“If you want the opposition dead, just cut it,” Hun Sen said in a speech at the inauguration of a ring road around the capital, Phnom Penh, addressing the European Union and referring to Cambodia’s EBA status.
“If you want the opposition alive, don’t do it and come and hold talks together,” he said.
“You should understand the price that you would pay,” Hun Sen said, adding “sanctions on Cambodia means killing the opposition party” as well as pulling all leverage for democracy and human rights.
High Representative Mogherini met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in order to address the deterioration of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. She underlined the need for the Cambodian government to reverse the current negative political trend and work towards an inclusive solution, especially important in the Everything But Arms context.She assured the Prime Minister of the European Union’s commitment and willingness to engage positively in support of a democratic and stable Cambodia, for the benefit of the Cambodian people.
BRUSSELS, Oct 19 (Reuters) – Cambodia failed on Friday to reassure the European Union it will address democratic and human right issues that have put its trade preferences with the bloc at risk, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said after a summit with Asian leaders.
Mogherini held talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Brussels during the summit, but said she did not hear anything that would avoid trade sanctions threatened by the European Union.
“We discussed this, I cannot say that we found solutions to any of these issues,” Mogherini told a news conference.
I’m in beautiful Innsbruck, Austria, where we have had an informal Ministerial meeting today. The way forward as regards the much-needed reform of the World Trade Organisation was high on our agenda, as was our trade relationship with the United States.
But on a different topic, one that was mentioned at the press conference here today but worth outlining a bit more in detail – the EU’s response to the human rights situation in Myanmar and Cambodia, respectively.
In Myanmar, we have seen a deeply worrying and worsening situation for the Rohingya minority. A recent report from a United Nations fact-finding mission calls for the prosecution of top military leaders for genocide and crimes against humanity. The report describes indiscriminate killings, widespread rape by the military, assaulting of children, and the burning down of entire villages. The country’s leadership has repeatedly disregarded calls from the EU and the international community to put a stop to this.
In Cambodia, meanwhile, we are seeing very troubling developments with a clear deterioration of human rights and labour rights, without convincing improvements in sight. Our recent EU mission to the country demonstrated serious and systemic violations of, for instance, freedom of expression, labour rights and freedom of association. This comes on top of longstanding issues as regards workers’ rights and land-grabbing.
Both Cambodia and Myanmar benefit from the Everything But Arms arrangement, or EBA, which guarantees completely tariff-free access to the European market for all exports except for weapons and ammunition. However, this access is not without conditions. It comes with a responsibility to uphold and respect the values enshrined in 15 fundamental conventions of the United Nations and the International Labour Organisation.
As I have underlined many times as Commissioner for Trade, our EU trade policy must be led by our values. Accordingly, when we are faced with blatant disregard for those values, the EU must act.
Therefore, the European Commission and the European External Action Service will notify the Myanmar authorities of our intention to send an emergency, high-level EU mission to the country in the coming days to assess the situation on the ground. This high-level mission is within the framework of a potential withdrawal of Myanmar from the Everything But Arms arrangement. There is a clear possibility that a withdrawal could be the outcome.
With Cambodia, we are a step further in the process. Many of the issues here date back several years, and in some cases the country has gone backwards. The elections in July of this year – coming after our EU mission to the country – were marked by harassment and intimidation, as well as severe restrictions when it comes to essential political rights. Today, High Representative Federica Mogherini and I have therefore notified Cambodia that we are launching the process for the withdrawal of their Everything But Arms preferences. Without clear and evident improvements on the ground, this will lead to the suspending of the trade preferences that they currently enjoy.
Needless to say, we will keep our channels of dialogue with both countries open. There will be space for negotiation and dialogue with both countries throughout this process, and we will also keep EU Member States informed of the next steps.
We are not yet at the cliff edge and there is still time for Cambodia and Myanmar to draw themselves back from the brink. However, the consequences of the course that these countries are on are now clearly in sight.
Le Cinéaste-Réalisateur australien James Ricketson vient d’être inculpé de crime d’espionnage par la Justice de HUN Sen et encourt 6 ans de prison.
