Rights Mission

The UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia has advised civil society groups and opposition parties to temper their criticism of the government’s Anticorruption Law until it is fully implemented, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. Koy Kuong said Surya Subedi made his remarks during a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong. “Civil society and opposition should not criticise [this law] before the implementation of this institutional process,” Koy Kong quoted Subedi as having said. Koy Kuong said Subedi also admired gains in the areas of human rights and democratic reform in response to recommendations from the UN. Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said Wednesday that Subedi should focus on the purpose of his trip, which is to assess Cambodia’s progress in reforming its judiciary. He also said, as he has previously, that he has little faith in the anti-graft law. “I don’t believe the government can perform it effectively because the majority of the anticorruption board is appointed by the Council of Ministers,” he said. Subedi will conclude his visit today.