and the care, custody and protection of children in contact with the law. CRI's programme coincides with the Cambodian government's draft juvenile justice law, which is anticipated to come into effect in 2013 after an 11-year gestation. Nicholson says that while this law won't create a separate specialist children's court, it is expected to incorporate important reform around non-custodial sentencing of minors and their diversion from the traditional justice system. CRI's programme, with its educational and training focus, will help Cambodia's police officials, prosecutors, judges, local authorities and community organisations, who often lack understanding of children's rights, in applying this law. The CRI programme and the new law come at a critical time. According to figures provided by Unicef, there has been a 92% increase in the number of under-18s in prison – from 403 in 2005 to 772 in 2010. These figures in large part reflect the hardship and turmoil caused by Cambodia's history. French colonialism, the Vietnam war, the genocide of the Khmer Rouge, a Vietnamese invasion and civil war have devastated the country economically and socially, leaving many youths to fall into conflict with the law just to survive. Other NGOs have sought to address the violations children have been subjected to with a number of important services: monitoring and advocacy work; training professionals such as lawyers, prosecutors, judges and prison officials about best practice; offering legal representation to children; providing minors with healthcare, education and vocational programmes in prisons; and providing public education about the rights of children. For example, LAC's child justice programme trains government authorities and law enforcement officers in proper practices, establishes diversion programmes for children and advocates for the protection of children against unlawful pretrial detention. "When LAC came, my life has changed," says Nhean (not his real name), who was 12 years old when he went to jail for seven-and-a-half years for theft – a crime that he says he didn't commit. He has never fully understood what he was supposed to have done. "The beatings stopped. We had our own rooms [a small number of prisons have separate cells for children; however, they can have up to 50 children in them] so we did not have to be under the influence of the not-so-nice adult prisoners … I would have extra food, bathing materials and some laundry soap. They have encouraged us to learn some skills: hair cutting, electronics and motorcycle repair." The challenges are great. Institutional constraints, lack of resources, inadequate training of legal and social justice professionals in child-friendly approaches, low levels of co-operation, and corruption will all need to be tackled. But there is hope. Says Nicholson: "I think it fair to say that it [Cambodia] has adopted child-friendly principles and this project is about putting them into practice. The developments to date give rise to confidence that Cambodia is serious about achieving these objects."

Residents grow desperate as forced eviction starts

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

 Chhay Channyda

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• 

About 40 families in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district are disputing local authorities’ demand that they abandon their homes without compensation so the government can increase a nearby canal’s capacity.

The residents, who were asked on September 28 to vacate their homes within a week by Meanchey district Governor Kouch Chamroeun, grew desperate yesterday as excavation work to clear rubbish and plants from the clogged canal caused nearby houses to shake.

According to Sam Phan, chief of Niroth commune: “Families knew that living on the edge of the canal was illegal, because it was state property, so most agreed to move without compensation.”

But several unsatisfied residents filed a complaint with rights group Adhoc, which agreed on Monday to assist them, Adhoc’s investigating officer Ny Chakrya said.

Prern Phan, 79, said she has lived in the area since 1993 and cares for her 10 parentless grandchildren.

“We have no money to build a new house, and our occupation also will be lost,” she said.

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To contact the reporter on this story: Chhay Channyda atchannyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com

Building the nation we want

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

 Duoglas Broderick

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• 

United Nations staff and other human-rights monitors are prevented by soldiers from entering the site of a violent forced eviction in Kratie province in May 2012. During the eviction a 14-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Sok Chea is a success story. Having grown from a skinny baby to a beaming, bright-eyed toddler, he’s proof that working together gets results.

The MDG-Fund Joint Program for Children, Food Security and Nutrition that helped Chea recover from malnutrition brings together the Royal Government of Cambodia and six United Nations agencies.

But this diverse team shares a common goal: giving Cambodians like Chea and his family the future they want.

Every year, October 24 marks United Nations Day. 

It’s a day for all of us – the 27 specialised UN agencies, funds and programs working together for peace, poverty reduction and human rights in Cambodia – to reflect on what we’re here for: for people like Chea.

It’s a day when I like to think about the words of the UN Charter, the text that guides and inspires us.

Signed on October 24, 1945, these words define who we are, what we do and how we do it.

They are at the back of our minds at all times, as the UN strives to serve those for whom we work:

“We, the peoples of the world.”

United Nations Day is not just about the UN Charter. It’s about all the stakeholders we work with, without whom we simply cannot fulfil the charter’s ideals.

We co-operate as equal partners with the Royal Government of Cambodia, and operate alongside everyone from local NGOs and civil society to national and international aid agencies.

There are many facets to working together in the spirit of the UN Charter.

Cambodia, for example, supports the charter’s “peaceful and friendly relations among nations” via its peacekeeping forces abroad. More than 1,000 Cambodian “Blue Helmets” have served, or are serving, with UN peacekeeping missions.

Cambodia’s most valuable asset is its people. The economy seems set to continue expanding, and the country will soon reach “middle income” status.

It’s the Cambodian people who are making that happen, so investing in “human capital” is among our main shared priorities.

One of the obstacles to empowering Cambodian people remains malnutrition. The 2010 Demographic and Health Survey showed that 28 per cent of Cambodian children are underweight.

Maternal and child malnutrition can stifle physical and intellectual development, which in turn hurts this “human capital” that drives the nation’s economy.

We and our partners are paying special attention to stronger bodies and healthier minds, which will be the foundations of Cambodia’s continued growth.

Cambodia is home to an ancient civilisation, yet a very young population. According to the 2008 census, one-third of Cambodians are aged between 15 and 29. 

Those youngsters aspire to, and deserve, quality livelihoods. They are the ones who will shape the nation’s future. Young people are at the centre of our efforts to solidify Cambodia’s achievements.

The participation of more women in business and the public sector is equally essential.

Equality and empowerment for women cuts through everything we and our partners do. Moreover, the disturbing incidence of violence against women has to be tackled with zeal.

A first step is talking about the problem, and a program involving four UN agencies is finding that peer-to-peer education is one way to change hearts and minds. But, ultimately, zero tolerance is the 
only goal to aim for.

There is more to development than simple economic growth, however. Some people are more vulnerable than others, and often need special help.

For example, we have seen that the best place to treat drug addiction is in communities, not institutions. Another joint UN programe works with Government ministries and NGOs on an innovative project to address this challenge.

The poorest of the poor need a social safety net, a way in which all Cambodians can help one another. With UN assistance, the Royal Government of Cambodia is taking significant steps on social protection for these most vulnerable people.

Cambodia is changing fast.  Last year’s dramatic flooding indicated yet again that even the climate is changing, and the United Nations stands hand in hand with Cambodia as the challenge evolves.

Still, there has been much progress since 2000, when the international community named eight millennium development goals. (In Cambodia, we have a ninth goal: de-mining, unexploded ordnance and victim assistance).

With the deadline for those objectives approaching, the world is looking to what comes next. A lot of consultation and hard work lies ahead.

But, ultimately, it’s about kids like Chea. Building the Cambodia we want for Chea and his family is, and always will be, a team effort.

As our charter reminds us, the UN is here to play its part. We’re in it together.

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