New UN rights envoy to Cambodia pledges 'constructive' talks

The new UN special envoy for human rights to Cambodia on Thursday pledged a "constructive approach" as he replaced his predecessor, who resigned after a long war of words with the government. Surya Subedi levelled no direct criticism of the Cambodian government's poor human rights record as he concluded his first trip to the country. "I'm hoping to build on the work done by my predecessors," Subedi told reporters at a press conference, adding, "I have my own style, and that style will be a constructive one." Prime Minister Hun Sen called the envoy's predecessor, Yash Ghai, rude, stupid and a "god without virtue". The Kenyan lawyer resigned in September after government officials refused to meet him. Subedi told reporters he met Hun Sen, other government officials, opposition and civil society members during his 10-day visit to Cambodia. On his meeting with Hun Sen, Subedi said: "What I can assure you is that there was a willingness to work with me in a constructive manner, and I was pleased with that." The Nepalese law professor, who will issue a report on his trip to the UN's Human Rights Council, said the independence of Cambodia's judiciary and people being forcibly evicted from their homes were among his chief