Sunday, 31 October 2010 ByThomas Miller
Phnom Penh Post
Phnom Penh Post
Photo by: Khem Sovannara
Hillary Clinton visits the Bayon temple, part of the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap, on Sunday.
United States secretary of state Hillary Clinton arrived in Siem Reap this morning for a two-day visit to Cambodia.
The American embassy said the trip was “intended to send a strong message of continued US engagement with Cambodia”.
In Siem Reap, Clinton visited Angkor Wat and was scheduled meet the head of an anti-human trafficking organisation before traveling to Phnom Penh for talks with senior officials tomorrow.
Clinton is set to meet King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, as well as pay a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.
On Saturday, the US state department said Clinton would also meet opposition leaders to “highlight the importance of a vibrant political arena where all voices are heard”.
She will also host a “town hall” meeting at the embassy tomorrow to give students the opportunity to ask her questions.
Clinton’s visit comes amid a flurry of human rights concerns arising from last week’s visit by United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
During meetings with the prime minister, Ban was told the government would prevent any further cases from going forward at the Khmer Rouge tribunal and ordered the UN to close the human rights office in Phnom Penh, prompting outrage from local and international rights groups.
In a joint statement last week, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International called on Clinton to “publicly express support” for the UN rights office.
Clinton is in Cambodia as part of a two-week Asian tour that will also take her to Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP
...read the full story in tomorrow’s Phnom Penh Post or see the updated story online from 3PM UTC/GMT +7 hours.
The American embassy said the trip was “intended to send a strong message of continued US engagement with Cambodia”.
In Siem Reap, Clinton visited Angkor Wat and was scheduled meet the head of an anti-human trafficking organisation before traveling to Phnom Penh for talks with senior officials tomorrow.
Clinton is set to meet King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, as well as pay a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.
On Saturday, the US state department said Clinton would also meet opposition leaders to “highlight the importance of a vibrant political arena where all voices are heard”.
She will also host a “town hall” meeting at the embassy tomorrow to give students the opportunity to ask her questions.
Clinton’s visit comes amid a flurry of human rights concerns arising from last week’s visit by United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
During meetings with the prime minister, Ban was told the government would prevent any further cases from going forward at the Khmer Rouge tribunal and ordered the UN to close the human rights office in Phnom Penh, prompting outrage from local and international rights groups.
In a joint statement last week, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International called on Clinton to “publicly express support” for the UN rights office.
Clinton is in Cambodia as part of a two-week Asian tour that will also take her to Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP
...read the full story in tomorrow’s Phnom Penh Post or see the updated story online from 3PM UTC/GMT +7 hours.
No comments:
Post a Comment