Subedi: There is room for reform

Despite the government indicating it was open to parliamentary reform, the dismissal of opposition lawmakers in June was a disturbing shift away from a commitment to protecting human rights, UN human rights envoy Surya Subedi says in his latest report on Cambodia. Obtained on Friday, the paper revisits recommendations Subedi made after previous visits to the Kingdom and concludes that, despite its constitution, Cambodia is still “akin to a limited democracy”. Subedi states in the report, written before the election, that he received positive responses from National Assembly and Senate representatives regarding his recommendations, which he says were needed to “accelerate the process of democratisation in the country in relation to the Parliament”. But the June dismissal of opposition Sam Rainsy Party and Human Rights Party lawmakers – by a Cambodian People’s Party-dominated assembly committee – for joining the merged Cambodia National Rescue Party was a step backwards, he states. …

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/subedi-there-room-reform