Fri 5th Waning Moon of Māgasira B.E.2561, December 8, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster
“It has been the experience of the United Nations system in Cambodia time and again that open participation of civil society contributes positively to meeting national development priorities in a way that is inclusive, equitable and sustains peace.

As we gear up to celebrate 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us nurture the creativity, innovation and ingenuity of civil society, protect and expand the space for civil society to operate and continue to develop partnerships to strengthen our purpose and draw closer to the goals we all want: sustainable development, justice, equality and peace for all.”

Read the full Op-Ed by Claire Van der Vaeren, our UN Resident Coordinator, on behalf of the United Nations system in Cambodia, marking Human Rights Day – 10 December 2017, in English and in Khmer.
Download English: Op Ed of UNRC Human Rights Day -FINAL
Dowload Khmer:      Op Ed of UNRC Human Rights Day – FINAL_Khmer

Wed 3rd Waning Moon of Māgasira B.E.2561, December 3, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster

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.

Thu 12th Waxing Moon of Māgasira B.E.2561, November 30, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster

Heidt said the kingdom has given the US “clear signals” over the last two years that they are “not interested in a positive relationship”- Photo Eric Burley

The US ambassador to Cambodia William Heidt said he doubted the Hun Sen administration has “an honest desire” to form a positive relationship” with the United States, reported The Phnom Penh Post Online on Wednesday.

In an unusually candid interview with VOA Khmer on Wednesday Heidt said the kingdom has given the US “clear signals” over the last two years that they are “not interested in a positive relationship”.

“Since I came, let’s be honest, the Khmer government has taken a lot of steps against the US,” said the ambassador, citing the suspension of joint military exercises and cancellation of a longstanding Navy Seebees humanitarian program earlier this year as examples.

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សេចក្តីប្រកាសព័ត៌មានស្ថានទូតបារាំង ប្រចាំកម្ពុជាក្រោយពេលលោក​ Thierry MATHOU ប្រធាននាយកដ្ឋានអាស៊ីនិងអូស្ចិននីញ៉ា នៃក្រសួងអឺរ៉ុបនិងការបរទេសបារាំងទៅបំពេញទស្សនកិច្ចប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ដើម្បីតាមដានស្ថានការនយោបាយបច្ចុប្បន្ននៅកម្ពុជា
Tue 10th Waxing Moon of Māgasira B.E.2561, November 28, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster

Tue 3rd Waxing Moon of Māgasira B.E.2561, November 21, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster

Sweden said on Tuesday it was stopping new aid for Cambodia, except in education and research, and would no longer support a reform programme after the main opposition party was outlawed by the Supreme Court at the government’s request.

The announcement marked the first concrete action by a European Union country in protest at a political crackdown in which veteran Prime Minister Hun Sen’s main rival has also been arrested and civil rights groups and independent media attacked.

The United States cut election funding and said it would take more punitive steps after last week’s ban on the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). The European Union has also threatened action.

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image the Phnom Penh Post

Mon 2nd Waxing Moon of Māgasira B.E.2561, November 20, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster
Reuters

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen challenged the United States on Sunday to cut all aid after it announced it was ending funding for a general election next year in response to the dissolution of the main opposition party, media reported.

Hun Sen, the strongman who has ruled Cambodia for more than three decades, has taken a strident anti-American line in an increasingly tense run-up to a 2018 election that has included a crackdown on critics, rights groups and independent media.

The United States announced on Friday it was ending funding for the election, and promised more “concrete steps,” after the Supreme Court dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) at the request of the government, on the grounds it was plotting to seize power.

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សេចក្តីសម្រេចរបស់សហគមអឺរ៉ុបស្តីអំពីករណីរំលាយគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិនៅចម្ពុជា
Statement of EU Foreign Affairs on the dissolution of Cambodia National Rescue Party
Fri 14th Waning Moon of Kattikā B.E.2561, November 17, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster
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Fri 14th Waning Moon of Kattikā B.E.2561, November 17, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster
Reuters

Flag of Cambodia

The United States promised “concrete steps” against Cambodia and the European Union raised a threat to vital trade preferences after the main opposition party was banned ahead of elections.

The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved by the Supreme Court on Thursday at the request of the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose rule of more than three decades faces a major challenge at next year’s general election.

The ban on the CNRP followed the arrest of its leader, Kem Sokha, for treason. He is accused of plotting to take power with American help.

Hun Sen’s critics called the CNRP dissolution an attempt to steal the election and the death knell for democracy after Western donors have spent billions of dollars since 1993 trying to build a multiparty system following decades of war.

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