The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia has been urged to offer substantive action on human rights concerns at the Thai border, following a statement which at least one analyst referred to as “perfunctory” and “meaningless”.
The Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the UN Office in Geneva welcomed the November 20 statement by special rapporteur Vitit Muntarbhorn, but noted that it failed to meaningfully address the issue of human rights in relation to the Cambodia-Thailand conflict along the border.
“Muntarbhorn’s first public statement concerning the ongoing conflict between Cambodia and Thailand along the border was issued following sustained expressions of concern regarding the need for timely engagement by the special rapporteur in light of reported human rights and humanitarian law issues arising from the situation,” the permanent mission said.
It added that the gravity and specificity of the matters raised — both before the special rapporteur and in various international forums, including the Human Rights Council — would benefit from more detailed and focused attention.
“The broad and general nature of the remarks offered so far does not fully reflect the documented information presented or the immediate risks faced by affected civilian populations,” it said.
The permanent mission said the Code of Conduct for UN Mandate Holders requires them to ensure that their interventions are objective, accurate and specific and that they give due and genuine consideration to information submitted by all concerned states.
The mission said it hoped future engagement will align more closely with the clarity, transparency and commitment envisaged under the mandate.
“In view of the serious risks currently faced by civilians along the border, Cambodia believes that more comprehensive engagement would greatly contribute to addressing the situation,” it said.
“The Permanent Mission of Cambodia encourages Muntarbhorn to continue upholding the Code of Conduct and to respond in an appropriate and timely manner to the urgent conditions affecting civilian populations at the border.
“Cambodia remains committed to constructive cooperation with the UN human rights mechanisms and looks forward to meaningful and substantive engagement on the human rights concerns arising from the Cambodia-Thailand armed conflict,” it said.
A prominent analyst also expressed disappointment at the perceived inaction by the special rapporteur, noting that his recent “meaningless” statement was only released after repeated calls from Cambodia.
“I am struggling to give you a comment on the UN statement by Vitit Muntarbhorn because it really doesn’t say anything of substance,” said Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia (DC-Cam).
“It reiterates basic UN principles and how the UN wants the parties to work together toward achieving peace but there is nothing meaningful to advance peace. Words are helpful but in matters of life, death and the suffering of the innocent, they ring hollow absent observable actions,” he added.
