Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha, shown here at his offices on December 22, speaks about his party’s role in the current government. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)Monday, 29 December 2008
Written by Neth Pheaktra
The Phnom Penh Post
"THE RULING PARTY MUST GIVE A VOICE TO THE OPPOSITION AND MINOR GROUPS IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY."The Human Rights Party’s Kem Sokha says efforts to muzzle the opposition during parliamentary debate hurts democracy
With only three lawmakers, your party has no right to speak in the National Assembly. What is your position on this issue?
The Human Rights Party still claims a full right of expression within the National Assembly, as a voice of the minority. We may only be three parliamentarians, but we still represent the 40,000 people who gave us their vote.
In the National Assembly, we empower the minority by placing checks and balances on the country's leadership. But if the ruling party monopolises speaking time, we lose these checks and balances that are so essential in a democracy.
The internal rules of the National Assembly specify that lawmakers need to form groups of at least 10 members in order to speak.
But we must ask who created this rule and why. Was it to promote or to reduce freedom of expression? Cambodia's Constitution emphasises freedom of expression of the Cambodian people and the lawmakers who represent them, and when we make a law we must respect the Constitution.
We will continue to push for an amendment of the internal rules of the National Assembly. When the CPP wants to amend a law, everything goes smoothly for them. But why can we not revise rules if this revision would promote freedom and democracy? Some CPP lawmakers tell us we must respect the law, which is easier said than done. We respect the law, but it must be good law.
What is the reaction of your supporters?
The Cambodian people are very unhappy, but I tried to calm them and wait for a resolution. But the CPP behaves disrespectfully because it won 90 seats in the Assembly. If no solution is found, our 40,000 supporters will be very angry, and we will continue to struggle for an amendment. I don't want to worry the Cambodian people, but why is the CPP so worried about our three HRP lawmakers?
According to the internal rules of the National Assembly, if a minority party cannot form a group of 10, it should join another party group in order to be able to speak.
Why doesn't the HRP do it?
We don't join another party because we want to preserve our party's identity. This requirement is wrong in a liberal democracy, and it shows that the National Assembly is not a pluralistic parliament. Here, the big party dominates the small party.
But smaller parties should be able to express themselves regardless of how many parliamentarians it has.
We have also suggested that lawmakers from other parties should be able to form a group with us, and speak with a common voice.
Why do you think these rules are in place?
Parliaments in other countries oblige lawmakers to form groups in order to manage speaking time more easily. But most of these parliaments are divided into ruling parties and opposition, not into groups as in Cambodia. Of course, the opposition is a minority, but they still have time to speak.
In Cambodia, the National Assembly limits freedom of expression because the ruling party is afraid of criticism from the opposition.
Even members of the ruling party don't dare to criticise the head of government because they don't want him to lose his position. If we want to have real democracy and help the government to better serve the nation through constructive criticism, the ruling party must give a voice to the opposition and minor groups in the National Assembly.
Will you request help from the international community or from the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Organisation?
No, not yet. Before the inauguration of the new Assembly [Prime Minister Hun Sen] had already promised the Sam Rainsy Party that he will recognise the rights of the opposition. We will give him some time to fulfill this promise.
Hun Sen has also stressed that he would be unhappy if we sought international support. So we tried to address our grievances directly to Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin, but he keeps answering that we should respect the rules as they are. We will wait until the end of the year.
If they don't offer a solution, we will seek help from the Inter-Parliamentary Organisation and other democrats to defend the right of lawmakers.
If your effort to amend the internal rule fails, what is your next step?
If we cannot speak within the Assembly, we will seek another forum to present our views.
For example, when parliament discusses a law, but we cannot voice our position, we can release statements to the press. We will seek public understanding for our ideas and suggestions through NGO forums and the media. But this is only our last alternative.
If the CPP controls the government, the Assembly and the Senate, and doesn't allow minority representatives to speak, then it encourages demonstrations and protests in the maquis like in the past.
I think they don't reflect enough on this issue. What do they lose if they amend the internal rules and allow others to speak?
Can Cambodia claim it has real freedom of expression?
We have freedom of expression only on the surface, but not in substance.
First, many important channels of information, television and radio, are controlled by the ruling party, even if there are some free media outlets. Second, if they ban the voice of lawmakers, it is even more serious than the freedom of press because the lawmakers are direct representatives of the people.
