A Change of Guard

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Wednesday 3 October 2012

Government fires back at critics, rights activists [Keo Remy accused UN Special Envoy Surya Subedi and Brad Adams of attempting to sow political chaos in Cambodia]

Wednesday, 03 October 2012
By Vong Sokheng 
Phnom Penh Post
121003_05
Press and Quick Reaction Unit deputy president Keo Remy speaks at the Council of Ministers Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Hong Menea/Phnom Penh Post
The recent deluge of comments critical toward the Cambodian government is an attempt to sow political chaos, a senior official said yesterday.

At a press conference held at the Council of Ministers, Keo Remy, deputy chairman of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit, blasted several individuals and rights groups including UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Surya Subedi, Human Rights Watch’s Brad Adams, opposition party members and the many vocal supporters of recently convicted Beehive radio owner Mam Sonando.

“Human rights and civil society groups and the opposition party are creating a culture of impunity to support convicted persons against the elected government,” said Remy, co-opting a phrase frequently employed by those critical of  breakdowns in the judiciary and law enforcement.


Civil society groups praised the 2012 commune election process, pointed out Remy, who suggested observers like Subedi were only now complaining about issues such as the political composition of the National Election Committee in order to create problems with the election next July.

“Subedi and Brad Adams accused the government of eliminating voter rights, but they have to look into the law, as the convicted person [opposition leader Sam Rainsy] has no right to vote,” added Remy.

Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said it was unfortunate the government showed so little good will to civil society, noting its aim was to protect democracy.

“I regret that the ruling party and dictator have never had good ties with the UN but rather dismissed the UN’s role,” he said.

Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project and Sonando’s lawyer, called criticism fundamental to a functioning democracy.

“It is normal in democratic countries to express opinions and criticism.”

Otherwise, “there is no reason to have freedom of expression. I think this reaction [of Remy’s] is not reasonable”.

To contact the reporter on this story: Vong Sokheng at sokheng.vong@phnompenhpost.com
With assistance from Justine Drennan

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr. Keo Remy never and no way to acknowledges the truth while he is working for CPP, the thing that he would say after falling this regime sometime in the near future is like one of the killers in Khmer rouge regime had said, if I don’t kill people the Angka leur kills me. So, no doubt about this rhetoric comes from but who is Angka leur? Hun Sen, Hanoi or both of them?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Keo Remy feels so sorry for himself that he is his own enemy of conscience.

Anonymous said...

កែវ​ រេមី អើយ!អ្នកបា់តដំបង!​អត់លុយពេករត់ពី
គណះបក្យមួយទៅបក្យមួយ! ទិបំផុតមកធ្វើសត្វ
សេកនៅកន្លែងប្រតិកម្មរហ័ស!

អាណិតរេមីណាស់ ក្បត់ឧត្តមគតិ ហើយនិយាយ
ទាំំងបំពាន​ដូចសេកគេបង្រៀន។

អតីតមិត្តអ្នកបាត់ដំបង

Anonymous said...

Keo Remy barks as instructed by his master DICTATOR Hun Sen.

Anonymous said...

keo remy he betray every one even his family his wife chhim mala and his father-in-law chhim seek leng by run from one party to one party and the end to cpp party. his wife kicked him out.