When Professor Surya P. Subedi spoke
about “the political deadlock” he does not mean the deadlock in the setting up
and the functioning of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). The Cambodian
People’s Party (CPP) that won 68 seats versus 55 seats for the Cambodian
National Rescue Party (CNRP) convened the sessions of the National Assembly
(NA) without the participation of the CNRP elected MP’s and used Article 92 New
to set up the RGC that is functioning normally.
Mr. Subedi spoke about “the political
deadlock” between the CPP’s government and the Cambodian National Rescue Party
(CNRP) that has boycotted the National Assembly since its opening session until
now. He sees the political deadlock as “the direct impact on the enjoyment
of human rights by all in Cambodia”. His 11th human rights
fact-finding mission to Cambodia was concluded on June 24, 2014 with a press
statement in English and in Khmer. He will issue a report including his final
conclusions and recommendations that he will present to the United Nations
Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva in September this year.
His press statement touched many areas
including judicial reform, electoral and parliamentary reform, reform of the
Constitutional Council, land rights, labour rights, democratic space, an
independent national human rights institution, and the situation of migrant
workers repatriated from Thailand. Besides a few comments made by the
foreign-based media and local English language newspapers, there were no
comments, nor reactions from people in the areas concerned. For now, it seemed
to be appropriate to say that when Mr. Subedi spoke nobody listened. Will it
hamper the zeal of Mr. Subedi? It is not likely.
He knew how to take credit of the
situation that evolves in Cambodia. Let’s hear what he said in his press
statement: “I am pleased that the recommendations that I made on electoral
reform have now become part of the national agenda…” He took advantage of
his own perception of success to launch further offensive for reform of the
Constitutional Council “to make it truly independent and non-partisan rather
than all-partisan or bi-partisan,” and the parliamentary reform so that “MP’s
must be accessible to their constituencies and capable of promoting their
interests”. His line of reasoning is scary and self-serving. He bluntly
blamed “the failure of the State institutions to uphold people’s rights,”
claiming that “it is why people come to see him out of desperation to
highlight their plight and petition him for help.”
In Cambodian political jargon a line had
been made famous for ignoring critics and keeping on working to achieve
national reforms and national development goals. It said: “the dogs bark and
the caravan passes”. Mr. Subedi is privileged to say things he is pleased
to say. Whether or not the people responsible of those State institutions
listen to him is another matter. However, it is worth noting that the RGC,
during the first meeting of the members of the government in September 2013,
enunciated in-depth reforms in every aspect of the government actions and
people’s life to be implemented in the next five years by the government.
Mr. Subedi concluded that he has shared
his views in a candid manner with some senior members of the Government. Had
the latter shared his views? Had the latter confronted him with their personal
views and with those of the RGC? The press statement did not reveal other thing
than Mr. Subedi’s views.
June
30, 2014
Professor
Pen Ngoeun
Advisor,
University
of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia