Wed 11th Waxing Moon of Phussa B.E.2561, December 27, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (Public Law 114-328) (the “Act”), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)) (INA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,

I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that the prevalence and severity of human rights abuse and corruption that have their source, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States, such as those committed or directed by persons listed in the Annex to this order, have reached such scope and gravity that they threaten the stability of international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons; and undermine economic markets. The United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to protect the financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons.

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Statement submitted by Professor Rhona Smith, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia for the USA/EU organised meeting, New York, on December 19, 2017

Thu 4th Waxing Moon of Phussa B.E.2561, December 21, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster

Download English version: SR Statement in the side event in New York
Download Khmer version:  SR Statement in side event in New YorkKH

សហភាពអឺរ៉ុបសម្រេចព្យួរជំនួយដល់ការបោះឆ្នោតនៅកម្ពុជាដោយសារការរំលាយបក្សប្រឆាំង
Tue 9th Waning Moon of Māgasira B.E.2561, December 12, A.D.2017 Year of the Rooster

Reuters

The European Union has suspended funding for Cambodia’s 2018 general election because the vote cannot be credible after the dissolution of the main opposition party, according to a letter sent to the national election committee on Tuesday.

The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved by the country’s highest court last month at the request of the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen after the arrest of opposition leader Kem Sokha for alleged treason.

“An electoral process from which the main opposition party has been arbitrarily excluded cannot be seen as legitimate,” read the Dec. 12 letter reviewed by Reuters. “Under these circumstances, the European Union does not believe there is a possibility of a credible electoral process.”

The EU and Japan are the biggest donors to Cambodia’s election commission. Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the government, said it was able to hold the election with its own money.

“This is their will … we have our own money,” Phay Siphan told Reuters on Tuesday.

The United States last month said it would suspend funding for the election. It later said it would impose visa sanctions for people involved in the governments’ actions to undermine democracy.

A crackdown by the ruling party has seen senior members of the opposition targeted in recent months. Kem Sokha, leader of the CNRP, was arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government with U.S. help.

He has rejected the accusation as a political ploy.

The dissolution of the CNRP has been condemned by some Western countries as the most serious blow to democracy since an international peace deal and U.N.-run elections in the early 1990s ended decades of war and a Khmer Rouge genocide that killed at least 1.8 million Cambodians in the 1970s.

The EU in October warned Cambodia that it could face EU action over duty-free access it enjoys under a deal for some of the world’s poorest countries if the human rights situation in the country deteriorates further.

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