Désormais l’Australie connait le vrai visage du Régime de répression judiciaire de HUN Sen et sa horde d’anciens Khmer-Rouges sans foi ni loi. La justice de HUN Sen est celle de l’arbitraire. Elle n’a pas besoin de preuves pour inculper.
Elle fait partie intégrante de l’arsenal répressif de HUN Sen !
HUN Sen enterre la Démocratie éphémère instaurée par la communauté internationale il y a bientôt 27 ans (avec la signature des accords de Paix de Paris du 23 Octobre 1991) et impose sa Dictature en organisant les élections pour la 6ème législature sans le principal parti d’Opposition, le CNRP !
Pour l’heure, les Etats-Unis, le Canada, l’Union Européenne et l’Australie ont condamné la tenue de ces élections qualifiées de truquées, lesquelles ne reflétant pas les vœux du Peuple cambodgien.
EU : Statement by the Spokesperson on the general elections in Cambodia
The 29 July general election in Cambodia took place in a highly restrictive political climate. Over the past year, the Cambodian authorities have used the country’s judicial system and other forms of pressure to restrict the space for political opposition, for criticism and dissent, including by civil society. This culminated in the enforced dissolution of the main opposition party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), the arrest and prolonged detention of the CNRP’s leader, Kem Sokha, and the banning from political activity for five years of 118 senior CNRP members. Free and independent media have been severely restricted.
In its Conclusions of 26 February 2018, the EU Foreign Affairs Council underlined that an electoral process from which the main opposition party has been arbitrarily excluded is not legitimate.
In this context, the EU had declined to observe the 29 July election and suspended its financial assistance to the Cambodian National Election Committee.
The lack of genuine electoral competition and the absence of an inclusive political process mean that the 29 July election is not representative of the democratic will of the Cambodian electorate, and therefore its outcome lacks credibility.
The European Union expects the Cambodian authorities to restore democracy, to engage in dialogue with the opposition, and to create conditions conducive to free political debate and competition, in which the media and civil society, including human rights and labour rights defenders, can freely exercise their rights without undue restrictions. The EU stands ready to actively contribute to this endeavour.
White House Press Release on Cambodia’s Flawed Parlementary Elections
UK : Minister for Asia & the Pacific statement on Cambodia’s election
Statement by Minister for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field following the election in Cambodia.
Minister for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field said:
The Cambodian national election was undermined by the authorities well before campaigning started and resulted in an election that was neither fair nor credible.
The potential for a legitimate, free and fair election was stymied when the main opposition party – the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved in November 2017. This was particularly disappointing following the more open Commune elections in June 2017.
The Cambodian authorities have demonstrated clear disregard for the key tenets of a functioning multi-party democracy. As well as the dissolution of the CNRP, examples include the imprisonment of CNRP President Kem Sokha, the banning of 118 CNRP members from politics for five years, and a crackdown on independent media.
There was no credible opposition party with the opportunity to challenge the Government. In a democracy, no government has the right to choose its opposition.
The UK will continue to urge the Cambodian Government to demonstrate its commitment to its citizens by lifting restrictions on political debate and media freedom and by creating the conditions for proper functioning democracy.
Germany : Statement by the Federal Foreign Office on the elections in Cambodia
The German Government has noted that the parliamentary elections in Cambodia were conducted peacefully.
However, that alone is not enough to lend the election results legitimacy, as the elections were preceded by the arrest of the leader of the largest opposition party in September 2017, the dissolving of the opposition party in November 2017 and a ban on 118 leading opposition politicians from engaging in political activity.
The German Government urgently calls on Cambodia to return to the democratic principles enshrined in the constitution and the Paris Peace Accords and is willing to support the country on its path to this.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has expressed New Zealand’s concern over Cambodia’s general elections in which the main opposition party was excluded.
“For Cambodia to have legitimate democracy it is essential that opposition voices can be heard. New Zealand calls on Prime Minister Hun Sen to reinstate the main opposition party and release all political prisoners, including opposition leader Kem Sokha,” Mr Peters said.
