By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The country's lawmakers voted once again on Friday to reduce their own immunity from the law and agreed 70 to 83 that a parliamentarian convicted of a crime would automatically lose his or her seat in the National Assembly.
Political observers said the trend by lawmakers to reduce their own powers, designed to "check and balance the government," was worrying and noted that the latest resolution left National Assembly members prey to a politically influenced judiciary.
The vote on Friday saw article 120 of the law on election of Assembly members amended to allow for instant sacking if a parliamentarian is found guilty of any crime or misdemeanor.
CPP lawmaker Ho Naun, one of a group of lawmakers who proposed the amendment, said that the new law would not silence parliamentarians, it would simply prevent criminals from being lawmakers.
"If they are criminals, they must lose their lawmaker positions," he said.
SRP lawmakers said the amendment was designed to silence their opposing views on government. Democracy is retreating in Cambodia, SRP lawmaker Yim Sovann told the Assembly.
"The amendment is a political trick to intimidate the opposition party to not criticize the government," he said.
"Democracy is going backwards... The court is not independent. It is under the control of the ruling [CPP] party and powerful people," he said.
CPP lawmaker Ek Sam Ol dueled Yim Sovann on his claim that democracy was in decline and noted that his ability to make such a claim proved that "there is democracy inside the National Assembly."
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said that the latest amendment to laws protecting parliamentary immunity left them increasingly at the mercy of the politicized courtrooms.
"Disinformation [and defamation] is still a criminal offense," Koul Panha said. "The court can easily make decisions based on political influence," he added.
In August the CPP-dominated Assembly adopted a wide-ranging law limiting their free speech in parliament. According to the legislation passed, lawmakers cannot use their immunity to "abuse an individual's dignity, social customs, public order and national security."
Political observers said the trend by lawmakers to reduce their own powers, designed to "check and balance the government," was worrying and noted that the latest resolution left National Assembly members prey to a politically influenced judiciary.
The vote on Friday saw article 120 of the law on election of Assembly members amended to allow for instant sacking if a parliamentarian is found guilty of any crime or misdemeanor.
CPP lawmaker Ho Naun, one of a group of lawmakers who proposed the amendment, said that the new law would not silence parliamentarians, it would simply prevent criminals from being lawmakers.
"If they are criminals, they must lose their lawmaker positions," he said.
SRP lawmakers said the amendment was designed to silence their opposing views on government. Democracy is retreating in Cambodia, SRP lawmaker Yim Sovann told the Assembly.
"The amendment is a political trick to intimidate the opposition party to not criticize the government," he said.
"Democracy is going backwards... The court is not independent. It is under the control of the ruling [CPP] party and powerful people," he said.
CPP lawmaker Ek Sam Ol dueled Yim Sovann on his claim that democracy was in decline and noted that his ability to make such a claim proved that "there is democracy inside the National Assembly."
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said that the latest amendment to laws protecting parliamentary immunity left them increasingly at the mercy of the politicized courtrooms.
"Disinformation [and defamation] is still a criminal offense," Koul Panha said. "The court can easily make decisions based on political influence," he added.
In August the CPP-dominated Assembly adopted a wide-ranging law limiting their free speech in parliament. According to the legislation passed, lawmakers cannot use their immunity to "abuse an individual's dignity, social customs, public order and national security."
4 comments:
AH HUN SEN had gone too far!!AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave government must be dismantled by any mean necessary!
Where's the bance? these idiots giving too much power to these corrupt judges is a step backward.
go ahead carry a gun and kill him dont just talk here. if you do we'll make you king of cambodia
To 1:58AM
ahahahahahahahahah!
Cambodian people haven't carry or kill him yet and AH HUN SEN already has over 3 thousand private army to protect him!
Now just imagine for one moment if Cambodian people did have gun and AH HUN SEN will need 6 thousand private army or even more to protect him!
This is just an ideas and how can people spread their ideas without talking? ahahahahhaah!
Do think AH HUN SEN have unexhausted supply of money to pay people off not to kill him? If nobody can kill him then time will definitely kill him! Please be just a little patient because time is working against AH HUN SEN!
Patient is golden!
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