US Congressman Ed Royce says Prime Minister Hun Sen has “brought Cambodia to the brink” and must step down.
The crackdown comes as opposition members were planning to begin negotiations with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to resolve a monthslong political impasse that stemmed from July’s election.
The UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal has yet to set a date for a new round of atrocity crimes trials, but a spokesman for the court says it is working as fast as possible to resolve procedural issues.
Analysts say a recall election is possible within Cambodian law, despite statements to the contrary by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Hun Sen is expected to make high-level visits and to sign trade agreements through 2015, as well as agreements on extradition, education, and security information exchange.
One of his colleagues, Cambodian-born Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, has so far rejected charges against him.
Burma’s transition to democracy has earned approval from the international community, including the US and the UK.
According to court documents, the two suspects in Case 004 are Ta Tith, Ta An, and Im Chaem, former Khmer Rouge regional commanders who are currently living in Cambodia.
The confidential list names those who would confront the leaders, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, who are facing charges of atrocity crimes, including genocide, for their roles within the Khmer Rouge.
Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, called Hun Sen’s promises of improved rights in the country “the same old song.”
Misiewicz is accused of providing sensitive government information to regional defense contractor, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which then allegedly bilked the Navy out of millions of dollars.
The Cambodia National Rescue Party, which officially won 55 of 123 seats in the National Assembly in July, says fraudulent elections cost them a win at the polls.
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen enjoyed close ties after Yingluck was elected.
The government is seeking legal action against the only remaining opposition newspaper, claiming it defamed the military in an article it published last month.
Local watchdog groups say they have been forced to take forest protection into their hands, due to a failure of government to do so.
A group of ethnic minorities has filed with the Khmer Rouge tribunal, in hopes that more indictments will come from the UN-backed court.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Cambodia last weekend, vowing financial support to Prime Minister Hun Sen to help promote human rights and democracy.
Rong Chhun said the government failed to address the concerns of workers, prolonging the problem until “violence erupted.”
Members of the non-governmental Border Committee say military skirmishes between Cambodia and Thailand have damaged areas of the temple and elsewhere and should be repaired with money from Thailand.
ព័ត៌មានផ្សេងទៀត
