By Pin Sisovann
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Thirty-five local NGOs have released a joint statement saying it is too soon for the government to be writing a law governing NGOs and that priority should instead be given to pushing legislation aimed at reforming the judicial system.
The statement, signed by some of Cambodia's most prominent NGOs, cites the lack of an independent judiciary as the most pressing matter facing legislators.
The statement says the long-awaited anti-corruption law and the law on the organization and functioning of the Supreme Council of Magistracy should be pushed ahead of any law governing local NGOs and associations.
Signatories include Adhoc, the Center for Social Development, the Cambodian Defenders Project, the Community Legal Education Center, the Cambodian Women's Crisis Center and the Committee for Free and Fair Elections.
The statement also said that NGOs are willing to participate in the law-drafting process but that more time is needed to coordinate among the country's approximately 2,000 NGOs and "to establish...trust in the government's initiative."
Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the CDP, said NGOs already work well.
"Why don't they hurry on other priority laws," he said, adding that he is worried that NGOs might be closed by the courts if a law is passed.
Koul Panha, director of Comfrel, said NGOs already have strong accountability systems based around donor aid.
"The law on NGOs is not a priority," he said. "If [NGOs] don't perform well, donors will cut aid."
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said that even if the 35 groups want to delay the NGO law, there are many other NGOs seeking its passage. He added that the law needed to take Cambodian sovereignty into consideration.
Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman and minister of information, said the NGO law has not been pushed ahead of other legislation.
Different groups of officials draft different laws, so no piece of legislation is given priority, he maintained.
The statement, signed by some of Cambodia's most prominent NGOs, cites the lack of an independent judiciary as the most pressing matter facing legislators.
The statement says the long-awaited anti-corruption law and the law on the organization and functioning of the Supreme Council of Magistracy should be pushed ahead of any law governing local NGOs and associations.
Signatories include Adhoc, the Center for Social Development, the Cambodian Defenders Project, the Community Legal Education Center, the Cambodian Women's Crisis Center and the Committee for Free and Fair Elections.
The statement also said that NGOs are willing to participate in the law-drafting process but that more time is needed to coordinate among the country's approximately 2,000 NGOs and "to establish...trust in the government's initiative."
Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the CDP, said NGOs already work well.
"Why don't they hurry on other priority laws," he said, adding that he is worried that NGOs might be closed by the courts if a law is passed.
Koul Panha, director of Comfrel, said NGOs already have strong accountability systems based around donor aid.
"The law on NGOs is not a priority," he said. "If [NGOs] don't perform well, donors will cut aid."
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said that even if the 35 groups want to delay the NGO law, there are many other NGOs seeking its passage. He added that the law needed to take Cambodian sovereignty into consideration.
Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman and minister of information, said the NGO law has not been pushed ahead of other legislation.
Different groups of officials draft different laws, so no piece of legislation is given priority, he maintained.
1 comment:
NGO are a bunch of bullshit organization! I will bet that without NGO, AH HUN SEN will collapse tomorrow!
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