Government Warned Embassies over Internal Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation delivered letters signed on April 26, 2010 by Mr. Hor Nam Hong to all embassies in Cambodia to warn or remind the Article 41.1 of Law on International Diplomatic Relations, which mentions the role of not being involved with host country’s internal affairs.

The statement also quoted that, “…Without affecting prerogative and privilege of those, who have received as such, also have to respect for laws and other norms of the host country. They shall also have duties not to interfere in the internal affairs of the host state.”

In addition to the above statement, Koy Kuang, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation asserted the note was only to remind them because some diplomats had previously exceeded the limit of their mandate, which led to the interference of the state’s internal affairs.

Related to this issue, a Cambodian-based UN representative was threatened to oust out of the nation on March 22, 2010 by the government after having earlier issued a release to show its concerns related to the Draft of Anti-Corruption Law, which was abruptly passed, and the recommendations from civil organizations and legal experts were not taken into consideration.

For this issue, Mr. Yem Sovann, lawmaker from Sam Rainsy Party said that Cambodian government should not have raised the words “interference in internal affairs” with those diplomats or UN representative because Cambodia is one of signatory country of the United Nations, which ratified on lots of international laws. What the intertional bodies have been doing so far is to urge Cambodia to abide by its duties and obligations.

Whereas Mr. Kim Sokha, the president of Human Right Party, said that the criticism has been made was because Cambodia has a lot of lackages, the same as other countries that are notorious for corruption, use abosolute power, violate human rights and destroy national resources as well as environment. Those countries deserve to be criticized. Therefore it did not mean they have interfered in Cambodia’s internal affairs.

Executive Director for Licadho Ms. Pong Chiv Ghek also stated that Cambodia should accept some recommendations from those countries in order to make Cambodia a country of rule of law, respect for human rights and the application of democratic rule.

Up to now there has been no reaction from those embassies in Cambodia for this statement at all.

However, it has been seen that the note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation shows the restriction on freedom of express and violates its obligations on behalf of a signatory country in UN body.