Surya Subedi shook hand with Hun Sen (L).Associated Press
19th January, 2010
A United Nations envoy said discussions on human rights with Cambodia's prime minister made progress Tuesday after years of animosity between the two sides over the thorny issue.
U.N. special rapporteur Surya Subedi said he held wide-ranging discussions on human rights issues with Prime Minister Hun Sen, and talks were amiable.
Yash Ghai, the former U.N. envoy, constantly clashed with Hun Sen's government over human rights. Ghai had reported that many Cambodians lived in constant fear of having their land stolen by real estate developers and had no recourse because of a corrupt judiciary.
Hun Sen once described Ghai as "unfit," saying he was sent to Cambodia to "curse" his government.
"I am very pleased with the meeting and the progress we have made this morning," Subedi told reporters. "It was a meeting of substance; we discussed a wide range of issues, and we have made progress here for the betterment of the people of Cambodia."
Om Yentieng, head of the government's human rights committee, told reporters the two sides agreed to bury their differences and cooperate in the future. How long such cooperation lasts depends upon the U.N. human rights office in Cambodia, he said.
Subedi arrived Monday on a two-week mission to examine if state institutions were properly addressing human rights violations. The issue of alleged forced land evictions was discussed with Hun Sen, he said.
Last October, Subedi told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that freedom of speech was deteriorating in Cambodia after several government critics were convicted of defamation.
19th January, 2010
A United Nations envoy said discussions on human rights with Cambodia's prime minister made progress Tuesday after years of animosity between the two sides over the thorny issue.
U.N. special rapporteur Surya Subedi said he held wide-ranging discussions on human rights issues with Prime Minister Hun Sen, and talks were amiable.
Yash Ghai, the former U.N. envoy, constantly clashed with Hun Sen's government over human rights. Ghai had reported that many Cambodians lived in constant fear of having their land stolen by real estate developers and had no recourse because of a corrupt judiciary.
Hun Sen once described Ghai as "unfit," saying he was sent to Cambodia to "curse" his government.
"I am very pleased with the meeting and the progress we have made this morning," Subedi told reporters. "It was a meeting of substance; we discussed a wide range of issues, and we have made progress here for the betterment of the people of Cambodia."
Om Yentieng, head of the government's human rights committee, told reporters the two sides agreed to bury their differences and cooperate in the future. How long such cooperation lasts depends upon the U.N. human rights office in Cambodia, he said.
Subedi arrived Monday on a two-week mission to examine if state institutions were properly addressing human rights violations. The issue of alleged forced land evictions was discussed with Hun Sen, he said.
Last October, Subedi told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that freedom of speech was deteriorating in Cambodia after several government critics were convicted of defamation.
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