Yash Ghai Will Raise the Issues of Lawlessness in Cambodia

Yash Ghai (right) with US ambassador, Joe Mussomeli, in a rally to celebrate Internationa Human Rights Day during his visit to Cambodia in Dec. 2007.

4th March 2008
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated by Khmerization

UN human rights special envoy to Cambodia, Mr. Yash Ghai, planned to raise the issues of lawlessness in Cambodia in a meeting of the International Human Rights Council which will be convened in Geneva, Switzerland, on 19th of March 2008. Mr. Ghai’s plan came in the form of an email interview with Radio Free Asia.
The UN envoy said that he planned to release a detailed report to the meeting on 19th of March. Those important issues which he planned to reveal to the meeting includes the absence of the rule of law in Cambodia and the impacts resulting from such failures.
He further said that he regrets the fact that the Cambodian prime minister, Mr. Hun Sen, had constantly attacked him but he understands that he is not the only one who is constantly attacked by Mr. Hun Sen.
Mr. Yash Ghai said that he received good co-operations from local non-governmental organisations regarding the issues of human rights and he would like to discuss those human rights issues with the government officials as well.
The government spokesman, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, refused to make any comments regarding this issue because he is too busy.
But in December 2007 Prime Minister Hun Sen has strongly attacked Mr. Yash Ghai. Mr. Hun Sen said: “This long-term tourist whom I don’t need to mention his name. And please come back again but Hun Sen has the right not to receive him. If Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wants to continue to use such a person, I don’t care.”
Mrs Pung Chiv Kek, president of the human rights organisation LICADHO said that the issues of the rule of law which Mr. Yash Ghai planned to raise in the upcoming meeting are important. She said: “if there is no rule of law in our country, anyone can do what they like.”
Mrs. Pung Chiv Kek further revealed that she and Mr. Thun Saray of ADHOC human rights organisation plan to travel to attend the meeting of the International Human Rights Council in Geneva as well. She will insist that the International Human Rights Council and the United Nations continue the mandate of the United Nations Human Rights Office in Cambodia because the Cambodian people need such office in Cambodia.
Mr. Yash Ghai visited Cambodia in December of 2007 to examine and evaluate the human rights situation in Cambodia, but Prime Minister Hun Sen and other government officials refused to talk to him.
Mr. Yash Ghai, on Tuesday, said through his email that he plan to visit Cambodia again in May or August of 2008. //END//