Prime Minister Hun Sen said the government has improved democracy, rights and the rule of law in Cambodia — despite “external pressures” — and there was “no justifiable reason” for outsiders to call for “restoring democracy and human rights” in the country.
What lies ahead for Cambodian politics this year is a prolonging of the political quagmire that has dragged down the country for at least two years, according to analysts. Things could eventually improve, but there is no quick fix, they say.
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday repeated a warning that Cambodia’s political opposition will be extinguished if the E.U. suspends duty-free trade, because the bloc will no longer have enough sway in the country to protect the party.
The E.U. is asking too much — it’s pushing the government to break the country’s laws — so Cambodia will merely update the bloc about the easing of restrictions for on trial opposition leader Kem Sokha and other concessions, the governmental Human Rights Committee said this week.
The European Union has called on Cambodia to protect labor and human rights associated with land titling, press freedom, political participation, trade union organizing for teachers and informal workers, and other areas of concern, in order to keep its duty-free trade access to the bloc.
Government spokesman Phay Siphan rejected the notion that Cambodia would alter its approach to politics under the pressure of possible trade sanctions, as diplomatic meetings continued on Wednesday at the newly released opposition leader’s Phnom Penh home.
The E.U. on Tuesday sent the Cambodian government its preliminary report on the possible suspension of duty-free trade over political and human rights concerns, the bloc said in a statement.
Rice exports to China have overtaken shipments to Europe this year after the E.U. imposed tariffs in January to protect its rice growers.
Agriculture Minister Veng Sokhon said every fishing boat in the country will be tracked with E.U.-funded GPS beacons by 2023 in order to crack down on illegal fishing.
E.U. Ambassador George Edgar said he hoped the fisheries project would be part of promoting better relations between the E.U. and Cambodia.
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