Friday, 2 October 2009

UN expert: Free speech deteriorating in Cambodia

Taiwan News
Associated Press
2009-10-01
(Post by CAAI News media)

A U.N. human rights expert says freedom of speech is deteriorating in Cambodia after several government critics were convicted of defamation.

Surya Subedi says the conviction of an opposition lawmaker and two journalists in recent months "is a disturbing trend."

Subedi is U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special envoy for human rights in Cambodia.

The Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council, meanwhile, will debate a U.S.-Egyptian resolution on freedom of speech Thursday.

European countries have expressed concern that the resolution appears to endorse "codes of conduct" for journalists and give religions protection from criticism.

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