UN Envoy Subedi Shares Concerns Over Post-Vote Violence
The U.N. human rights envoy to Cambodia, Surya Subedi, on Tuesday presented a report to the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva and expressed his grave concern about post-election violence and the failure of the government and National Election Committee to properly investigate widespread electoral fraud. … Speaking to the council in Geneva, Mr. Subedi made some verbal additions to his written observations and noted that while the election was largely peaceful, his “optimism was however dampened by allegations of massive electoral irregularities and the failure of the government and the National Election Committee to facilitate prompt, impartial, transparent, credible and thorough investigation of the alleged irregularities.” He noted that the “fervent hope of many Cambodians” for peace was shattered when security forces clashed with and killed an innocent bystander on September 15 following a day of protest in Phnom Penh. … He [Surya Subedi] said he was also concerned by the “forcible removal” of Prince Sisowath Thomico from Wat Phnom during a peaceful night vigil, where the Prince was staging a hunger strike, and “alarmed” by an attack, coordinated with the police, on a group of anti-eviction activists also staging a hunger strike and journalists present at the same site on Sunday night. … In response, Sun Suon, Cambodia’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, said a renewal is being considered. He also played down the violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters over the past two weeks, insisting that the pre- and post-election climate had been largely peaceful. … Mr. Subedi’s appearance before the council continues today, when a statement by the International Federation for Human Rights and local NGOs Licadho and Adhoc will be presented, detailing their concerns “about the ongoing, serious and systematic violations of land and housing rights; the intimidation and harassment of Cambodian human rights defenders; and the stifling of independent voices in the country through restrictions to the rights to freedom of expression, of peaceful assembly and of association.” …
Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/un-envoy-subedi-shares-concerns-over-post-vote-violence-43145/
