Martin Callanan, EU MEPAttempt to strip Sam Rainsy’s immunity postponed
20 June 2008
By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the original article in Khmer
On Friday, the European Union indicated that the attempt by the Cambodian court to lift opposition leaders Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity, so that he can be charged by the lawsuit brought up by Hor Namhong, will be postponed.
Martin Callanan, the chairman of the EU election observers group who just arrived in Cambodia and met with Hor Namhong on Thursday afternoon, claimed that Hor Namhong agreed to postpone this case.
Martin Callanan said: “I met with Mr. Hor Namhong and I raised about the immunity stripping issue, Mr. Hor Namhong confirmed to me that Mr. Sam Rainsy will not be stripped of his immunity before the election campaign.”
In a press conference held in the afternoon of Friday about the progress of the EU work in the election observation, Martin Callanan sent a message to all Cambodian politicians to get used to being criticized, saying: “As a politician myself, we must face all the news that could affect us, whether that news is true or not. We must get used to live with false information because we are politicians.”
The Phnom Penh municipal court recently requested for an immediate stripping of opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s immunity so that it can take measures against him stemming from the defamation lawsuit brought up Hor Namhong regarding the accusation that he was the former Boeng Trabek jail chief under the KR regime.
This request led to concerns about the potential arrest of Sam Rainsy, and the EU believes that this will severely affect the run up to the election. The EU indicated also that it sent 130 election observers, 22 of whom are EU MPs. These observers will be arriving in Cambodia soon.
The EU observers will start working with all political parties starting now, in order to push for the holding of free elections that abide with the international standards.
Martin Callanan, the chairman of the EU election observers group who just arrived in Cambodia and met with Hor Namhong on Thursday afternoon, claimed that Hor Namhong agreed to postpone this case.
Martin Callanan said: “I met with Mr. Hor Namhong and I raised about the immunity stripping issue, Mr. Hor Namhong confirmed to me that Mr. Sam Rainsy will not be stripped of his immunity before the election campaign.”
In a press conference held in the afternoon of Friday about the progress of the EU work in the election observation, Martin Callanan sent a message to all Cambodian politicians to get used to being criticized, saying: “As a politician myself, we must face all the news that could affect us, whether that news is true or not. We must get used to live with false information because we are politicians.”
The Phnom Penh municipal court recently requested for an immediate stripping of opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s immunity so that it can take measures against him stemming from the defamation lawsuit brought up Hor Namhong regarding the accusation that he was the former Boeng Trabek jail chief under the KR regime.
This request led to concerns about the potential arrest of Sam Rainsy, and the EU believes that this will severely affect the run up to the election. The EU indicated also that it sent 130 election observers, 22 of whom are EU MPs. These observers will be arriving in Cambodia soon.
The EU observers will start working with all political parties starting now, in order to push for the holding of free elections that abide with the international standards.
8 comments:
yes, right on, mr. martin callanan! politicians in cambodia should get used to being criticized because one they forgot so soon that they are a public figure and not above the rule of law, again i emphasize the rule of law as it is very essential and important for the world community who have great influence on cambodia e.g. donors, super powers, industrialized, etc... can help to guide and counsel the cambodia lawmakers and politcians alike to respect the rule of law and to enforce and uphold the rule of law in order for cambodia to move in the right direction once and for all as the cambodian people are so sick and tired of their so-called weak and self-serving politicians are always fighting amongst themselves for their own interest only and thus blinded by their own personal ambition to forget forget the national interest. i think experts from the western countries like the USA, the EU, australia, japan, etc... can do more to help to pressure and demand that they (politicians) stop serving only their own interest and start talking about the country and the khmer people who are always the one to suffer the most hardship from politician bickering. on behalf on all the people of cambodia, i ask experts from the world super power nations to help cambodia through this and to create a lasting legacy of the rule of laws in cambodia once and for all to enjoy. i'm telling you, cambodian people like myself are so sick and tired of our leaders inability to work together for what is best for cambodia, not just for themselves. together, the world's richest and industrialized nations can help cambodia for see this wish of the majority of the khmer people come to realization and come true so cambodia can develop like the rest of the world community. on behalf of all the khmer people, i thank you for your interest and tireless work to help cambodia in the name of humanitarian assistance. may god bless your country and cambodia.
it would have been just fine if it is not the election time.
Being a public figure will always under the microscope and critic by people.
Good to hear the the immunity will not be stripping or temporary suspended for this very moment.
Hope that there will be no more smear campaign for personal or political gain and let harmonize the atmosphere for this up-coming election.
FOOL!
It is hard to get PHD with no education! He have to do what his master toll to be looked smart and accepted by the master!
Ah Pleu!!!!!!!
WTF? All laws are suspended during the election period? That is the most fuck up thing I ever heard.
Kick the idiot (Callanan) out of Cambodia, please.
Halaluyah Mr. Callanan!!!!! Some of our people are just plan dumb arrogant and barbaric as ever. Tell them Sir! You rock!
Oh go suck his dick, Asshole (7:53).
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