Correspondance exchange between Son Chhay and Kem Sokha

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Letter sent by SRP MP Son Chhay to Mr. Kem Sokha of CCHR.

Content of Son Chhay Letter

(Translated from Khmer)

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

To the attention of Mr. Kem Sokha,
President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights

Object: Request to organize the Center's activities in conformity with the characteristics of true civil society

Many Parliamentarians of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) who have participated over the last few months in programs organized in different provinces by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), such as your Public Forum, have complained that

• you are abusing your role as moderator in these programs, by criticizing political parties and making SRP the target of your allegations in order to gain political mileage and popularity for yourself. This behavior is contrary to the purpose and role of a civil society organization
• you do not give enough time for SRP Parliamentarians who participate in your programs to reply to the many questions asked by the audience.

If SRP is to take part to future events organized by CCHR, I would like to request that you take the necessary measures to correct the above-mentioned problems. I hope that CCHR will not behave in such a way that will be perceived as using its education program about democracy and human rights as a way to build political support for you personally.

With best regards,

Phnom Penh, 21 March 2006

[signed:]
Son Chhay
MP for Phnom Penh
SRP Parliamentary Group Leader

Copy to:
- SRP Parliamentarians
- IRI
- USAid

# # #

Kem Sokha's response to Son Chhay Letter

(Translated from Khmer)

Cambodian Center for Human Rights
The President

23 March 2006

To Mr. Son Chhay, representative of Mr. Sam Rainsy

1. I welcome your criticisms.
2. Because I do not have the time to teach and explain to all of you about the purpose and role of a civil society organization such as the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, and what it is entitled to do,
3. I suggest that all of you start to study more about the purpose and role of civil society organizations in liberal democracies, not in the communist system.
4. I would like to indicate that the Cambodian Center for Human Rights did nothing wrong, sorry.

[signed:] Kem Sokha