US: Make Human Rights a Priority for Clinton’s Trip

The recent sentencing in absentia of Sam Rainsy, the leader of the parliamentary opposition, to 10 years in prison on trumped up charges related to disseminating a map of the Cambodia-Vietnam border is just the latest travesty of justice under the ruling party's complete control of the judiciary, Human Rights Watch said. Clinton should clearly state the US government's serious concerns about the inadequacy and lack of fairness of the judicial proceedings against Rainsy and in other political cases.

"This is Secretary of State Clinton's chance to tell top officials face-to-face that the US will not turn a blind eye when they try to cement their power by beating peaceful protesters or jailing opposition politicians." - Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch

Press Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia Governments to Respect Rights

October 26, 2010

Source: Human Rights Watch

(New York) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should make strong appeals for human rights when she visits three Southeast Asian countries in the coming week, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged Clinton to call for the immediate release of imprisoned Vietnamese bloggers and human rights activists, seek an immediate halt to deepening harassment of the political opposition in Cambodia, and press for revocation of the Internal Security Act in Malaysia.

Clinton will travel to Vietnam on October 29-30, 2010, Cambodia on October 31-November 1, and finally to Malaysia from November 1-3, meeting with the prime ministers and other top-level officials in each country.

"This is Secretary of State Clinton's chance to tell top officials face-to-face that the US will not turn a blind eye when they try to cement their power by beating peaceful protesters or jailing opposition politicians," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Please click here to read more...