US Ambassador Murphy and Hun Many discuss democracy, human rights
Hun Many, member and chairman of Commission 7 of National Assembly meets with US Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy. Photo Facebook Commission 7 of the National Assembly
- Torn Chanritheara
- January 22, 2020 9:51 AM
Phnom Penh – U.S. Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy Tuesday met with Hun Many, member of the National Assembly and chairman of the assembly’s Commission 7.
And, according to a Commission 7 post on its Facebook page, they discussed bilateral issues during the meeting that had been initiated by the U.S. Embassy. The commission, which is one of the National Assembly’s 10 commissions, focuses on youth and education, cult and religious affairs, culture and tourism.
“Met National Assembly member and Commission Chair Hun Many today to discuss a range of bilateral issues,” Murphy wrote Tuesday on his ambassador Twitter page. “Noted our cooperation with Cambodian youth, and urged steps forward on democracy, human rights, and protection of sovereignty.”
Relations between Cambodia and the United States have been strained since prior to Cambodia’s 2018 general election when opposition leader Kem Sokha was arrested on charges of treason and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) he headed was dissolved.
This led the United States to threaten to withdraw Cambodia’s preferential trade scheme unless democracy was fully restored. Prime Minister Hun Sen repeatedly denounced the threat, which he said undermined Cambodia’s sovereignty.
On 17 January, Murphy met with Many’s brother Hun Manet, commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, and discussed steps in the area of democracy and human rights that would help build stronger cooperation between the two countries, according to a message on Murphy’s Twitter page.
