CCHR – CCPCR – CICA – CITA – CFSWF – CLARI – CLEC – CPN – CTSWF – FTUWKC – IDEA – KKHRDA – LAC – LICADHO – STAR KAMPUCHEA
BRIEFING PAPER
Phnom Penh, 1 June 2010
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CAMBODIA SILENCED: THE END DAYS OF DEMOCRACY?
1. IntroductionWe, the above-mentioned non-governmental organisations (“NGOs”), are currently finalising a report on the state of freedom of expression in Cambodia, due to be published in the coming weeks. In view of the international donor conference scheduled to take place in the Kingdom of Cambodia this week, the purpose of this briefing note is to summarise the content of our report and bring to the attention of the international donor community the perilous state of freedom of expression in Cambodia and its implication for democracy in the Kingdom.
We urge the international donor community to take serious note of the deterioration of freedom of expression as highlighted herein. For over a decade the international community has provided aid to Cambodia but most have remained largely quiet as human rights have been violated and democratic space eroded. It is not enough to throw money at problems and hope the ruling party will act in the interest of the people. Those countries that value democracy and human rights and want to honour their commitment to Cambodia have the ability to make a real impact on the human rights situation in Cambodia by putting genuine conditions on their dealings with Cambodia, making it clear to the Royal Government of Cambodia (the “RGC”) that rights violations will cost them. A number of international donors signed the Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict and undertook to “promote and encourage respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cambodia…in order, in particular, to prevent the recurrence of human rights abuses”. We call on the international donor community to take responsibility and speak out against the deterioration of rights and democracy in Cambodia. Doing nothing may be judged as tantamount to complicity.
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