Sen and Sein Inc. from the dictatorship club01 March 2009
The PMs of Cambodia and Burma barred two human rights activists from their country from participating in the ASEAN summit.
This episode brings another dark spot on Hun Sen’s glory. According to a report by AFP dated 28 Feb, the Cambodian leader and his Burmese counterpart threatened to boycott a meeting between the 10 ASEAN countries and civil society group during the Hua Hin summit in Thailand. The reason for their ire: they did not want to see the participation of human rights activists from their respective country. This news was divulged by NGOs participating in the meeting. The meeting took place, but with the absence of Khin Omar who defends women rights in Burma and Pen Somony, a coordinator of volunteers program in Cambodia. Nobody was present to represent Laos, a country ruled by a very authoritarian communist regime. AFP quoted Khin Omar as saying that this incident proved that the ASEAN (human rights) charter, which was in effect since December of last year and which plans on setting up a regional human rights organization, is nothing more than “for show.” Obviously, this does not amuse Hun Sen nor Thein Sein, the Burmese junta chief.
This episode brings another dark spot on Hun Sen’s glory. According to a report by AFP dated 28 Feb, the Cambodian leader and his Burmese counterpart threatened to boycott a meeting between the 10 ASEAN countries and civil society group during the Hua Hin summit in Thailand. The reason for their ire: they did not want to see the participation of human rights activists from their respective country. This news was divulged by NGOs participating in the meeting. The meeting took place, but with the absence of Khin Omar who defends women rights in Burma and Pen Somony, a coordinator of volunteers program in Cambodia. Nobody was present to represent Laos, a country ruled by a very authoritarian communist regime. AFP quoted Khin Omar as saying that this incident proved that the ASEAN (human rights) charter, which was in effect since December of last year and which plans on setting up a regional human rights organization, is nothing more than “for show.” Obviously, this does not amuse Hun Sen nor Thein Sein, the Burmese junta chief.
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