By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Phnom Penh Municipal Court Thursday handed down fines of $1,437 each to seven fringe political parties, including one that has just merged with Prince Sisowath Thomico's fledgling Sangkum Cheat Niyum, a court official said.
The fine resulted from the parties' failure to provide proper reports to the Interior Ministry, said presiding Judge Ke Sakhom, adding that the parties will still be allowed to continue operating.
Lay Voharith, political affairs director for the Ministry of Interior, said the ministry filed a lawsuit against the parties, including the National Salvation Liberation Democratic Party, which joined with Prince Thomico.
"If [the parties] continue to not file reports I will stop their party," Ke Sakhorn warned, adding that the ministry would have to file an additional lawsuit before that happened.
The Light of Freedom Party, the New Cambodia Party, the Neutral and Democratic Cambodia Party, the liberal Democratic Party for National Salvation, the Free United Party and the Woman and Nation Party were also fined. They have 15 days to pay the fine or appeal.
Lay Voharith said parties have failed to provide annual reports for the last five years, and that the ministry filed its complaint in July 2005.
Ke Sakhom said he decided to issue a verdict now because he happened to have the time to do so.
But Chan Ven, president of the National Salvation Liberation Democratic Party, said the fine was designed to block his party's recent merger with Prince Thomico.
"This is the government's pretext to prevent my party from participating with Prince Thomico's party," Chan Ven said. He added that he will pay the fine, and has already disbanded his party to join Prince Thomico.
The fines came a day after the municipality denied the SCN's request to hold a public gathering at the traffic island near the Japanese Bridge Friday.
In a Wednesday statement the municipality wrote that it refusal to offer permission because the SCN hadn't registered with the Interior Ministry as a political party.
Prince Thomico said the ban is unacceptable. "The government has abused my party's right. The ban is politically motivated," he said.
The fine resulted from the parties' failure to provide proper reports to the Interior Ministry, said presiding Judge Ke Sakhom, adding that the parties will still be allowed to continue operating.
Lay Voharith, political affairs director for the Ministry of Interior, said the ministry filed a lawsuit against the parties, including the National Salvation Liberation Democratic Party, which joined with Prince Thomico.
"If [the parties] continue to not file reports I will stop their party," Ke Sakhorn warned, adding that the ministry would have to file an additional lawsuit before that happened.
The Light of Freedom Party, the New Cambodia Party, the Neutral and Democratic Cambodia Party, the liberal Democratic Party for National Salvation, the Free United Party and the Woman and Nation Party were also fined. They have 15 days to pay the fine or appeal.
Lay Voharith said parties have failed to provide annual reports for the last five years, and that the ministry filed its complaint in July 2005.
Ke Sakhom said he decided to issue a verdict now because he happened to have the time to do so.
But Chan Ven, president of the National Salvation Liberation Democratic Party, said the fine was designed to block his party's recent merger with Prince Thomico.
"This is the government's pretext to prevent my party from participating with Prince Thomico's party," Chan Ven said. He added that he will pay the fine, and has already disbanded his party to join Prince Thomico.
The fines came a day after the municipality denied the SCN's request to hold a public gathering at the traffic island near the Japanese Bridge Friday.
In a Wednesday statement the municipality wrote that it refusal to offer permission because the SCN hadn't registered with the Interior Ministry as a political party.
Prince Thomico said the ban is unacceptable. "The government has abused my party's right. The ban is politically motivated," he said.
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