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| Surya P. Subedi, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré |
“In other countries, such recommendations are seen as being part of the normal national debate, and a frank but professional discussion would have ensured. The focus should remain on the substance of what I am recommending, and not on me as a person.”
14
December 2012 – The independent United Nations expert on human rights in
Cambodia today stressed the importance of dialogue, as he wrapped up his latest
fact-finding mission to the country, during which he was unable to meet with
Government representatives
“I believe
that dialogue is the crucial way forward, and I have repeatedly underlined the
importance of it with all stakeholders and particularly with the Royal
Government,” said Special Rapporteur Surya P. Subedi.
“I very
much regret that I was not able to interact with Government interlocutors this
time, but expect to do so during my future missions. It is not clear to me why
and how this situation came about,” he stated.
This is
the eighth fact-finding mission to the country for Mr. Subedi, who has
interacted with various actors in Cambodian society, including the Government,
parliamentarians, the judiciary, civil society and development partners, during
his previous visits.
“There
have been occasions when we have disagreed on certain things,” he noted. “But
we continued our dialogue to find a common ground and that is what I wish to do
with the Government too.”
This time,
he met with various stakeholders, including civil society, local communities,
private citizens and Cambodia’s development partners. He travelled to Kompong
Chhnang province and obtained first-hand information from the local communities
about the situation of human rights.
The aim of
the current mission, which began on 8 December and was at the invitation of the
Government, was to explore the progress achieved on the implementation of the
recommendations made in the Special Rapporteur’s previous reports on the
judiciary, parliamentary reform, electoral reform and economic land
concessions.
“I am a
little surprised by the reaction to some of my recommendations,” he said. “In
other countries, such recommendations are seen as being part of the normal
national debate, and a frank but professional discussion would have ensured.
The focus should remain on the substance of what I am recommending, and not on
me as a person.”
Mr. Subedi
noted that Cambodia continues to do well on a number of economic indicators,
supported by political stability, and that the country appears to be on course
to achieve some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The eight
MDGs, which world leaders have agreed to meet by 2015, set specific targets on
poverty alleviation, education, gender equality, child and maternal health,
environmental stability, HIV/AIDS reduction, and a ‘Global Partnership for
Development.’
Mr. Subedi
welcomed the introduction of a land-titling programme by the Government to
provide secure tenure for thousands of Cambodians. However, he pointed to a
number of concerns about its implementation, including a lack of transparency,
its impact on indigenous populations and how communities are chosen to be
titled.
He also
voiced concern about the culture of impunity in Cambodia, and the long list of
crimes for which no one has been brought to justice, as well as the situation
of freedom of expression.
“A number
of cases of intimidation and harassment of the people working in the media and
human rights advocacy have been reported to me. Excessive use of the law on
‘incitement’ seems to be forcing people into self-censorship,” he stated.
Special
rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to
examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights
theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are
they paid for their work.
Mr.
Subedi, who was appointed in March 2009, will present his next report to the
Council in September 2013.
Source: UN News Centre
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