Farmers’ Delegation to the UNFCCC COP26, Sok Sotha founder, managing director and Board of WFO Asia was barred to flight at Phnom Penh International Airport by fictional reasons created!
On 3rd November 2021, I was planning to travel to participate in the UNFCC COP26 as delegate of farmers’ organization of the world with all sufficient and up to date travelled documents. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Cambodia for checking in, they were neglected on travel documents and information on the UNFCCC COP26 for processing the travel documents.
The chief flight operation of the Singapore Airline Flight no. SQ157 date 3rd November 2021 at 18.35hrs said I was not allowed to enter the United Kingdom though I got 2 Sinopharm vaccination and 1 Astrazeneca.
Seeing this irregularity, then I asked for more information from colleagues at the COP26, UK embassy in Phnom Penh and some others who have just entered UK quickly. As the results, we were told that two vaccination of Sinoparm or Sinovac was more than enough. Please noted that I got three shots of vaccination i.e. 2 shots for Sinopharm and 1 shot for Japanese Astrazeneca.
Base on proof and evidence, I could realize that the Phnom Penh International Airport in Cambodia has intentioned to bar me to participate in the most important event on climate change, UNFCCC COP26.
It is very strange when I feel that politicians in Cambodia have very limited capacity to understand about the public work, especially work of farmers, farming communities and farmers’ organizations as we are independent organization, neutral and free from politics. This sign has expressed impacts to the political behavior of the Cambodian Government in the ASEAN region and in the world.
Many people expressed their disappointment with the Phnom Penh International Airport in Cambodia on this case that affected seriously to the dignity, freedom, human right, reputation of Cambodia its self. The UNFCCC COP26 participated by the world leaders, head of states and many relevant stakeholders and parties to tackle issues on climate change which the voices of farmers from around the world should be heard and centered at the COP26.
We would appeal to the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to take action to investigate the Phnom Penh International Airport very soon. Sic.