Official: Envoy's Rights Report Wrong

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer

Original report from Phnom Penh

20 March 2008

The government issued a strong denial of a UN human rights report Thursday, claiming its work in improving the rights situation had gone unmentioned.
Cambodia's human rights adviser, Om Yentieng, said in prepared remarks to the UN Human Rights Council that a report by UN special rights representative Yash Ghai (pictured) did not accurately reflect the "real situation in Cambodia."
Ghai delivered a report and an address to the Rights Council in Geneva Thursday, saying Cambodia's slow progress in building the rule of law led to a lack of guarantees and security.
This led to the victimization of the poor and the increasing marginalization of disadvantaged communities, he said.
Om Yentieng, who is the chairman of Cambodia's Human Rights Committee, said Ghai's analysis of the government was "not acceptable."
Ghai had also been critical of donors, who he said continue to deliver aid despite widespread rights abuses.
Kaori Yoshimatsu, third secretary at the Japanese Embassy, said Thursday Japan contributed to human rights by providing aid in the building of civil law, procedures of law and the training of legal professionals.
French Embassy spokeswoman Fabyene Mansencale said Thursday France hoped Ghai and the government would "find a way of working together for the wider benefit of the people of Cambodia."