14 December 2012 – The independent United Nations expert on human
rights in Cambodia today stressed the importance of dialogue, as he
wrapped up his latest fact-finding mission to the country, during which
he was unable to meet with Government representatives
“I believe that dialogue is the crucial way forward, and I have
repeatedly underlined the importance of it with all stakeholders and
particularly with the Royal Government,” said Special Rapporteur Surya P. Subedi.
“I very much regret that I was not able to interact with Government
interlocutors this time, but expect to do so during my future missions.
It is not clear to me why and how this situation came about,” he stated.
This is the eighth fact-finding mission to the country for Mr. Subedi,
who has interacted with various actors in Cambodian society, including
the Government, parliamentarians, the judiciary, civil society and
development partners, during his previous visits.
“There have been occasions when we have disagreed on certain things,” he
noted. “But we continued our dialogue to find a common ground and that
is what I wish to do with the Government too.”
This time, he met with various stakeholders, including civil society,
local communities, private citizens and Cambodia’s development partners.
He travelled to Kompong Chhnang province and obtained first-hand
information from the local communities about the situation of human
rights.
The aim of the current mission, which began on 8 December and was at the
invitation of the Government, was to explore the progress achieved on
the implementation of the recommendations made in the Special
Rapporteur’s previous reports on the judiciary, parliamentary reform,
electoral reform and economic land concessions.
“I am a little surprised by the reaction to some of my recommendations,”
he said. “In other countries, such recommendations are seen as being
part of the normal national debate, and a frank but professional
discussion would have ensured. The focus should remain on the substance
of what I am recommending, and not on me as a person.”
Mr. Subedi noted that Cambodia continues to do well on a number of
economic indicators, supported by political stability, and that the
country appears to be on course to achieve some of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs).
The eight MDGs, which world leaders have agreed to meet by 2015, set
specific targets on poverty alleviation, education, gender equality,
child and maternal health, environmental stability, HIV/AIDS reduction,
and a ‘Global Partnership for Development.’
Mr. Subedi welcomed the introduction of a land-titling programme by the
Government to provide secure tenure for thousands of Cambodians.
However, he pointed to a number of concerns about its implementation,
including a lack of transparency, its impact on indigenous populations
and how communities are chosen to be titled.
He also voiced concern about the culture of impunity in Cambodia, and
the long list of crimes for which no one has been brought to justice, as
well as the situation of freedom of expression.
“A number of cases of intimidation and harassment of the people working
in the media and human rights advocacy have been reported to me.
Excessive use of the law on ‘incitement’ seems to be forcing people into
self-censorship,” he stated.
Special rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights
Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific
human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not
UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.
Mr. Subedi, who was appointed in March 2009, will present his next report to the Council in September 2013.
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