In the lead up to the elections, Cambodia’s Supreme Court dissolved the main opposition party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), and its leader Kem Sokha was imprisoned. Without the main opposition party participating, the election resulted in a landslide victory for the governing party.
“New Zealand is a long-standing partner of Cambodia and has invested considerable effort in supporting Cambodia’s UN-supervised transition to democracy in the early 1990s.
“We stand ready to work with Cambodian partners to restore its democratic institutions and processes to allow free and fair elections to be held,” he said.
Communiqué du Quai d’Orsay
Elections législatives au Cambodge (29 juillet 2018)
La France regrette que les élections législatives cambodgiennes se soient déroulées en l’absence du principal parti d’opposition (parti du salut national), dissous le 16 novembre 2017, tandis que son président, Kem Sokha, est incarcéré depuis le 3 septembre.
Ces élections se sont tenues dans un climat qui n’a pas permis à l’opposition, aux médias et à la société civile de fonctionner sans entrave.
Nous appelons à la libération de Kem Sokha et à la levée de l’interdiction faite à 118 membres du parti du salut national de mener pendant cinq ans des activités politiques.
Nous exhortons les autorités cambodgiennes à respecter les droits fondamentaux permettant de garantir un processus démocratique crédible.
This is by far the worst, least democratic election in the post-UNTAC (United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia) period, because the main opposition party was barred from participating,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), told DW. “This election is looking more like the Soviet-style elections of yesteryear than a genuine democratic contest,”
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) called Kem Sokha’s arrest and detention “politically motivated,” amid an “escalating trend in Cambodia of suppression of criticism of the government” ahead of the vote.
“The Working Group considers that Mr Kem Sokha has been deprived of his liberty on discriminatory grounds, namely his political or other opinion,”
Après la disparition de Cambodia Daily il y a 8 mois, la fermeture d’une trentaine de Radios Locales et le retrait de RFA et VOA, aujourd’hui, c’est le tour du très respectable quotidien en anglais Phnom Penh Post.
Ce dernier est en effet obligé de se retirer en vendant le quotidien à un investisseur malaisien dans un contexte où, 3 mois avant les élections générales prévues le 29 Juillet, HUN Sen aimerait voir toute forme de presse libre et indépendante bannie du paysage politique; pour y arriver il utilise encore une fois sa Justice et son Département des Impôts.
Désormais, HUN Sen après avoir dissout le principal parti d’Opposition, le CNRP, et interdit à 118 membres de ce parti de faire de la Politique, renforce son régime dictatorial : il a à sa disposition les partis politiques satellites, la Presse et les Médias locaux affiliés à son régime.
Il a ainsi la main libre pour s’auto-élire Premier Ministre.
Devant sénateurs affiliés à HUN Sen, N. Sihamoni utilise des vocables vidés de leur sens : sur fond de crise politique très grave où la Constitution est piétinée, la Démocratie anéantie, les Droits de l’Homme sont bafoués et la Justice utilisée par la dictature HunSennienne pour réprimer l’Opposition.
Norodom Sihamoni aurait dû prononcer cet appel devant le Parlement face à HUN Sen contrairement au Sénat qui n’a qu’un rôle d’entérinement des lois.
Pourquoi ce geste inutile?
En tant que Roi, Norodom Sihamoni a des prérogatives qui lui sont attribuées par la Constitution.
Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak was on Thursday arrested over corruption, the last of the country’s four living ex-leaders to be embroiled in a criminal inquiry.
The 76-year-old, business CEO-turned president — who served from 2008 to 2013 — faces multiple charges including bribery, power abuse, embezzlement, and tax evasion.
If convicted of all the allegations, he could be jailed for up to 45 years.
Traduction partielle du texte en anglais par Cambodge Info
Le Conseil rappelle que les Accords de Paris signés par le Cambodge et 18 autres pays, incluant la France et le Royaume Uni, ont créé des obligations légales entre les signataires, incluant l’obligation pour le Gouvernement Cambodgien de maintenir un système de démocratie libérale sur la base du multipartisme aussi bien que du respect des droits de l’Homme et des libertés fondamentales. Ces engagements sont inscrits dans la Constitution cambodgienne.
