HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN PHNOM PENH: MULTIPLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 002180 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL AND EAP/RSP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CB SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN PHNOM PENH: MULTIPLE CELEBRATIONS, LESS FIREWORKS THAN 2005 ¶1. (U) Summary. Post participated in three celebrations of International human Rights Day, two of which received partial funding from USAID. On December 8, the Cambodian senate organized its own celebration: focusing on the legislature's role in human rights and highlighting the needs of specific vulnerable groups including orphans, the blind, and land mine victims. Approximately, 15 representatives of the international community attended, with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reportedly added to the group only at the last minute. On December 9, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) organized a symposium to focus on human rights and poverty, with participation by victims of land disputes in Phnom Penh. On December 10, more than 10,000 people gathered at Olympic Stadium to hear speeches by NGO leaders, diplomats and government officials as well as view booths set up by NGOs. The Ambassador delivered remarks that received broad press coverage. RGC officials waited until the last possible minute to provide permission to the NGOs to use the public stadium. In sharp contrast to 2005, however, the police did little to harass participants. On December 12, the Prime Minister responded to the criticism by stating that by promoting development his government was furthering human rights. End Summary. Multiple HR Events -------------- ¶2. (U) On December 8, the Cambodian senate marked International Human Rights Day with a short ceremony focusing on the legislature's role in human rights. The event highlighted the needs of specific vulnerable groups including orphans, the blind, and land mine victims and concluded with the Senate speakers symbolically providing bags of rice to approximately 20 representatives of each of those groups. Some 15 representatives of the international community attended, with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reportedly added to the group only at the last minute. ¶3. (U) On December 9, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) sponsored a forum for NGOs and civil society representatives on the importance of human rights in development and poverty reduction programs. Keynote speaker Hina Jilani, a Special Representative of the United Nations for Human Rights Defenders, spoke of the linkage between respect for human rights and development. Sok Sam Oeun, director of the Cambodian Defenders' Project, spoke about the sensitive issues of land rights and poverty in Cambodia. Margo Picken of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia remarked that adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 was only a first step; people have made the declaration a living document. Canadian Ambassador Donica Pottie noted that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was agreed upon by developed and developing countries when it was adopted. She stressed that human rights are not just a Western concept and that all people want to live free of fear and have an equal chance in development. Noting the wide prevalence of domestic violence in Cambodian society, Ung Chanthol, Executive Director of the Cambodian Women's Crisis Center, discussed the poor state of women's rights in Cambodia. Theary Seng of the Center for Social Development asserted that corruption in Cambodia was the primary obstacle to both development and improvement on the human right front. ¶4. (U) The CHRAC event featured a contentious question and answer session between audience members and CPP Senator Uk Kong. One person, who had recently been evicted from his land, complained that the government was acting like the Khmer Rouge. While thanking local NGOs and others for helping fight for his legal rights, the same land-dispute victim stated that he filed complaints with government officials but found no one willing to help. In one case, the responsible Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior was not at his job for months. Kong, a member of the Senate's human rights commission, stated that the evictions in Phnom Penh were a complicated situation necessary to beautify and develop Phnom Penh. Another audience member, who had also been evicted from his home in Phnom Penh, remarked that he had been living on land given by the PM in 1979 to his community. He questioned the senator as to why the government could not help people when local authorities and companies want to evict people from their property. Sidestepping the question, the senator remarked that in 1979 no land conflicts took place; conflicts have only arisen recently as development pressures have increased. International HR Day: No Problems -------------- PHNOM PENH 00002180 002 OF 002 ¶5. (U) On December 10, nearly 10,000 people gathered at Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium to listen to speeches by civil society leaders, diplomats, and RGC officials. Focusing on the event's theme, "We Are All Human Rights Defenders"; the Ambassador spoke about the harsh conditions that human rights defenders have to work under in Cambodia; he noted how some have been killed while others have been imprisoned for their work. The Ambassador added that certain Cambodian officials remain fearful of dissent and criticism. He explained that while no official likes to be publicly criticized, such criticism can help further stabilize Cambodia and bring true peace and prosperity to its citizens. Son Heng, Deputy Director General of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, represented the Cambodian government; he is an associate of Om Yentieng, adviser to the Prime Minister and head of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee. Although the Cambodian government granted permission to celebrate International Human Rights Day, Phnom Penh Municipal authorities waited until the last possible moment (Friday afternoon for a Sunday event) to issue the license to the NGO organizers. The same license was granted nearly two weeks before the same event in ¶2005. Despite the short notice, NGO organizers were still able to plan a successful event, although King Sihamoni was not able to send a representative. ¶6. (U) In contrast to 2005, little tension was manifest between the police and NGO organizers. But at the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) booth, the police were apparently displeased to see a 2 meter by 3 meter photograph of police in riot gear confiscating kites. (Note: On November 27, riot police had blocked NGO workers and lawmakers outside the National Assembly from flying kites to highlight the need for freedom of expression. End Note.) Observers stated that police took photographs of the large photograph as well as made notes about the literature being distributed by the USAID/IRI-funded NGO. No other problems were reported. Pol/Econ Chief spoke with CCHR leader Kem Sokha following the close of the day's events, and Sokha was untroubled by what had happened. ¶7. (U) On December 12, Prime Minister Hun Sen responded to the critiques levied during the weekend's events. He argued that the RGC has been promoting human rights by providing people with "survival" rights. The PM reiterated that "schools, irrigation systems, hospitals and pagodas are human rights." He went on to argue that if not for the liberation of Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge no one would have been alive to demand human rights. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: It is unfortunate that the government still refuses to allow such gatherings to go forward without creating some sort of obstacle and still missed the point that constructive criticism can help Cambodia improve. At the events on December 9 and 10, the government was represented by low-level people indicative of the disinterest shown by the RGC in working collaboratively with civil society. By waiting until the last administrative day to release the license, the local authorities had hoped to dampen participation in the event, discourage speakers, and keep attendance numbers low. End Comment. MUSSOMELI