By Khmerization
Source: RFA
The Cambodian opposition parties strongly rebuked the Foreign Ministry for issuing a warning to foreign diplomatic missions not to interfere in the internal affairs of Cambodia, saying that the government's unnecessary warning reflects that of actions taken in communist countries, reports Radio Free Asia.
On 26th April, the Foreign Ministry sent a diplomatic note to all foreign diplomatic missions warning them not to interfere in the internal affairs of Cambodia after some embassies, notably the U.S Embassy, have been very vocal about corruption and human rights abuses in Cambodia.
Mr. Yim Sovan (pictured), spokesman for the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), told RFA on 28th that the government should not use the word "interferences" to refer to criticism from foreign diplomats or UN officials saying that Cambodia must respect international norms as Cambodia had signed many international conventions and treaties relevant to diplomatic protocol. He said the criticism were aimed at making Cambodia fulfill its duties and obligations. "Cambodia has signed many conventions, treaties and protocols in order to fulfill its international obligations relevant to the respect of human rights, democracy, social economy and anti-corruption measures. So we must respect our international obligations. What the international community did (criticised) up until now, I see that it is not a case of interfering in the internal affairs of Cambodia, but trying to ensure that Cambodia respect its international obligations which it has signed up to. Only the dictatorships and tyrannical communist countries have ever used the word 'interference in the internal affairs of their countries' (whenever they were criticised)", he said.
Mr. Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party (HRP), said only democratically strong and fully developed countries have never received international criticism, but countries with bad leadership must be receptive to international criticism in order to correct their own mistakes. "If we have many flaws, the international community, especially democratic countries, will give us advice so we won't make mistakes, like our countries which is rampant with corruption and therefore we received many criticism. Countries that are dictatorships and systemically committed human rights abuses have also received heavy criticism, and countries which have devastatingly destroyed their forests and the environment also received criticism. So, I believe that if we do not want any criticism, we must make ourselves strong. This means that we must contain corruption. Secondly, stop human rights abuses. Thirdly, we must not destroy our natural resources. I think that the criticism or the raising of any issues (by international community) are not interferences", he said.
Mr. Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the diplomatic note was aimed at reminding all diplomatic missions of its obligations under article 41.1 of the Viena Convention which prohibits foreign diplomatic missions from interfering in the internal affairs of the host countries. "The important thing is to remind them of the context of that article so that all heads of diplomatic missions are informed. The diplomatic note stated clearly that in the past there were some diplomats who have gone beyond their duties and obligations to the point of interfering in the internal affairs of the host countries", he said.
Mr. John Johnson, spokesman for the U.S Embassy, declined to comment on the matter when reached by phone.
Source: RFA
The Cambodian opposition parties strongly rebuked the Foreign Ministry for issuing a warning to foreign diplomatic missions not to interfere in the internal affairs of Cambodia, saying that the government's unnecessary warning reflects that of actions taken in communist countries, reports Radio Free Asia.
On 26th April, the Foreign Ministry sent a diplomatic note to all foreign diplomatic missions warning them not to interfere in the internal affairs of Cambodia after some embassies, notably the U.S Embassy, have been very vocal about corruption and human rights abuses in Cambodia.
Mr. Yim Sovan (pictured), spokesman for the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), told RFA on 28th that the government should not use the word "interferences" to refer to criticism from foreign diplomats or UN officials saying that Cambodia must respect international norms as Cambodia had signed many international conventions and treaties relevant to diplomatic protocol. He said the criticism were aimed at making Cambodia fulfill its duties and obligations. "Cambodia has signed many conventions, treaties and protocols in order to fulfill its international obligations relevant to the respect of human rights, democracy, social economy and anti-corruption measures. So we must respect our international obligations. What the international community did (criticised) up until now, I see that it is not a case of interfering in the internal affairs of Cambodia, but trying to ensure that Cambodia respect its international obligations which it has signed up to. Only the dictatorships and tyrannical communist countries have ever used the word 'interference in the internal affairs of their countries' (whenever they were criticised)", he said.
Mr. Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party (HRP), said only democratically strong and fully developed countries have never received international criticism, but countries with bad leadership must be receptive to international criticism in order to correct their own mistakes. "If we have many flaws, the international community, especially democratic countries, will give us advice so we won't make mistakes, like our countries which is rampant with corruption and therefore we received many criticism. Countries that are dictatorships and systemically committed human rights abuses have also received heavy criticism, and countries which have devastatingly destroyed their forests and the environment also received criticism. So, I believe that if we do not want any criticism, we must make ourselves strong. This means that we must contain corruption. Secondly, stop human rights abuses. Thirdly, we must not destroy our natural resources. I think that the criticism or the raising of any issues (by international community) are not interferences", he said.
Mr. Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the diplomatic note was aimed at reminding all diplomatic missions of its obligations under article 41.1 of the Viena Convention which prohibits foreign diplomatic missions from interfering in the internal affairs of the host countries. "The important thing is to remind them of the context of that article so that all heads of diplomatic missions are informed. The diplomatic note stated clearly that in the past there were some diplomats who have gone beyond their duties and obligations to the point of interfering in the internal affairs of the host countries", he said.
Mr. John Johnson, spokesman for the U.S Embassy, declined to comment on the matter when reached by phone.
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