Mary Robinson, the outgoing UN high commissioner for human rights, has been accused of interfering in Cambodia’s domestic political affairs after it was revealed that she “raised concerns” with National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh that outspoken lawmakers should not be ousted from the Assembly.
Although a UN official disputed the claim, several lawmakers say Robinson urged Prince Ranariddh not to fire Funcinpec lawmaker Keo Remy from the National Assembly.
Prince Ranariddh was slated to punish Keo Remy by expelling him from the Assembly for remarks the lawmaker made in late July where he allegedly showed “disrespect” to the prince.
“I didn’t speak to her directly, but she spoke to Prince Ranariddh and influenced his decision not to fire me,” said Keo Remy on Monday. He said top Funcinpec officials informed him of this after Robinson’s visit to Cambodia, which took place between Aug 21 and Aug 23.
Officials from the UN human rights office in Cambodia also inquired, on the day before Robinson arrived in Phnom Penh, about the expulsion of opposition party leader Sam Rainsy from Funcinpec in 1995, Sam Rainsy Party Cabinet Chief Phi Thach said on Monday.
The UN office here also asked about the September 2001 removal of Sam Rainsy Party member Son Chhay from the Assembly’s Commission on Public Works, Transport, Industry and Telecommunications, Phi Thach said.
Kao Kim Hourn, executive director for the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, criticized the international human
