So, you think the EU is acting unreasonably and far too strongly with its reassessment of the EBA?
Think again.
An ex Post reporter sees it differently, and I would have to agree. Rhona's weak words on strongman rule amount to a bad joke.
Cambodia: weak words on strongman rule
Why bother sending a UN special
rapporteur to the country if the
democratic backsliding is all but ignored?
Following her latest visit to Cambodia, United Nations special rapporteur Rhona Smith this month issued what is a customary statement. The wording wasn’t particularly strong – she praised certain developments in the country while condemning other setbacks – but it was in line with previous comments she has made over the years. The problem is that Cambodia’s political situation has drastically changed in recent times, while Smith’s rhetoric has remained the same.
Cambodia once had a thriving opposition party that won more than three million votes in the 2013 national election and 2017 local elections. That party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was dissolved prior to the 2018 national election. Its leader Kem Sokha is under house arrest, other party elites have fled the country, and grassroots supporters are subjected to legal harassment and violence.
While noting and condemning the harassment of opposition members, Smith made a comment that seemingly blamed both sides:
"I am conscious of the frequently aggressive rhetoric from both sides and believe there is a need to change the political culture to one that focuses on issues rather than persons".
Such remarks draw a false equivalency and seemingly ignore the massive power discrepancy that exists between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the persecuted CNRP. The CNRP has used fiery rhetoric, calling Hun Sen a dictator and asking soldiers to disobey orders if told to fire on protestors. Hun Sen, in comparison, has threatened to blow up his opponents with rocket launchers.
Cambodia also once had a vibrant journalism community lead by two fiercely independent newspapers and a slew of critical radio stations. The radio stations and the Cambodia Daily were shut down, while the Phnom Penh Post was taken over by pro-government owners (I was previously a reporter with the Post). Two journalists had to flee the country to avoid incitement charges while two others were imprisoned for nine months for “espionage”.
In the face of the total obliteration of Cambodia’s free press, Smith said: “The Government has highlighted the expansion of media in Cambodia but I have also observed the decline in sectors of media.”
Smith’s statement was not received well in the journalism and activist community, with many feeling she continues to act as if it is business as usual in the kingdom.
Continues with a tweet of a section of the yet to be published special rapporteur's full report.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-inter ... ngman-rule
Ex PPP Reporter Tears Rhona a New One
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The UN is of course gutless in its interactions here, there are simply much bigger fish to fry.
What she said however resonates with me particularly, I've been saying it for 10+ years - ""I am conscious of the frequently aggressive rhetoric from both sides and believe there is a need to change the political culture to one that focuses on issues rather than persons".
If the perennial idiots in the CNRP could just change their strategy to focus on their own manifesto and never mention HE or CPP at all, then they would certainly make it a lot harder for the incumbents to come out with defamation cases, etc. Every time I see Rainsy spout one off on Twitter I have to face-palm at his idiocy. The more I see it, the more I tend to believe the wife that Rainsy, all along, has simply been HE's stooge - content with a life abroad, and able to give HE a regular pre-orchestrated punchbag on how not to run an "opposition", and in the process effectively legitimise Cambodia as a democracy, a flawed one, but still a democracy with elections & all that jazz nonetheless.
Now, if they changed tactic and the CPP then rolls out the "it's a coup/colour revolution" countermeasure, then it becomes a lot harder for the rest of the world to watch on and do nothing (although they probably will). My gut feeling at the moment is that the UN grimace when they see HEs actions and words, but then Rainsy opens his trap and suddenly the UN can look and say "ah well, at least this country has some kind of opposition, best leave them to it".
For the love of Dog, CNRP needs to button it and just campaign on issues - infrastructure projects, transport, welfare, education, health, etc.
What she said however resonates with me particularly, I've been saying it for 10+ years - ""I am conscious of the frequently aggressive rhetoric from both sides and believe there is a need to change the political culture to one that focuses on issues rather than persons".
If the perennial idiots in the CNRP could just change their strategy to focus on their own manifesto and never mention HE or CPP at all, then they would certainly make it a lot harder for the incumbents to come out with defamation cases, etc. Every time I see Rainsy spout one off on Twitter I have to face-palm at his idiocy. The more I see it, the more I tend to believe the wife that Rainsy, all along, has simply been HE's stooge - content with a life abroad, and able to give HE a regular pre-orchestrated punchbag on how not to run an "opposition", and in the process effectively legitimise Cambodia as a democracy, a flawed one, but still a democracy with elections & all that jazz nonetheless.
Now, if they changed tactic and the CPP then rolls out the "it's a coup/colour revolution" countermeasure, then it becomes a lot harder for the rest of the world to watch on and do nothing (although they probably will). My gut feeling at the moment is that the UN grimace when they see HEs actions and words, but then Rainsy opens his trap and suddenly the UN can look and say "ah well, at least this country has some kind of opposition, best leave them to it".
For the love of Dog, CNRP needs to button it and just campaign on issues - infrastructure projects, transport, welfare, education, health, etc.
Meum est propositum in taberna mori,
ut sint Guinness proxima morientis ori.
tunc cantabunt letius angelorum chori:
"Sit Deus propitius huic potatori."
ut sint Guinness proxima morientis ori.
tunc cantabunt letius angelorum chori:
"Sit Deus propitius huic potatori."
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As a,human rights lawyer with a few books on the subject under her belt, I expected her to borrow her builder's hob-nailed boots and give him a good kicking. Not dust around him in a pair of Hush Puppies.
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I had a quick read of this thread and one thought immediately came to mind.
Aseriousman....You obviously hate Cambodia and the government so why not book an appointment with some high up official and lay out all of your complaints and moans in writing in front of him....In other words have the courage of your convictions and do what you tell others to do.
But i guess you are just an armchair warrior sitting back in a dingy little room with nothing better to do.
You do realise that everything in life is relative and that every country has it's own morals and way of life. You have always avoided telling us where you live and are happy in your business affairs but if you hate Cambodia so much, get the hell out of Dodge and leave it to people who can deal with the way of life there.
I must admit that I love reading posts about Cambodia but your are enough to make anyone join ToF.
Aseriousman....You obviously hate Cambodia and the government so why not book an appointment with some high up official and lay out all of your complaints and moans in writing in front of him....In other words have the courage of your convictions and do what you tell others to do.
But i guess you are just an armchair warrior sitting back in a dingy little room with nothing better to do.
You do realise that everything in life is relative and that every country has it's own morals and way of life. You have always avoided telling us where you live and are happy in your business affairs but if you hate Cambodia so much, get the hell out of Dodge and leave it to people who can deal with the way of life there.
I must admit that I love reading posts about Cambodia but your are enough to make anyone join ToF.
Sleep, those little slices of death — how I loathe them.
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It's a bullshit heading from a drama queen who understands nothing about diplomacy.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
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That about sums it up.Lucky Lucan wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2019 2:22 pmIt's a bullshit heading from a drama queen who understands nothing about diplomacy.
Sleep, those little slices of death — how I loathe them.
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Was that reference to what a Cambodian official was told by his superiors about how not to handle visiting UN officials during UNTAC times? Made me directly think of it.
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