By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
07 August 2009

Three members of the European Union met with Foreign Ministry officials Friday to express their concerns over a recent deterioration of the human rights climate.

The EU, represented by British Ambassador, German Ambassador and the European Commission Charge d’Affairs, met with the ministry’s secretary of state, Ouch Borith, officials said.

The EU said it was concerned “specifically with regard to freedom of expression rule of law and the,” the British Embassy said in a statement.

“The EU expressed concern in this context over a number of instances in which criminal charges of defamation and disinformation have been used against representatives of civil society, the media and the political opposition,” the embassy said.