Sam Rainsy, Cambodian opposition party leader, is seen in Phnom Penh, Cambodia April 17, 2007. Sam Rainsy said Wednesday a prosecutor's request to strip him of his parliamentary immunity was politically motivated to tarnish his name ahead of national elections next month. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
18 June 2008
'...the request "a threat to Sam Rainsy, so that Sam Rainsy dare not speak freely ... This is also a message to other parties so that they dare not do what they want"' - Ou Vireak, CCHR PresidentThe National Assembly is not likely to meet in an emergency session following a request issued by Phnom Penh Municipal Court that opposition leader Sam Rainsy have his parliamentary immunity suspended, a lawmaker said Wednesday.
The National Assembly also has not yet received the request, said Nguon Nhel, first vice president of the parliamentary body.
The Sam Rainsy Party late Tuesday issued a copy of a letter from Phnom Penh Municipal Court deputy prosecutor E Chheng Huot, addressed to National Assembly President Heng Samrin through Justice Minister Ang Vong Vattana.
The letter, dated June 16, requests the temporary suspension of the parliamentary immunity of opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who is facing a defamation and disinformation suit.
"I am not concerned about the arrest at all," Sam Rainsy said Wednesday. An arrest by the ruling Cambodian People's Party would mean a loss of popularity for the CPP, he said.
The court has been investigating remarks made at an April 18 rally by Sam Rainsy implicating Foreign Minister Hor Namhong as a member of the Khmer Rouge, and E Chheng Huot said in his letter he had gathered enough evidence to suspect defamation.
"The National Assembly is likely unable to convene a two-thirds majority…to suspend Sam Rainsy's immunity, while the election campaign approaches, because many members of parliament have gone to the provinces to meet the people," Nguon Nhel said.
The move to strip Sam Rainsy of his immunity comes with the national election little more than a month away and follows the recent arrest of opposition newspaper editor Dam Sith on similar charges.
Police have also said they are opening an investigation into allegations made by opposition defectors that members of the opposition have been involved in violent plots against the government. Sam Rainsy has called such accusations "unbelievable."
The attempt to suspend Sam Rainsy's immunity met with criticism from one US Embassy official and a rights worker.
"We very much regret the legal controversy that has [come] on the eve of the election process," embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said Wednesday. "We think it risks poisoning the open political atmosphere that is necessary for a fully democratic election process."
Ouk Vireak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, called the request "a threat to Sam Rainsy, so that Sam Rainsy dare not speak freely."
"This is also a message to other parties so that they dare not do what they want," he said.
13 comments:
I believed this is a political threat from CPP.
According to the witness Hor Nam Hong is the former president of Beung Trabeak, and crimes against the innocence people during Khmer Rouge.
In addition, I believe everything that Sam Rainsy said about Hor Namhong is truth.
why, is this against democracy in cambodia?
Sam Rainsy Party defector Lek Bunnhean trying to kiss ass Hun Sen, by providing untruth information about Sam Rainsy.
When the election over, Hun Sen will shit on the head to all defectors from SRP.
i don't hate mr. sam rainsy; i don't hate mr. hun sen; i don't hate anybody for that matter. i believe we all want good things for cambodia and khmer people because if cambodia suffers, we all will suffer along with it. so, i hope we are not too blind by too much corruption without boundary and too much greed when we have too much wealth already. please start and think of a new stragedy for national interest once as some of us are too wealthy already. nobody can live pass 100 to enjoy everything. so, please enjoy and do more good to benefit all of cambodia as well. thank you and god bless all khmer and cambodia.
Persoanlly, don't think that NA will have an emergency session just for the court order seeking a temporary suspension of parlimentarian ummunity, it is not a matter of threatened issue concerning national security, and the matter of fact this is rather a personal law suit brought by a person againgst another which can be deal later on after the election.
It might be a case of concern about the allegations made by opposition defectors that members of the opposition have been involved in violent plots against the government which could be constitute a risk poses to the national security.
No matter what ever outcomes from the election the opposition is finished before it started! HS will use this to the CPP benefit.
The only way to eliminate the corruption in Cambodia is to remove this prime minister Hun Sen (the ex-Khmer rouge) and his gangster (CPP) out from the power.
It about time that SRP and alone with all the Khmer people to submitt to the court in parallel on the illegality of the CPP action during 1997 coupe against NR as a terrorist act.SRP should look at 1991 Paris agreement and if local court not accpets it should go to international court.
The different between SRP to CPP is that CPP actioned with Hun Sen as leader had resulted in many dealth, which are not being prosecuted until today.Similarly if the CPP uses relations as a mean to determine connections to a particular party/person. Then that same approach cab be apply to those who have relations to the former Khmer Rouge regime , vietnames regime thatare known to committ crime again humanity.
Those who found to committ crime and killing etc should be strip of Parlarmintary immunity and either prosecuted by local court but prefer to done by international court.
Right now Hun Sen is showing the world that he is a low life good for nothing individual. The sad part is that him and his party doesn't even realize it. His is surrounded by brainless adviser that make him act like animal and he seems to enjoy.
Then be an animal, but please when you address the media don't wear the title of Prime Minister, you bring shame to Cambodia.
Everyone said that CPP is corrupted and bad. Now it is your time to get inside there and see what is the real thing. If you are in SRP, you cannot do anything but swearing. Now you can get in CPP and do the work. Remember, you can always run away from the CPP if it is as bad as you think. Now I call on other SRP members to jion CPP and help the country. After you join and you think you don't like or you think the CPP is bad, then you can get out and you can testify how bad the CPP is. Now you are not in CPP, you don't know the reality. Please just give a month or so in CPP so you can see if it is bad or good.
If you respond to this message don't swear because I am also a khmer like you. It is just that I have a different idea.
-Silence Dogood
Mr. Sam Rainsey works so hard and tirelessly to save Cambodia. He needs to take of himself too in order to save Cambodia for a long time. Please take a good rest. Remember that thing happens and 90% is how you take it. Don't let it gets to you. You're above the rest and you can handle anything. God will be with you!
Nope, Ah Scam Rainxy will be be above the law. We already booked room for him in our Prey Sor Hilton.
Which one is the a.shole here? Cast your vote on July 27th.
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