A Change of Guard

សូមស្តាប់វិទ្យុសង្គ្រោះជាតិ Please read more Khmer news and listen to CNRP Radio at National Rescue Party. សូមស្តាប់វីទ្យុខ្មែរប៉ុស្តិ៍/Khmer Post Radio.
Follow Khmerization on Facebook/តាមដានខ្មែរូបនីយកម្មតាម Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khmerization.khmerican

Saturday 19 July 2014

UN rights office urges probe into clashes between security forces, protesters in Cambodia

http://static.un.org/News/dh/photos/large/2014/February/02-18-Ravina.jpg
OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. Photo: UN Multimedia
18 July 2014 – The United Nations today said it is deeply concerned about the clashes that erupted earlier this week in the Cambodian capital between security forces and opposition supporters, during which dozens of people were injured, and urged an investigation into the violence.
Members of the main opposition party had gathered in Freedom Park in Phnom Penh on 15 July to protest against the barricading of the only designated area for public demonstrations in the capital, according to information from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
“We are particularly alarmed at the ongoing arrests of leaders of the Cambodia National Rescue Party following the violence,” OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.
“We are concerned about the very serious charges which were brought against them, including ‘insurrection’, given the widely observed efforts by opposition leaders to calm the protesters and stop the violence during the clashes. Any politically motivated charges must be dropped immediately.”
OHCHR called on the judicial authorities to strictly abide by human rights standards in the pursuit of these cases, recalling the seriously flawed processes surrounding other recent cases.
“We also urge the Cambodian authorities to launch a prompt, effective, impartial and transparent investigation and to ensure those responsible for these violent incidents are held accountable,” said Ms. Shamdasani.
The Office called on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and to resume negotiations to end the political deadlock, and stressed that all restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be lifted immediately.
************


 

18 July 2014


Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Ravina Shamdasani 
Location:        Geneva 
Subject:        1) Iraq 
                2) Cambodia 



1) Iraq 



A UN report released today documents a litany of serious human rights violations committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups between 5 June and 5 July, including some that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report also documents violations committed by Iraqi security forces (ISF) and associated forces. 



The report, compiled by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the UN Human Rights office, is based on direct monitoring activities as well as a variety of sources, including civilian victims and witnesses. It documents the “untold hardship and suffering” that has been imposed upon the civilian population, “with large-scale killings, injuries and destruction and damage of livelihoods and property.” Where information has been cross-checked and verified, specific incidents are detailed in the report. 



“ISIL and associated armed groups have carried out many of these attacks in a systematic manner heedless of the impact on civilians, or have systematically targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure with the intention of killing and wounding as many civilians as possible,” the report states. “Targets have included markets, restaurants, shops, cafes, playgrounds, schools, places of worship and other public spaces where civilians gather in large numbers.” 
A press release on the key findings of the report is available here: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14884&LangID=E 



2) Cambodia 



We are deeply concerned about the violent clashes that erupted last Tuesday (July 15) at Freedom Park in Phnom Penh between district security guards and opposition supporters, during which dozens of people were injured. Members of the main opposition party had gathered there to protest against the barricading of the only designated area for public demonstrations in the capital. 
We are particularly alarmed at the ongoing arrests of leaders of the Cambodia National Rescue Party following the violence. We are concerned about the very serious charges which were brought against them, including "insurrection", given the widely observed efforts by opposition leaders to calm the protesters and stop the violence during the clashes. Any politically motivated charges must be dropped immediately. 
We call upon the judicial authorities to strictly abide by human rights standards in the pursuit of these cases, recalling the seriously flawed processes surrounding other recent cases. 
We also urge the Cambodian authorities to launch a prompt, effective, impartial and transparent investigation and to ensure those responsible for these violent incidents are held accountable. 
We also call upon all sides to exercise maximum restraint and to resume negotiations in order to end the political deadlock. All restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be lifted immediately and these rights must be exercised peacefully by all. 
ENDS 
For more information or media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org), Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9769 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org ) or Cécile Pouilly (+41 22 917 9310 / cpouilly@ohchr.org ) 



UN Human Rights, follow us on social media: 



Check the Universal Human Rights Index: http://uhri.ohchr.org/en

No comments: