Thu 3rd Waxing Moon of Citta B.E.2560, March 30, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey
The Phnom Penh Post

The United Nation’s human rights office in Cambodia yesterday jumped into the political fray, deeming controversial amendments to the Law on Political Parties in breach of the Kingdom’s constitution and international human rights law.

In a 32-page legal analysis, released online, the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) stated the legislative changes, hastily drafted by the Cambodian People’s Party and swiftly approved by parliament in February, included “vague” language and “excessive” restrictions. The amendments, widely seen as aimed at the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, allow authorities to dissolve parties for threatening “national unity”, the “security of the state” or making “serious mistakes”.

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Tue 1st Waxing Moon of Citta B.E.2560, March 28, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey

Phnom Penh (27 March 2017) – Today, OHCHR released its human rights analysis of the amended Law on Political Parties. The analysis draws from the key applicable provisions of the Cambodian Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that establish the rights to take part in public affairs, to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. Although the Law has already been promulgated, OHCHR offers its analysis in anticipation of the next opportunity to bring the Law closer in conformity with the relevant international human rights standards, given its profound implications for Cambodian democracy.

Read the full analysis in English here: Analysis on the Amended Law on Political Parties 28 03 2017 FINAL no TC

Monday 15th Waning Moon of Phagguṇa B.E.2560, March 27, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey
The Phnom Penh Post 

Election watchdog Comfrel slammed the ruling party for what it characterised as a pattern of political oppression, corruption and a lack of judicial independence in its annual report, released on Friday.

Officials tally votes at a polling station in Phnom Penh following the 2012 commune elections.

The “government continued a restrictive freedom of expression policy”, the report reads, while “the political atmosphere remained very tense” throughout last year.

The elections monitor criticises the ruling party’s apparent targeting of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) with lawsuits, arrests and with the recent amendment to a law on political parties, which gives the Supreme Court power to dissolve any political party whose leadership has been convicted in a criminal case.

These “recent political developments”, it argues, “raise concerns for the future prospects of [meaningful] political pluralism”.

Calling the monitor’s findings “wrong”, Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Sok Eysan pointed the finger at the CNRP for bringing its woes upon itself. (more…)

Fri 12th Waning Moon of Phagguṇa B.E.2560, March 24, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey

Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,

21 March 2017

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an annual reminder to us all to do more to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, hate speech and hate crimes.

But 21 March needs to be more than a reminder. People of African descent continue to be victims of racist hate crimes and racism in all areas of life.  Anti-Semitism continues to rear its ugly head from the US to Europe to the Middle East and beyond. Muslim women wearing headscarves face increasing verbal, and even physical, abuse in a number of countries. In Latin America, indigenous peoples continue to endure stigmatization, including in the media.

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Tue 9th Waning Moon of Phagguṇa B.E.2560, March 21, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey

The Whanganui River is revered by New Zealand’s Maori people

Wed 3rd Waning Moon of Phagguṇa B.E.2560, March 15, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey
BBC News

A river in New Zealand has become the first in the world to be granted the same legal rights as a person.

The New Zealand parliament passed the bill recognising the Whanganui River, in North Island, as a living entity.

Long revered by New Zealand’s Maori people, the river’s interests will now be represented by two people.

The Maori had been fighting for over 160 years to get this recognition for their river, a minister said.

“I know the initial inclination of some people will say it’s pretty strange to give a natural resource a legal personality,” said New Zealand’s Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson.

“But it’s no stranger than family trusts, or companies or incorporated societies.”

The Whanganui River, New Zealand’s third-longest, will be represented by one member from the Maori tribes, known as iwi, and one from the Crown.

The recognition allows it to be represented in court proceedings.

Tears and music

“The river as a whole is absolutely important to the people who are from the river and live on the river,” said MP Adrian Rurawhe, who represents the Maori.

“From a Whanganui viewpoint the wellbeing of the river is directly linked to the wellbeing of the people and so it is really important that’s recognised as its own identity.”

Members of the Maori community celebrated the news with tears and music in New Zealand’s parliament.

The settlement brought to an end the country’s longest-running litigation, the NZHerald reports.

It also included $80m (£65m) in financial redress and $30m (£25m) to a fund to improve the river’s health.

United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, Joseph Cannataci. Photo UN

Thu 12th Waxing Moon of Phagguṇa B.E.2560, March 9, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey
Geneva (08 March 2017) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, Joseph Cannataci, has presented his report to the Human Rights Council, denouncing current surveillance legislation and calling for States to respect privacy as a universal right in the digital age.

Mr Cannataci said:  “The issue of governmental surveillance deserves more attention than ever. I am deeply concerned that the right to privacy will simply not experience a full transition to the digital age. In general, laws have been drafted and rushed through the legislative process of States with clear political majorities to legitimize practices that should never have been implemented.”

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របាយ​ការណ៍​បណ្ដោះ​​អាសន្ន​ពី គធ.ខប រយៈពេល ០៣ ថ្ងៃ ពីថ្ងៃទី ០៣ ដល់ ០៥ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៧ បានបញ្ចប់ដោយ​ គឃ.សប បាន​ទទួល​ពាក្យ​សុំ​ចុះ​បញ្ជី​បេក្ខជន​ពី​គណបក្ស​​នយោបាយ​​ចំនួន ១២
Mon 9th Waxing Moon of Phagguṇa B.E.2560, March 6, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey

Sat 14th Waning Moon of Māgha B.E.2560, February 23, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey
Amnesty International | Protect Human Rights

Crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly intensified ahead of elections in 2017/2018. The authorities’ misuse of the justice system increased; the security forces continued to harass and punish civil society and silence critics. Human rights defenders were arrested and held in pre-trial detention; several were tried and sentenced, including for previous alleged offences, and others were given suspended sentences or had charges pending against them. Political opposition was targeted, with activists serving long sentences handed down in previous years and new legal action taken against opposition party leaders and others. A prominent political commentator was shot dead and impunity continued for past unlawful killings.

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សេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍សហភាពរបស់អឺរ៉ុបស្តីអំពីស្ថានភាពនយោបាយនៅកម្ពុជា

Wed 11th Waning Moon of Māgha B.E.2560, February 22, A.D.2017 Year of the Monkey