EU, UN reschedule launch of anti-human trafficking project in Cambodia after questions about venue

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The European Union and United Nations abruptly rescheduled the launch of an anti-human trafficking program this week after being confronted with questions on the choice of venue: a Phnom Penh hotel owned by a Cambodian tycoon who has another property that has been used by human traffickers.

The launch of the EU-U.N. “PROTECT” project, which aims to help prevent violence against women and children, human trafficking and migrant smuggling, had been set to take place May 3 in Cambodia in the Phnom Penh Hotel. The facility is owned by L.Y.P. Group, a conglomerate entirely run by the family of tycoon Ly Yong Phat, a Cambodian senator with close ties to Prime Minister Hun Manet.

Though Ly Yong Phat himself has not faced any human trafficking charges, a casino run by his business has been raided at least twice, and both times authorities rescued people who had been forced to work there in call-center scams and other illicit activities.

After being questioned by The Associated Press about the choice of an L.Y.P. Group hotel for the program launch, local offices of both the EU and U.N. agencies involved replied that they had decided to reschedule the event to a later date. The U.N. added that the event’s location was “under review.”

In Brussels, the European Commission refused to elaborate on the situation and referred all questions back to the EU delegation in Cambodia.

U.N. Resident Coordinator to Cambodia Joseph Scheuer, who had been scheduled to participate in the event, said his understanding was that the Phnom Penh Hotel had been chosen as a venue by the Cambodian government.

“I believe the concerned agencies have investigated this further… and are taking appropriate action,” he said.

The problem