U.N. labor agency condemns Cambodian arrests of human rights workers
- From: "Chim" <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 6 Jan 2006 03:41:33 -0800
U.N. labor agency condemns Cambodian arrests of human rights workers
AP
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - The United Nations' labor rights organization
said Friday it is seriously concerned about the recent arrests of three
prominent human rights workers in Cambodia, which it said raised
questions about the commitment of the government to freedom of
expression.
A statement from the secretariat of the International Labor
Organization said the new detentions on criminal defamation charges
were "alarmingly reminiscent" of the October 2005 arrest of Rong Chhun,
head of the Cambodia Independent Teachers' Association and the issuance
of an arrest warrant against Chea Mony, chief of the Free Trade Union
of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, who fled the country.
"These repeated actions appear to target meaningful freedom of
expression and association and raise serious queries as to the
commitment on the part of the Government to ensure full respect for
civil liberties, a necessary cornerstone for trade union rights," said
the statement from the Geneva-based ILO.
It said the detentions of prominent figures for exercising their right
of freedom of expression "represents a fundamental danger to
democracy."
The three recent arrests were related to a banner allegedly denouncing
Prime Minister Hun Sen for having given up Cambodian territory to
neighboring Vietnam.
On Thursday, the human rights group Amnesty International expressed
concern over the same cases. In all the instances, the charges were
initiated by Hun Sen or other members of the government.
"The situation is deteriorating sharply and there is a real risk that
other activists will be arrested on similarly politically motivated
charges," said a statement from the London-based organization, quoting
its Southeast Asia researcher, Brittis Edman. "The right to freedom of
expression is being fundamentally undermined, with the government
increasingly using the courts as a tool to stifle criticism."
The United States has condemned the arrests, saying they call into
question the Cambodian government's commitment to democracy and human
rights.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. The information contained in the
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