Le Conseil condamne les récents développements politiques préoccupants et la détérioration continue de la Démocratie au Cambodge, du respect des Droits de l’Homme et de l’Etat de droit, incluant la répression grandissante de l’opposition, des médias et de la société civile.
Le Conseil demande fermement au Gouvernement cambodgien de ne plus utiliser le système judiciaire comme instrument politique pour harceler et intimider les Opposants, la Société Civile, et les défenseurs des droits de Travail et des droits de l’Homme.
Il réitère sa demande pour la libération immédiate de KEM Sokha. Il lance un appel au Cambodge de prendre des mesures nécessaires pour assurer que la dissolution du CNRP soit inversée rapidement et que les députés et des conseillers locaux du CNRP soient réintégrés. Avec les élections générales prévues pour Juillet 2018, la dissolution du CNRP va à l’encontre de la volonté des électeurs et mine la crédibilité du processus électoral actuel. Le Conseil rapelle que le processus électoral dans lequel le principal parti d’Opposition est arbitrairement écarté n’est pas légitime.
L’Union Européenne est le plus grand marché à l’exportation pour le Cambodge. Le Conseil note que le Cambodge a bénéficié d’un accès préférentiel au Marché de l’UE sous le schéma “Everything But Arms” (EBA). Dans ce contexte le Conseil rappelle que le respect des droits de l’Homme et des libertés fondamentales, y compris des droits du travail, est aussi une partie cruciale liée à l’octroi des préférences commerciales. Le Conseil invite la Commission à surveiller plus étroitement la situation et à intensifier l’engagement avec le Cambodge au regard des dispositions avec ce règlement (EU) No 978/2012.
Le Conseil prévient que des mesures ciblées spécifiques pourraient être envisagées si la situation politique ne s’améliorait pas.
Le Conseil demande au Cambodge de restaurer la Démocratie et au Gouvernement d’engager un dialogue constructif avec l’Opposition élue. Le Conseil demande aussi que le Gouvernement du Cambodge prenne des mesures nécessaires pour assurer un environnement politique dans lequel les parties d’Opposition, la société civile et les médias peuvent fonctionner librement. L’EU est prête à assister le Cambodge pour qu’il remplisse ses obligations de démocratisation, du respect des droits de l’Homme et de l’Etat de droit et d’un développement économique durable.
J’aimerais dire haut et fort au Monde entier que je viens de gagner les élections sénatoriales. J’ai raflé tous les 58 sièges de Sénateurs. Cela représente 100% de sièges attribuables. C’est la première fois, dans toute l’histoire des élections sur cette planète, que l’on peut trouver un résultat aussi merveilleux pour un Parti politique, le mien, le CPP. Vous vous posez la question de savoir comment j’ai pu réussir un tel exploit. Alors que les autres Dictateurs n’ont osé affiché que des résultats proches et en dessous de 100%. En fait, j’aurais pu même afficher plus de 100% si j’avais voulu. Puisque la notion de pourcentage est quelque chose de trop abstrait pour vous.
Avant de revenir à votre question sur mon exploit, j’aimerais vous dire que ces élections étaient Libres, Justes et Equitables. Libres, parce qu’UNIQUEMENT mes amis ont LIBREMENT voté pour moi. Justes, parce que les membres du Comité des Elections travaillent UNIQUEMENT pour moi. Equitables, parce que mon Parti a mené des campagnes TOUT SEUL sans adversaires. Donc c’est normal que je gagne 100% des sièges. Avant d’en arriver là, moi HUN Sen, qu’ai je fait pour être aussi fort ?
Je vais vous livrer mes secrets : Pour gagner une élection à 100%, quelle qu’elle soit, il faut absolument éliminer tous ses adversaires, surtout ceux qui vous empêchent de gagner 100% des sièges. Qu’ai je fait ?
1 – D’abord, j’ai décidé de supprimer les libertés de s’assembler et de manifester, d’éliminer toutes formes de critique envers mon régime. J’en ai marre de voir des millions de cambodgiens manifester contre moi. Les médias, Cambodia Daily et autres doivent disparaître. C’est ce que j’ai fait.
