GENEVA (23 November 2015) –The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Rhona Smith,today expressed her deep concern about the breakdown in the political dialogue between Cambodia’s main political parties given its implications for human rights of the Cambodian people.

“The past weeks have been marked by a number of worrying developments: increasing tensions between the two principal political parties; incidences of violence; intimidation of individuals; and resort to offensive language in the political discourse,” the expert said.

Her statement comes in the wake of the latest report that Mr. Sam Rainsy, leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP, the minority party in Parliament), has been summoned to appear in court on 4 December 2015. The summons relates to the allegation that he was complicit in the falsification of public documents, the use of false public documents and incitement to cause serious chaos to security and social order in the capital, Phnom Penh.Read the full statement in English.