ID :
388055
Wed, 11/18/2015 - 15:14
Auther :

Cambodia’s political situation worrisome, UN chief says

By Lauren Crothers PHNOM PENH, Cambodia U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has spoken of his concern at mounting tensions in Cambodia after opposition leader Sam Rainsy suspended plans to return to the country, where he faces arrest and imprisonment. Rainsy, who had been giving talks in Japan and South Korea, was supposed to return to Phnom Penh on Monday night, but announced that he would delay his return until a peaceful resolution to the threat of arrest and a de-escalation of political tensions could be guaranteed. The warrant and two-year prison sentence stem from a 2011 conviction for defaming Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, who Rainsy said in a 2008 speech had been involved in colluding with Khmer Rouge captors at the Boeung Trabek prison camp in the 1970s. “The Secretary-General is following with concern the increasing tensions between the ruling party and the opposition in Cambodia. The arrest warrant issued against opposition leader Sam Rainsy on 13 November and earlier incidents against opposition parliamentarians and leaders are worrisome developments,” Ki-moon’s statement on Wednesday said. “The Secretary-General urges the Cambodian People's Party and the Cambodia National Rescue Party to resume their cooperation and dialogue and encourages all political players to refrain from violence, intimidation and harassment. A non-threatening environment of democratic dialogue is essential for political stability and a peaceful society.” In a Facebook post Wednesday, Rainsy said a series of manoeuvres against him and members of his party amounted to a “constitutional coup” and the end of the multiparty system in the country. He said the detention of an opposition senator, beating of two opposition MPs, ouster of his deputy from parliament and the warrant and stripping of his own parliamentary immunity “practically concluded the elimination of the only opposition party represented in Parliament and show that Cambodia is now back to a one-party system like before the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements.” Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan told the Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that the government “really appreciates” the concern of the secretary-general, but sought to assure that “what has happened in Cambodia doesn’t mean we abolished the CNRP". "Sam Rainsy offended the law, and defamation law protects the dignity of the people,” he underlined. He said the CNRP continues to hold meetings and conduct business as usual and that there is no conspiracy to topple the party, and that the government “respects pluralism.” “The CNRP did nothing wrong, but Sam Rainsy did wrong things to insult people’s dignity,” Siphan said. http://www.aa.com.tr/en

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