Khieu Kanharith protested the conservative bill, claiming that "a little extramarital activity can be a beneficial stress reliever." Could the minister feel threatened by the passage of the bill?Friday, September 1, 2006
Fierce Debate In Assembly on Adultery Bill
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
A proposed law to criminalize adultery was hotly debated Thursday, with CPP lawmakers arguing that it would protect family values and the Sam Rainsy Party countering that it was the hallmark of a totalitarian state.
CPP lawmaker Som Kim Sour urged the National Assembly to back the contentious legislation, saying it would preserve Cambodia's dignity and prevent children from being raised in broken homes.
"The law will protect our Khmer society's dignity, and [promote] mutual respect between one husband and wife," she said. "It will offer morality to people to behave responsibly in a family."
Funcinpec lawmaker Monh Sophan said the law—which could put unfaithful spouses behind bars for up to a year—was the work of female CPP parliamentarians.
"It's all CPP women who initiated the idea," he told reporters outside the Assembly.
SRP lawmaker Ke Sovannroth told parliament Thursday that the new morality law is an unacceptable attempt to police people's private lives.
"In a democratic country, they never charge people with crimes related to love, emotions and ethics. They don't imprison people because of that," she said.
Few regimes other than the Taliban in Afghanistan have proposed such stringent measures, she said, adding: "This law is going backwards."
Under Pol Pot, people were told they would be executed for extramarital affairs; but this still did not stop them, Ke Sovannroth added: The family should take responsibility when its members are unfaithful, not the state, she added. "The law cannot help with, family affairs."
She also questioned whether the law would serve the best interests of Cambodia's children. Children will suffer double humiliation if, once their parent's infidelity becomes known, the parent is then publicly prosecuted, she said.
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said this week that CPP officials may be afraid that extramarital affairs are undermining their powerful family dynasties, which are cemented by close intermarriage between political and business elites.
In May, wives of top CPP officials rallied against the dangers of high technology and succeeded in pushing Prime Minister Hun Sen to ban the latest generation of mobile phones. The wives were apparently prompted by fears that younger women could use the 3G phones' video technology to seduce husbands.
Ek Samol, CPP legislation chairman, denied that the law would take Cambodia back in time. He also claimed that several developed countries have similar draconian morality laws.
"Some people compare this law to Pol Pot’s and the Taliban's, but Australia, the USA and Canada all have the law," he claimed. "The law has good intentions to strictly control morality in society."
CPP lawmaker Khoun Sodary said she supported the legislation because only a strong hand can deal with Cambodia's prevailing climate of immorality.
"The law is so important and it reflects Cambodia's current situation," she said.
The legislation will also help reduce corruption, as government officials are currently acquiring money dishonestly to lavish it on their mistresses, she added.
Funcinpec lawmaker Princess Sisowath Santa said she, too, backed the law. "The law will straighten the line to finish our bad habits and make them good habits," she said.
But not everyone in the CPP/Funcinpec coalition government agreed.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said by telephone that he was personally opposed to the draft, and that Cambodia is not a "monk society."
On occasion, he said, a little extramarital activity can be a beneficial stress reliever.
"If not, there will be bad tempers and fights in the office," he said.
Khieu Kanharith also warned that such a severe law would damage the country's international reputation.
"The law will make us ashamed in front of other countries," he said.
Kem Sokha, director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said he could not understand why the law was suddenly being treated with such urgency.
The legislation will likely be implemented against mistresses rather than their high-ranking lovers, he said.
"Women will be the vulnerable victims of the law," he said.
National Assembly President Heng Samrin said he will push for the law to be passed today.
CPP lawmaker Som Kim Sour urged the National Assembly to back the contentious legislation, saying it would preserve Cambodia's dignity and prevent children from being raised in broken homes.
"The law will protect our Khmer society's dignity, and [promote] mutual respect between one husband and wife," she said. "It will offer morality to people to behave responsibly in a family."
Funcinpec lawmaker Monh Sophan said the law—which could put unfaithful spouses behind bars for up to a year—was the work of female CPP parliamentarians.
"It's all CPP women who initiated the idea," he told reporters outside the Assembly.
SRP lawmaker Ke Sovannroth told parliament Thursday that the new morality law is an unacceptable attempt to police people's private lives.
"In a democratic country, they never charge people with crimes related to love, emotions and ethics. They don't imprison people because of that," she said.
Few regimes other than the Taliban in Afghanistan have proposed such stringent measures, she said, adding: "This law is going backwards."
Under Pol Pot, people were told they would be executed for extramarital affairs; but this still did not stop them, Ke Sovannroth added: The family should take responsibility when its members are unfaithful, not the state, she added. "The law cannot help with, family affairs."
She also questioned whether the law would serve the best interests of Cambodia's children. Children will suffer double humiliation if, once their parent's infidelity becomes known, the parent is then publicly prosecuted, she said.
