Hem Heng spinning the truth in the US ... does anybody believe him? Forced eviction in Dey Krahorm: A policy of land distribution to the rich and powerful by Hun Xen's regime?
Hem Heng, Hun Xen's truth spinner in Washington DC Cambodian embassy in Washington DC claims that human rights in Cambodia is continuously improving (sic!) 10 September 2009 By Ung Chamroeun Radio France Internationale Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy In a statement issued on 09 September, the Cambodian embassy in Washington DC claimed that democracy and respect of human rights are in smooth progress in Cambodia. The statement was issued right before an opposition MP and two NGO representatives were to provide their testimonies to the US Congress Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC), an institution involved in the review of human rights issues in the world. The Cambodian spokesman of the ministry of Foreign Affairs has already indicated that what the opposition MP and the NGO officials will talk about are not constructive criticisms. Expecting that the opposition MP and NGO officials will not provide positive viewpoints about the Phnom Penh regime to the TLHRC, Hem Heng, the Cambodian ambassador to Washington DC, tried to attract the public opinion by claiming that democracy and human rights in Cambodia is continuously progressing since 1993. In a addition to this major point, Hem Heng also raised about the respect of freedom of expression by Hun Xen's government which allowed thousands of NGOs, news media and unions to set themselves up in Cambodia. Regarding the legal dealing of SRP MP Mu Sochua and Hang Chakra, the editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, the Cambodian embassy in the US claimed that they were dealt according to the law, just like in any developed country in the world (sic!). The last point of the Cambodian embassy statement raised was the issue of social land concessions provided to poor people along various provinces, however, it also criticized groups of people who grabbed these lands and turned them into private properties. It is not yet known what SRP MP Mu Sochua, Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization, and Mr. Moeun Tola, the director of CLEC, will tell the US Congress commission. Nevertheless, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the ministry of Foreign Affairs, is already certain that the trio will not provide any constructive criticisms. Furthermore, he claimed that because the TLHRC is only listening to one side, it cannot receive truthful information. Meanwhile, in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), an organization regrouping 21 NGOs, and Amnesty International issued a 70-page report about forced evictions in Cambodia. The report indicated that poor people in Cambodia are usually victims of land-grabbing by rich and powerful people who put pressure on the legal system. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
