CCHR Comment to Media – Phnom Penh, 23 March 2011
CCHR concerned by removal of principled UN head
It was reported in The Cambodia Daily on 23 March 2011 that the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has decided to reassign Christophe Peschoux, head of the Cambodia office, to Geneva (‘UN Reassigns Officer Amid Hun Sen’s Acrimony’).
Christophe Peschoux, who has dedicated years of service to the Cambodian people, was threatened with expulsion last year by the Foreign Minister Hor Namhong for his principled stance on the government’s deportation, without due process, to Thailand of two political activists opposed to the Cambodian government. In October 2010, Prime Minister Hun Sen personally told visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that Mr. Peschoux must be removed under threat of the closure of the Cambodian office of the OHCHR.
Responding to the news of Mr. Peschoux’s reassignment Ou Virak, President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, a non-political, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia, stated:
“The contempt in which Christophe Peschoux is held by members of the Cambodian government is reflective of their general contempt for anyone bold enough to offer criticisms of their policies, acts and omissions. It is the attitude of a government which sees itself above criticism and beyond accountability. I admire Christophe’s principled stance in insisting that one simply cannot remain silent about certain situations and I am deeply disappointed by the decision to reassign him. While it seems that the UN human rights office in Cambodia will remain open for the time being, its independence is undermined when the government can have such a say in determining its make-up. My only hope is that whoever replaces Christophe does not seek to appease the Cambodian government and maintains the same principled position that has resulted in his removal.”
For more information please contact Ou Virak on telephone number +855 (0) 12 40 40 51 or via e-mail at ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org
CCHR concerned by removal of principled UN head
It was reported in The Cambodia Daily on 23 March 2011 that the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has decided to reassign Christophe Peschoux, head of the Cambodia office, to Geneva (‘UN Reassigns Officer Amid Hun Sen’s Acrimony’).
Christophe Peschoux, who has dedicated years of service to the Cambodian people, was threatened with expulsion last year by the Foreign Minister Hor Namhong for his principled stance on the government’s deportation, without due process, to Thailand of two political activists opposed to the Cambodian government. In October 2010, Prime Minister Hun Sen personally told visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that Mr. Peschoux must be removed under threat of the closure of the Cambodian office of the OHCHR.
Responding to the news of Mr. Peschoux’s reassignment Ou Virak, President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, a non-political, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia, stated:
“The contempt in which Christophe Peschoux is held by members of the Cambodian government is reflective of their general contempt for anyone bold enough to offer criticisms of their policies, acts and omissions. It is the attitude of a government which sees itself above criticism and beyond accountability. I admire Christophe’s principled stance in insisting that one simply cannot remain silent about certain situations and I am deeply disappointed by the decision to reassign him. While it seems that the UN human rights office in Cambodia will remain open for the time being, its independence is undermined when the government can have such a say in determining its make-up. My only hope is that whoever replaces Christophe does not seek to appease the Cambodian government and maintains the same principled position that has resulted in his removal.”
For more information please contact Ou Virak on telephone number +855 (0) 12 40 40 51 or via e-mail at ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org
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