UN human rights envoy: Cambodia at 'important crossroads'

Ananth Baliga and Ben Sokhean | Publication date 14 March 2018 | 18:24 ICT

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UN Special Rapporteur Rhona Smith (left) addresses the media Wednesday at the end of her fifth visit to Cambodia to assess the country's commitment to human rights. Pha Lina

UN Special Rapporteur Rhona Smith said Cambodia was at an “important crossroads”, raising serious concerns about restrictions on the media, political participation and freedom of expression, and contending that “peace, stability and development” cannot be exclusive of human rights obligations.

The human rights envoy wrapped up a 10-day visit to the Kingdom that comes months after the dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the arrest of its leader, Kem Sokha, and one of the worst government crackdowns on civil society, independent media and popular dissent in recent memory.

Smith addressed the media Wednesday evening, calling on the government to restore fundamental freedoms in the country that, she said, had been “seriously” curtailed, especially in light of the upcoming national elections in July.

“Cambodia is at an important crossroads and must embrace human rights as they are indispensable in sustaining hard-earned peace and development,” Smith said in a written statement accompanying her official report, which noted that "human rights are crucial for durable peace, stability and development. They cannot be selectively respected or ignored and they must not be sacrificed."

“The right to political participation and freedom of expression are of particular importance during electoral processes, and the authorities have a responsibility to ensure that individuals, political parties and the media can operate without being threatened or sanctioned,” the statement adds.

While raising concerns over a slew of legislative and constitutional amendments rammed through parliament – many instrumental in enabling last year’s crackdown – Smith reiterated concerns over the government’s continued use of “rule by law” rather than “rule of law”, which ensures legal equity.

“Otherwise, governance becomes purely rule by law, where laws do no respect human rights principles, are not adopted through a transparent process, and are applied in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner,” she said in her statement.

Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said Smith had a flawed understanding of the Kingdom, likening it to her looking to the west when the sun was rising in the east.

“When they are in charge in positions like this they look at Cambodia from a place that is opposite to the sun,” he said.

He rejected her concerns over the implementation of the law, suggesting it was in the nature of special rapporteurs to oppose the government.

“That is why she cannot agree on Cambodian things,” he added. “We just implement based on the law."