NGOs See Amendment Weakening Lawmakers’ Rights
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Several leading NGOs on Monday expressed concern over the National Assembly's vote Friday to automatically remove parliamentarians from their positions if they are convicted of a crime.
The Cambodia Defenders Project, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia, Adhoc and the Youth Council of Cambodia said in a joint statement that the vote had weakened the rights of lawmakers.
"Civil society wants to express concern about political influence dominating the National Assembly and the decrease in lawmakers' and senators' rights," the statement read.
Friday's vote amended article 120 of the law on the election of Assembly members to allow instant sacking for any parliamentarian convicted of a criminal offense. Previously, the only automatic grounds for removal was a lawmaker's death.
The NGOs said the amendment was particularly troubling coming so close on the heels of the controversial Law on the Status of Parliamentarians passed by the Assembly in August. That law criminalized statements by lawmakers that "abused an individual's dignity, social customs, public order and national security." That law also opens the way for lawmakers to be charged with criminal offenses without their parliamentary immunity first being lifted.
"Civil society has observed that the lawmakers' immunity given by voters at the polls is meaningless; it is in the hands of political parries," the NGOs said.
Hang Puthea, director of Nicfec, said too many changes are being made to Cambodia's political system too quickly.
"The freedom of lawmakers—the National Assembly—is weakened," he said. "When [lawmakers] are concerned about being removed from their positions they don't work effectively."
Koul Panha, director of Comfrel, said the Assembly had voted to make itself powerless.
"Lawmakers are now just like ordinary citizens," he said. "If the lawmakers don't have immunity, the lawmakers cannot have freedom of expression—they cannot challenge the government."
CPP lawmaker Ho Naun, who championed Friday's vote, said the amendment was fully compliant with the constitution and the internal regulations of the Assembly.
"Cambodia is a country ruled by law," she said. "We cannot allow criminals to be lawmakers."
She maintained that Assembly members put forward Friday's amendment without any urging from the CPP-led government.
The Cambodia Defenders Project, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia, Adhoc and the Youth Council of Cambodia said in a joint statement that the vote had weakened the rights of lawmakers.
"Civil society wants to express concern about political influence dominating the National Assembly and the decrease in lawmakers' and senators' rights," the statement read.
Friday's vote amended article 120 of the law on the election of Assembly members to allow instant sacking for any parliamentarian convicted of a criminal offense. Previously, the only automatic grounds for removal was a lawmaker's death.
The NGOs said the amendment was particularly troubling coming so close on the heels of the controversial Law on the Status of Parliamentarians passed by the Assembly in August. That law criminalized statements by lawmakers that "abused an individual's dignity, social customs, public order and national security." That law also opens the way for lawmakers to be charged with criminal offenses without their parliamentary immunity first being lifted.
"Civil society has observed that the lawmakers' immunity given by voters at the polls is meaningless; it is in the hands of political parries," the NGOs said.
Hang Puthea, director of Nicfec, said too many changes are being made to Cambodia's political system too quickly.
"The freedom of lawmakers—the National Assembly—is weakened," he said. "When [lawmakers] are concerned about being removed from their positions they don't work effectively."
Koul Panha, director of Comfrel, said the Assembly had voted to make itself powerless.
"Lawmakers are now just like ordinary citizens," he said. "If the lawmakers don't have immunity, the lawmakers cannot have freedom of expression—they cannot challenge the government."
CPP lawmaker Ho Naun, who championed Friday's vote, said the amendment was fully compliant with the constitution and the internal regulations of the Assembly.
"Cambodia is a country ruled by law," she said. "We cannot allow criminals to be lawmakers."
She maintained that Assembly members put forward Friday's amendment without any urging from the CPP-led government.
2 comments:
Hun Sen is criminal in coup plotting and agitation,grenade tossing at demonstrators,Paris Accord violation,human rights oppression,
Remove him from Nat Ass
To 5:37PM
Thank you! What kind a fuck up law is this? Does HO Naun want to be AH HUN SEN bitch? If this fucken law can't even prosecute AH HUN SEN then it is a fucken useless law!
AH HUN SEN is the criminal, the killer,and all the above!! Oh well, if Cambodian people can't challenge AH HUN SEN government through freedom of expression then it is time to use other mean such arm struggle!
Cambodian peace and stability only promoted AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave and his cronies more richness at the expense of poor Cambodian people!!! Cambodia need some instability to stop these mother fuckers blood suckers from taking advantage on dirt poor Cambodian people!! The trade mark for all the blood suckers are they used laws and pens to commit corruption and take advantage on poor helpless Cambodian people!!!
This got to stop now!!!!!!!!
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