‘Letting Smith see Sokha will reduce tension’
permission to meet Sokha showed the intention to hide human rights violations in the Kingdom.
“I think it is not a good [decision] for the court as well as for the government. I believe that granting [Smith] permission to meet [Sokha] would reduce [tensions] by gaining the trust of a [high-ranking] UN official.When there is denial, it clearly shows the concealment of human rights violations,” he said.
Paul Chambers, regional political analyst and special adviser for international affairs at Thailand’s Naresuan Univer- sity, said the UN has been highly critical of “the CPP’s growing stranglehold on the political power”.
“The denied request [from Smith] will make Cambodia’s government appear as testy tyranny to the international community.”
When asked if a negative report from Smith would influence the Cambodian government, Chambers replied: “Only if China begins to distance itself from Cambodia and [Prime Minister] Hun Sen feels that he increasingly needs the EU. But that is doubtful.”
Sokha was arrested in September last year and charged with “conspiring with a foreign power” based on Article 44 of the Criminal Code. He faces 15 to 30 years in prison if found guilty.
He was released on bail in September and put under court super v ision, with obser vers saying his bail conditions are so strict they amount to “house arrest”.
During her 11-day visit to Cambodia, which began on Monday, Smith plans to meet senior government officials, civil society representatives and members of the diplomatic community.
She will conclude her trip with a press conference to discuss her “preliminary findings” next Thursday. She will present a report to the UNHCR in September next year.
Meanwhile, a government spokesman released a letter dated Tuesday that said: “In accordance with the government’s efforts and high attention [regarding] human rights, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia in the sixth mandate, signed a memorandum of understanding between the Cambodian government and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in order to implement technical cooperation on human rights issues in Cambodia.
“[It is] clea rly understood that: Rhona Smith, UN Special Reporter for Human Rights in Ca mbodia, i s t he United Nations official in the technical work.
“She has obligat ions a nd duties to be a partner of the government in t his f ield in order to get positive impacts without contravening Cambodian sovereignty.
“Besides prestigious work, the government of Cambodia, which is a member of United Nations, has the interests of Cambodians to . . . live in peace, harmony, stability and prosperity without any form of violation to the dignity of Cambodia.”