2 – Ensuite, j’ai commencé par accuser les dirigeants du Parti d’Opposition de traîtres. J’en ai ensuite mis un en prison et pas des moindres. Vous savez comment il s’appelle ? KEM Sokha, le Président du CNRP.
3 – Enfin j’ai utilisé mes hommes de main (les magistrats, les députés, les sénateurs, les membres du Conseil Constitutionnel, les princes du Palais), ma police, mon Armée et tous ceux qui acceptent de se vendre pour m’aider à éliminer mes adversaires. Le but était de dissoudre purement et simplement leur Parti Politique. Ainsi j’ai dissout et éliminé le CNRP de KEM Sokha. Pourquoi fallait-il dissoudre ce Parti qui me gêne ? Tout simplement pour m’attribuer tous ses sièges de députés (55), de Conseillers Municipaux (5007), de Sénateurs (au moins 25). N’ai je pas ainsi volé les sièges de mes adversaires ? Quelle question ! C’est évident que j’ai volé les sièges de mes adversaires. Suis-je fier ? Oui je le suis. Mais pourquoi ne le serais-je pas? Parce que je veux montrer au Monde que chez les Khmers Rouges, la notion de dignité et d’honneur n’existe pas.
Le gouvernement d’Allemagne a pris des mesures de sanction contre le gouvernement de HUN Sen, en suspendant les attributions des visas préférentiels à HUN Sen et à sa Famille, aux membres du Gouvernement, aux officiels militaires de haut rang et aux Présidents de la Haute Cour. Fin novembre, elle a refusé le visa d’entrée en Allemagne à SAR Kheng, Ministre de l’Intérieur de HUN Sen. Elle a encouragé les autres membres de l’Union Européenne à faire de même.
Elle est en tête de la croisade contre les mesures de répression menées par HUN Sen contre les médias, les ONGs et le parti d’Opposition, le CNRP qu’ HUN Sen a dissout après avoir emprisonné son Président, Mr. KEM Sokha, le 3 Septembre 2017.
Le Conseil européen du 26 Février va décider des actions possibles à prendre contre le Gouvernement de HUN Sen.
In a response to a parliamentary inquiry, the German government on Wednesday laid out a number of measures it has quietly taken over recent months to pressure the Cambodian government following its crackdown on media outlets, NGOs and the political opposition.
The response – which has not yet been made public, but was sent to the German parliament on Wednesday and obtained by The Post on Friday – reveals that the German government suspended preferential visa treatment for private travel by Cambodian government members, “including by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his family, by high-ranking military officials and the presidents of the highest Cambodian court”. It also says that Germany has encouraged other European Union members to impose similar measures.
According to the German government’s response to the parliamentary questions, the European Council – a body comprised of EU members’ heads of state – will meet on February 26 and decide on potential actions to take regarding Cambodia.
Visa Restrictions on Individuals Responsible for Undermining Cambodian Democracy
Press Statement
Heather Nauert Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 6, 2017
As the White House stated in a November 16, press statement, the United States is taking concrete steps to respond to the Cambodian government’s actions that have undermined the country’s progress in advancing democracy and respect for human rights. These actions—which run counter to the Paris Peace Agreements of 1991 that ended a tragic conflict and accorded the Cambodian people democratic rights—include the dissolution of the main opposition political party and banning of its leaders from electoral politics, imprisonment of opposition leader Kem Sokha, restriction of civil society, and suppression of independent media.
In direct response to the Cambodian government’s series of anti-democratic actions, we announce the Secretary of State will restrict entry into the United States of those individuals involved in undermining democracy in Cambodia. In certain circumstances, family members of those individuals will also be subject to visa restrictions.
We call on the Cambodian government to reverse course by reinstating the political opposition, releasing Kem Sokha, and allowing civil society and media to resume their constitutionally protected activities. Such actions could lead to a lifting of these travel restrictions and increase the potential for Cambodia’s 2018 electoral process to regain legitimacy.
We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps as necessary, while maintaining our close and enduring ties with the people of Cambodia.
