Phnom Penh Post, Issue 15 / 18, September 8 - 20, 2006
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has blasted a law approved recently by the National Assembly (NA) and has claimed its passage shows that Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is using the same methods to rule the country as the Khmer Rouge regime that killed millions of Cambodians.
Rainsy's remarks were sparked by the NA's approval of a law restricting the parliamentary privilege of legislators to exercise free speech. Approved on August 31, Article 5 of the Law on the Stature of Parliamentarians makes it illegal to "abuse an individual's dignity, social customs, public order and national security."
The law, voted for unanimously by CPP and Funcinpec MPs, allows lawmakers to be charged with criminal offenses without their parliamentary immunity first being waived.
"This law is repressive and against all democratic principles," Rainsy said. "Cambodia is killing its own parliament."
Rainsy told the Post he believes the law will be used selectively, first to target the opposition and then any dissidents within the CPP. He said the CPP is behind every law that is passed and expressed little hope for annulment.
"They will overcome any barriers to get this passed," he said. "First they will order the Senate and the Constitutional Council to reject the SRP's call to have the law annulled because it's unconstitutional. They will say this despite common sense. Then they will put pressure on the King to sign off on the law. They'll make the King understand he had better not object."
In a press conference held on September 4, senior CPP lawmaker Ek Sam Ol dismissed criticism of the law from all quarters.
"We are accused falsely. This law is not a political tool to intimidate the opposition or the parliamentarians," he said. "The contents of the law are very good. There should not be criticism of a law adopted by the National Assembly because it represents the voice of the Cambodian people."
But Rainsy said there is a direct link between the recent law and the culture of fear and uncertainty that permeated Cambodia between 1975 and 1979.
"The CPP regime is the continuation of the Khmer Rouge regime," Rainsy told the Post on September 6. "There is no difference in nature between the two regimes. The difference is only in the intensity of the approach. The approach is to lead people through fear, hunger and ignorance. Under the Khmer Rouge this was used in extreme, but the same three elements prevail today and are still the instruments used to lead the country."
Although the law has also been decried by civil society, human rights groups and the US Embassy, the CPP is firm in its defense of the legislation and eager to lampoon Rainsy on the grounds that 10 Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmakers also voted to pass the law.
"If he thinks the current government regime is like Pol Pot's, it would be better for him to go and live on another planet," said CPP parliamentarian Cheam Yeap.
"You can see that the law was approved by 93 out of 94 parliamentarians and the CPP has only 73 and some were absent, so the other two parties also joined the approval. But later on the SRP asked to annul the law. They are not clear with themselves and they are showing their ignorance to ask to annul a law which they already approved."
According to Rainsy, the lawmakers' vote was not a "sell-out," but a gaff produced by the rare absence of both hImself and SRP whip Son Chhay.
"They were a little bit lost. When they pulled their heads out they realized they made a mistake," Rainsy said. "Some have said that we sold out for a pension fund and funeral expenses, but this isn't true. We've fought for years. We've given our lives and many of us have died. We won't sell out for these petty things."
Rainsy said his party has submitted a petition to the Constitutional Council asking that Article 5 be struck from the law because it violates Article 80 of the Constitution. He maintains that the law is politically motivated.
"There are two reasons for the free speech ban," he said. "One is reason is the approaching elections. If the truth prevails the CPP will lose. The second reason is the scandals everywhere: Heng Pov, the World Bank and the National Assembly building. The CPP doesn't want the truth exposed. The message is to keep quiet, or go to jail.
This a very risky time for the opposition."
Rainsy's remarks were sparked by the NA's approval of a law restricting the parliamentary privilege of legislators to exercise free speech. Approved on August 31, Article 5 of the Law on the Stature of Parliamentarians makes it illegal to "abuse an individual's dignity, social customs, public order and national security."
The law, voted for unanimously by CPP and Funcinpec MPs, allows lawmakers to be charged with criminal offenses without their parliamentary immunity first being waived.
"This law is repressive and against all democratic principles," Rainsy said. "Cambodia is killing its own parliament."
Rainsy told the Post he believes the law will be used selectively, first to target the opposition and then any dissidents within the CPP. He said the CPP is behind every law that is passed and expressed little hope for annulment.
"They will overcome any barriers to get this passed," he said. "First they will order the Senate and the Constitutional Council to reject the SRP's call to have the law annulled because it's unconstitutional. They will say this despite common sense. Then they will put pressure on the King to sign off on the law. They'll make the King understand he had better not object."
In a press conference held on September 4, senior CPP lawmaker Ek Sam Ol dismissed criticism of the law from all quarters.
"We are accused falsely. This law is not a political tool to intimidate the opposition or the parliamentarians," he said. "The contents of the law are very good. There should not be criticism of a law adopted by the National Assembly because it represents the voice of the Cambodian people."
But Rainsy said there is a direct link between the recent law and the culture of fear and uncertainty that permeated Cambodia between 1975 and 1979.
