Court denying Smith access to Sokha ‘hides rights violations’

OFFICIALS from Phnom Penh Municipal Court and the Ministry of Justice defended the decision to reject a request from the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia to meet opposition figure Kem Sokha during her visit to the Kingdom.

“My request to meet with Mr Kem Sok ha was denied by the investi- gating judge,” Rhona Smith replied when asked by The Post on Tuesday whether she had made a request to v isit t he former president of the Cambodia National Rescue Part y (CNRP), who is current ly residing at home under strict bail conditions.

A court spokesman on Tuesday confirmed that Investigating Judge Ky Rithy had rejected Smith’s request because Sokha’s treason case is still pending, while a CNRP law- maker said the refusal was “clearly to conceal human rights violations” in the Kingdom.

Ey Rin, a Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman, on Tuesday confirmed that Judge Rithy had rejected Smith’s request.

“The investigating judge decided to reject the request and the court does not permit [Smith] to meet Kem Sokha because procedures are ongoing and at the investigation stage,” Rin said.

Ministry of Justice spokesman Chin Malin said the court’s decision had “clear basis” as Sokha’s freedom has been restricted by law.

“Kem Sokha has been freed on bail, but he is not free from the court’s procedures. His temporary release is under the court’s supervision, so the law has limited some of his rights and freedoms – where he can walk and the people he can meet, for example,” he said.

He continued that not allowing Sokha to meet foreigners helped the case, which is ongoing.

“[ Judge Rithy] has a clear basis for prohibiting [Sokha] from going here or there, or meeting this or that person, as it is beneficial to the trial process,” he said.

However, former CNRP lawmaker Ou Chanrath said on Tuesday that denying the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia