Nancy Pelosi Meets Rights Groups İn Cambodia

United States' House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi met with representatives from rights groups Monday after arriving in Cambodia as part of a five-country mission.



In a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia on her arrival Saturday, Pelosi said the 10-member bipartisan delegation would "discuss ways we can strengthen security cooperation; advance human rights with an emphasis on women, workers and religious minorities; and increase fair trade."



Thun Saray, president of local rights group Adhoc, attended the hour-long meeting with the delegation, alongside five representatives from Cambodian rights groups and three from international NGOs.



He said Pelosi focused more on asking questions than providing advice.



"She wanted to know about the situation of Cambodia today, and she only asked some questions regarding the atmosphere in Cambodia, about elections and things like this," he told The Anadolu Agency.



"I think its good for her to know the situation and they can ask from outside to the government of U.S. and to the embassy here to help us to improve the situation for people to exercise their freedoms," he added.



Saray said the issues that came up from the rights groups included freedom of expression and assembly, land and labor rights issues, and that Pelosi paid particular attention to finding out about the political situation, labor rights, and freedom of expression and assembly.



"She didn't make any promises to us, but we exchanged ideas and information. I think it was a good discussion and I think it's good for her to have better information about the situation here," he said.



Mu Sochua, a lawmaker with the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, told AA that her party had hoped to schedule a meeting with the delegation, but had not heard back.



"[Deputy president] Kem Sokha sent a letter requesting a meeting, but we haven't heard," she said Monday.



"We would be interested in discussing human rights, land and women's issues, the judiciary, and regarding trade, we want to discuss issues relating to labor and the court that is being used to silence and threaten and put trade union leaders under the court orders," Sochua added.



The visit comes a week after the U.S' first lady, Michelle Obama, paid a three-day visit to Cambodia where she promoted an education initiative called "Let Girls Learn."



On Sunday, Pelosi visited a community of people living with HIV/AIDS in Siem Reap province that is being supported by USAID, and also visited the work of deminers who are being supported by the US.



Pelosi is also set to visit Myanmar, South Korea, Vietnam and Japan.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Phnum Penh