45 nations urge improvement in human rights
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:42 am
Cambodia rejects joint statement of human rights concern
By Associated Press March 22 at 9:34 AM
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia’s ambassador to the United Nations office in Geneva on Thursday rejected a statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council endorsed by 45 nations that urges improvements in the Southeast Asia nation’s rights situation ahead of a general election this July.
Wednesday’s joint statement, with signatories ranging from Albania to the United States, expressed “deep concern about the recent serious decline of civil and political rights in Cambodia.”
“These backward steps include signs of escalating repression of the political opposition, civil society and media,” it said.
The statement said it shared the concerns of U.N. officials about actions taken by the Cambodian government “that will undermine the conduct of credible, free and fair elections in July. For the Cambodian government to retain its legitimacy, any elections must be free, fair and credible.”
In a statement Thursday, Cambodian Ambassador Ney Sam Ol dismissed the concerns as “politically motivated.”
He charged that the statement, which was delivered by New Zealand on behalf of the other signatories, was issued “because they want regime change, because they have their pre-selected candidates to win,” among other reasons, and showed that “they shamelessly interfere in this country’s internal affairs.”
Ney Sam Ol said the statement bears ill intent and, echoing a theme often expressed by HE, worked against the government’s efforts “in maintaining law and order, in fostering peace stability and development for its people.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/eu ... 53eb85513a
By Associated Press March 22 at 9:34 AM
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia’s ambassador to the United Nations office in Geneva on Thursday rejected a statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council endorsed by 45 nations that urges improvements in the Southeast Asia nation’s rights situation ahead of a general election this July.
Wednesday’s joint statement, with signatories ranging from Albania to the United States, expressed “deep concern about the recent serious decline of civil and political rights in Cambodia.”
“These backward steps include signs of escalating repression of the political opposition, civil society and media,” it said.
The statement said it shared the concerns of U.N. officials about actions taken by the Cambodian government “that will undermine the conduct of credible, free and fair elections in July. For the Cambodian government to retain its legitimacy, any elections must be free, fair and credible.”
In a statement Thursday, Cambodian Ambassador Ney Sam Ol dismissed the concerns as “politically motivated.”
He charged that the statement, which was delivered by New Zealand on behalf of the other signatories, was issued “because they want regime change, because they have their pre-selected candidates to win,” among other reasons, and showed that “they shamelessly interfere in this country’s internal affairs.”
Ney Sam Ol said the statement bears ill intent and, echoing a theme often expressed by HE, worked against the government’s efforts “in maintaining law and order, in fostering peace stability and development for its people.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/eu ... 53eb85513a