An US diplomat for East Asia, Kurt Cambell, stressed that the US would not shy away from raising concerns over the human rights situation in Cambodia at the upcoming summit East Asian Leaders. Campbell, stated that the U.S was concerned about the actions Cambodia regime had taken against opposition groups, civic organisations, and individuals.
The statement of concerns comes after exiled Cambodian opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, recently wrote in The New York Times urging President Obama to boycott the conference to avoid providing international legitimacy to the Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia unchallenged since a coup in 1997.
Human Rights Groups have consistently accused the US of failing to provide adequate international pressure on Cambodia to respect human rights.