Concern rises over human rights situation in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, EU says

The European Union on Wednesday expressed concern over what it called a deteriorating human rights situation in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Cambodia displays “worrying trends,” EU Commissioner Jan Figel told the European Parliament. He said the EU was concerned about the undemocratic methods of the two parties forming the ruling coalition, the royalist Funcinpec party and the formerly communist Cambodian People’s Party, which have removed the immunity of three opposition lawmakers facing defamation lawsuits.
The EU said prison conditions and restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly and association remained a problem in Laos, while in Vietnam, lack of religious freedom for non-recognized religious groups continued to be of major concern.
The EU said it would continue to raise the issues directly with the governments concerned and press for improvement of the human rights situation in the region.

 

Category: Society