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said this week that CPP officials may be afraid that extramarital affairs are undermining their powerful family dynasties, which are cemented by close intermarriage between political and business elites.
In May, wives of top CPP officials rallied against the dangers of high technology and succeeded in pushing Prime Minister Hun Sen to ban the latest generation of mobile phones. The wives were apparently prompted by fears that younger women could use the 3G phones' video technology to seduce husbands.
Ek Samol, CPP legislation chairman, denied that the law would take Cambodia back in time. He also claimed that several developed countries have similar draconian morality laws.
"Some people compare this law to Pol Pot’s and the Taliban's, but Australia, the USA and Canada all have the law," he claimed. "The law has good intentions to strictly control morality in society."
CPP lawmaker Khoun Sodary said she supported the legislation because only a strong hand can deal with Cambodia's prevailing climate of immorality.
"The law is so important and it reflects Cambodia's current situation," she said.
The legislation will also help reduce corruption, as government officials are currently acquiring money dishonestly to lavish it on their mistresses, she added.
Funcinpec lawmaker Princess Sisowath Santa said she, too, backed the law. "The law will straighten the line to finish our bad habits and make them good habits," she said.
But not everyone in the CPP/Funcinpec coalition government agreed.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said by telephone that he was personally opposed to the draft, and that Cambodia is not a "monk society."
On occasion, he said, a little extramarital activity can be a beneficial stress reliever.
"If not, there will be bad tempers and fights in the office," he said.
Khieu Kanharith also warned that such a severe law would damage the country's international reputation.
"The law will make us ashamed in front of other countries," he said.
Kem Sokha, director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said he could not understand why the law was suddenly being treated with such urgency.
The legislation will likely be implemented against mistresses rather than their high-ranking lovers, he said.
"Women will be the vulnerable victims of the law," he said.
National Assembly President Heng Samrin said he will push for the law to be passed today.
6 comments:
no trust in court, no justice, lawless country,and stupid people make this law never work.
KI PLEASE DO NOT MISCONCEPTION. Taliban is very strict fundamentalist Muslim on varouis social aspects. Ironically, Taliban allows men to have many wives where women are prohibited to work, schooling, and dress in BERKA style. If she is found to break their VICE LAWS, she gets severe punishment,on some cases death penalty.
This Cambodian legislation is about to make a moral imperative of a family which man and woman are come to mutual contract of honestly, devotion, and caring. If either one of them feels that they can't retain the moral integrity and honesty. S/he can file the divorce. US POLITICIAN who is POLYGAMIST won't have a chance to stay in the office, if s/he gets caught or even can't get elected. A month ago, here is USA both of my coworkers were let go from job because of the adultery.
Giving the nature of governement corruption is another sotry but at least there is raising concern about this isssue in Cambodian society. Literally,this is a good intention. However, the practice is another thing.
For a glance,I thought he was Huor Lavie,the singer. Is he not Huor Lavie double?
This law has been created to plague Ranariddh life and those who will displease the GANG HOAN XEN but not for the latter.
(FAIS CE QUE JE TE DIS, NE FAIS PAS CE QUE JE FAIS).
Only a few idiot who can see that this law is very important. Offcourse Cambodia is going back to Pol Pot and Taliban regime.
One day, all Cambodian women in Cambodia must wearing a veil so that noone can see their face??????
Cant the CPP comeup with a better Law. In a away i support the law to keep Khieu Kanharith in Goal if he breaches this..the chances are high with him...in fact it good to see a couple of CPP MPs in goal that would be nice.
On the other hand CPP MP if you are really interest in law: how about taking on my proposal:
1. Write and execute laws to contain and control the number illegal immigrant (viet + others) in Cambodia and taking Khmer job and chewing and destroy Khmer resources.
2. Write laws to allow reputable country like Japan, Australia, Canada, UK, US, Germany etc tender access to inprove infrasture projects.
3. Write laws to introduce proper boader protols fine and imprison illegal vietnamese/thai fishing in our sea.
4. Write law to introduce government funded public house for the poor and unemploy.
5. Write law to establish good basic hospital access for the public and medication control/pourity.
6.Write law to introduce proper public transport like, bus, ferries, and train around the country particularly in rural area.
7. Write industrial relations law to ensure people have equal access to find job and resonable wages and standard working hours. I.e balance in power between employer and employee.
8. Write law to reform on environment protections for all plants and animals native to Cambodia. Focus on sustainable developement.
9. write law to export Cambodian good like rice and other goods/services directly to oversea countries and cut out the third parties involved like the Viet and Thai. Find market for your local producer.
10.Stop talking about corruptions start policing it....write law to allow each MP to declare there personal assets before, during and after their term. Come on you guys got nothing to hide right!
GOOD LUCK. and proof me right. it only 10 items.
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