Growing Concerns About Cambodia's Human Rights Record

International observers such as Human Rights Watch are concerned about the human rights situation in Cambodia. In a recent report, the New York-based group criticised the Cambodian government for curtailing freedom of expression in the country. In recent months, at least ten lawsuits have been filed against government critics such as members of the media, opposition and civil society.

Earlier this month, Mu Sochua, a Cambodian parliamentarian from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party testified in a US congress hearing along with two other Cambodians. She said democracy in Cambodia was experiencing "an alarming free fall". Sochua explains: "The truth is that there is a high level of corruption in Cambodia, the Cambodian government is using the courts to sue and silence critics, and hundreds and thousands of hectares of land are being taken away by high ranking officials or by the government or given as a concession to companies without any transparency."

Government accuses critics of lying

The government called the hearing "unfair" as no representative from the government was called to testify. Phay Siphan, spokesperson of the Council of Ministers shows no interest in the hearing result, claiming the government has implemented many reforms in the administration."This hearing was conducted by the US Congress," he says. "It has nothing to do with the Royal Government of Cambodia. But the government feels sorry. Those people always lie. And that is their own responsibility. We welcome all criticism because it is a part of democracy."

Sochua has said the US will send a high-level delegation to Cambodia to monitor human rights issues. But the government later dismissed the information as false. Sochua doesn’t care much: "I am not interested in their comment. The recommendations made will be taken seriously, and then I will not be accused of not telling the truth!"

A cycle of crackdowns

With the opposition saying the human rights situation is getting worse and the government claiming it has improved, Ou Virak, the president of the independent Cambodian Center for Human Rights, puts it this way: "I call this a cycle of freedom. In 2005 there was a crackdown, and after that crackdown things got better; and in 2009 there’s another wave of crackdown. Suddenly this year it got worse than last year and the year before. Hopefully it will end soon and we can return to progress. We have to be careful in which direction we are heading."

He also says there are various influential players who can push for a change for the better in Cambodia's human rights situation. "We need to strengthen the rule of law and the judiciary. The courts need to be independent." Ou Virak says the body that oversees the judiciary, the Supreme Council of Magistracy, needs to be active, effective and independent. Besides, a constitution council should be created that guarantees that laws are in accordance with the constitution and that the constitution is implemented properly.

And he adds that Cambodia needs a strong civil society and strong opposition parties as well.

Author: Sirivaddhana Yinn
Editor: Thomas Bärthlein