UN human rights envoy Surya Subedi has warned leaders of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) over their discrimination and incitement of hatred against Vietnam.

Speaking at a press briefing in Phnom Penh on January 16, Subedi said dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, and acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin are all acts that have no place in a democratic society.

At his talks with CNRP leaders, he also noted attacks on several Vietnamese-owned businesses during violent clashes between police and striking garment workers at the Canadiana industrial park in Phnom Penh’s outskirts earlier this month.

In reply, CNRP leaders had denied accusations regarding their discrimination and incitement against Vietnam. However, disdainful words about Cambodian people of Vietnamese origin and Vietnamese people have been frequently used in CNRP rhetoric both before and after the election.

In December last year, the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights criticised the opposition for using “harmful language” against Vietnamese people and released evidence proving its incitement.-VNA