By Joseph Freeman
Friday, 11 May 2012
Phnom Penh Post
Surya Subedi, the UN special rapporteur on human rights, speaks to the Post yesterday. Photograph: Joseph Pocs/Phnom Penh Post
One of the first things UN Special Rapporteur Surya Subedi did on his
week-long fact-finding mission in Cambodia was visit the grave of slain
environmentalist Chut Wutty.
It wasn’t on the itinerary, but
Subedi, rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, said he
wanted to “convey a message” about the use of violence against
activists.
“My hope is that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.”
He
made the unplanned stop on Saturday morning, at the beginning of
several “eye-opening” visits to provinces and communities where
Cambodians have been displaced during land disputes.
Although he
originally planned to train his energies on parliament, Subedi received
so many complaints about eviction issues that his attention had shifted
to the impact of land concessions on Cambodians, he told the Post yesterday.
Under his mandate, Subedi conducts fact-finding missions and presents an annual report to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The
Nepali national also reiterated concerns from last year’s report about
free expression and what he called the disproportionate use of
defamation law on human rights defenders, journalists and activists.
But land was what stood out on this trip.
Especially
on his visit to the residents of Borei Keila, where villagers have
lived in squalor since Phan Imex, backed by the Phnom Penh Municipal
authority, demolished their homes on January 3.
“I was shocked by
the conditions they were forced to live in. Many of them seem to be
virtually living on the top of a heap of rubbish and in very inhumane
conditions,” he said. “The other thing was how the company was able to
get away without honouring the deal that was made in the past.”
He said his attempts to reach out to various companies connected to evictees were unsuccessful.
As
far as freedom of movement, Subedi said he was not barred from visiting
any part of the country or from interviewing residents.
He did, however, say he wished there was more access to Ministry of Agriculture officials, the primary ministry granting economic land concessions.
Discussing Chut Wutty, Subedi said: “It was a big loss for the country.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Joseph Freeman at joseph.freeman@phnompenhpost.com
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