"The CPP regime is the continuation of the Khmer Rouge regime," Rainsy told the Post on September 6. "There is no difference in nature between the two regimes. The difference is only in the intensity of the approach. The approach is to lead people through fear, hunger and ignorance. Under the Khmer Rouge this was used in extreme, but the same three elements prevail today and are still the instruments used to lead the country."
Although the law has also been decried by civil society, human rights groups and the US Embassy, the CPP is firm in its defense of the legislation and eager to lampoon Rainsy on the grounds that 10 Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmakers also voted to pass the law.
"If he thinks the current government regime is like Pol Pot's, it would be better for him to go and live on another planet," said CPP parliamentarian Cheam Yeap.
"You can see that the law was approved by 93 out of 94 parliamentarians and the CPP has only 73 and some were absent, so the other two parties also joined the approval. But later on the SRP asked to annul the law. They are not clear with themselves and they are showing their ignorance to ask to annul a law which they already approved."
According to Rainsy, the lawmakers' vote was not a "sell-out," but a gaff produced by the rare absence of both hImself and SRP whip Son Chhay.
"They were a little bit lost. When they pulled their heads out they realized they made a mistake," Rainsy said. "Some have said that we sold out for a pension fund and funeral expenses, but this isn't true. We've fought for years. We've given our lives and many of us have died. We won't sell out for these petty things."
Rainsy said his party has submitted a petition to the Constitutional Council asking that Article 5 be struck from the law because it violates Article 80 of the Constitution. He maintains that the law is politically motivated.
"There are two reasons for the free speech ban," he said. "One is reason is the approaching elections. If the truth prevails the CPP will lose. The second reason is the scandals everywhere: Heng Pov, the World Bank and the National Assembly building. The CPP doesn't want the truth exposed. The message is to keep quiet, or go to jail.
This a very risky time for the opposition."
9 comments:
Why SRP is so scar with the recent approved law of adultery. If this law has hidden clauses that can be paved ways to be used for political oppression.
If so then this law is not right design. If this law is intended only to hold the public servants accountable for their moral values and high standard of public office practices, then SRP should stop and think twice. And any officials, MUST stop visiting brothel and having mistress. Are people having addiction to sex? Then seek treatment. Learn to change the perception of the culture of KHMER MEN(I'm not talking other ASIANS, they have their own problems, too) have to have two wives or mistresses. Can you guess this comment is sound like from a woman? Think again. One of many causes of corruption is the public officials having extra sexual partners. There is no need to have a missile scientist or expert to analyst this fact. It is a simple, like 123... there we go. Those people have to make money to spend on their madames/mistresses, for examples,to name just a couple, HUN SEN and RANNARIGH.
However, this law should be applied only for the public employees(top to bottom) whose salaries are from people tax money. But I doubt this law can be effective giving an outstanding history of a selective application of procedure to certain groups. It is what SRP concern about? the key word "selective ramification of this law". If CPP Gov't members can cover up their extra-marital affairs? Are they able to plough the way through deny, deny?
Private citizens should not be part of this drama. Can any person in the Gov't prove that their money to spend on their extra-lovers are free from stealing public fund? Is Kick back money from a private company or other sources to any Gov't officials is considered illegal?
you stupid channey!
they talk about Gagging MPs, not about your father have an affair!
We are educated people not stupid khmer rouge, do not confuse yourself!
TO JAME DOE,
Thank You and I thank you again. YES, We are educated people, sic!!! for using words STUPID, GARUMBA&OLAMPA, Oh LA LA, "YOUR FATHER HAVE AN AFFAIR?" to express the comment. I bet you, If we are very highly educated people, we might end up using a lot of F and S...words. So that's making me wander why HUN SEN has been using a lot of these words, when he was angry because he had several honorable PhDs. Well, I would rather to be a person getting an elementary school. Good bye!!!
ahahaha!
Mr. HUN SEN used to promote nanny job for Cambodian women. I said this law is perfect for Cambodian women!ahahahah. You see now Cambodian women have more time doing all the cooking , washing, and cleaning and looking after the children and the house! Cambodian women will have more time taking care of their body and their personal hygiene instead of running after another man!
In this life time if my beautiful wife can be all the things that I had said above and I will be the luckiest guy in the world!
Oh baby!Pease come sit on my lap!
I think some MPs of Sam Rainsy Party are not well educated. They don't know which law ties them from expression. I think they are lazy to scrutinize that why they make Sam Rainsy embarressed.
I am so amazed why Sam Rainsy have so many of stupid MP too. They have voted the law without knowing the impact of that law to themselve. What an ignorance????
Sam Rainsy MPs should deliberate clearly before they decide to vote. I was wondering why they made such a big mistake? The Law on the Statutes of Parliamentarians is not something for them to play with. They are the representatives of the Khmer people. Didn't them realize how many votes are required for them to have a seat at the national assembly???
Yes, I'm not so sure that Channey man really know how to read and understand English. He seemed out of no where. Strange!
Channey is belong to stupid ediot group of aH hun sen
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