At UN censure

Gov’t hits back

THE Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations in Geneva shot back at the UN human rights office (OHCHR) yesterday for criticising what it characterised as the Kingdom’s deteriorating political climate, claiming the criticism was “unverified” and “politically motivated”.

On Friday, OHCHR spokeswoman Liz Throssel, noting ne x t y e a r’s i mpor t a nt national election, expressed concerns about “the overall deterioration of the environment for . . . civil society” in Cambodia following the expulsion of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the revoking of licences for some radio frequencies and the threatened closure of the English-language newspaper the Cambodia Daily.

The Cambodian mission’s statement, published early yesterday morning, rebukes the allegations as based on “hearsay”.

“These measures have nothing to do with the upcoming National Assembly election next year as illus or i l y claimed by t he [OHCHR] Spokesperson,” it further notes, before appearing to accuse shuttered media outlets of inciting “rebellion”.

Earlier this month, the Cambodia Daily was threatened with closure if it fails to pay a purported $6.3 million tax bill by Monday, and NDI was shut last Thursday and its foreign staff given one week to leave the country.

Similarly, at least 15 radio stations were asked to stop b r o a d c a s t i n g b y t h e CONTINUED

– PAGE 2