So, even though the government claims that there is freedom of expression, this is really not the case.
How do you cooperate with the Sam Rainsy Party within the Assembly?
We asked the SRP to speak for us, but we don't want this situation to continue forever. We want to speak for ourselves and have full freedom. The SRP complained too, but when they criticised the government, the CPP threatened the opposition.
To tackle the problem, we have discussed with the SRP to unite into one large opposition and cooperate in debates and in nonviolent protest. In the future, we will unite and create a big party for the next election.
How would you describe the current National Assembly?
The current Assembly is reverting into a Communist assembly, where the state is the party and the party is the state.
The Assembly is controlled by one party, the government is led by one party and the judicial system is controlled by one party.
It is like a communist system, but we will have to see what happens in the future.
27 comments:
Very good interview!The minor group must have right to speak, to critic for Cambodia!
What a funny RULES!
3 seats, 3 votes, what is the use? Just shut the fuck up!
In Australia, a few small parties like the Greens, the Demcrats, ( now extinct), the Shooters Party, among others, are very active due to the rule allowing them to speak in parliaments. Sometimes, they hold the balance of power, so the big parties have to kowtow to them when passing certain legislations.
In regards to parliamentary commitees, some are given to the opposition such as finance, welfare, and forein affairs.
If Khmer leaders wish to advance democracy, oppostion must be given some voice in the parliament.
5.22 PM, still haven't sought psychiatric help yet ? Your parents or spouse must be very worried for you.
You need 10 people or more to form a group in order to speak during National Assembly sessions? That's really lame. With this type of internal rules within the National Assembly, political parties with less than ten Members of Parliament will have a difficult time getting their ideas and debate onto the floor.
I don't remember off the top of my head (correct me if I made a mistake)* but the results from the July 27, 2008 General Elections resulted in:
Cambodian People's Party~ 90 seats
Sam Rainsy Party~ 26 seats
Human Rights Party~ 3 seats
Therefore, the HRP's best strategical maneuver is to form a strong alliance with the SRP.
*Those were my estimates. I didn't have time to find the accurate results. If someone can correct my numbers, please do.
In developed country, people can afford to waste times, but not in underdeveloped country. We just don't got time to bullshit with losers, donut makers, tomato makers, or cyclo drivers.
6:44 PM
That's why Cambodia's government is such a fucked up government. The majority of the government (what a coincidence...CPP) never try to broaden their minds, accept new ideas, encourage ingenuity, practice common sense, abide by laws, nor become progressive. They only make a half-pissed poor effort with one ear if you give them leoy dolla amaritkang. This is what happens when the government is full of ah Sen's cronies, CPP thugs, former Khmer Rouge turned Yuon slaves and criminal-minded businessmen.
all is good idea
5:22 PM,
your heart and mind is cold.
For your mind is narrow. I can't blame people with narrow-mind for what they do,but I must inform you what you are.
Its your problem whether you care or not.
7:10 PM,
IMHO, that's a very very good comment I haven't seen in a long time here on KI-Media. Thanks for taking the time to write. For whatever you are doing, best of luck to you.
Regards,
អក
Sometimes, it's ironic... Hun Sen is surrounded with more
intellect's people than Sam Rainsy.
Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy have the same manner.
In the reunion, Sam Rainsy don't like to listen.
He likes to talk and give orders.
And Hun Sen, in his reunion with high rank of CPP,
he must listen to others too.
He had no choice.
What is the best alternative???
Let's one guy rule the party ??
In fact, both are bastards in different's ways...
Khmer Canadian
If Cambodia is to succeed, it must excludes losers from talk.
6:44PM and 7:10PM – Forgive me for jumping in. I think both of you have good arguments. Cambodia does need to have multiple political parties in order to prevent one party from monopolizing the power. However, too many parties are counter-productive, especially when the opposition parties can not put the interests of the nation above those of their own parties. By putting some rules, it will oblige the opposition parties to compromise with each others and unite in order to make their voice heard in the parliament.
I think all opposition parties have made their own mistakes from the beginning after the election. Indeed according to the rule set up by Untac, proportional system election should be worked out by diving all the seats in the National assembly to the share of each party has received. In that system, HRP has got more than 3 seats and CPP has only 77 Seats. They should demaded for their legal win after the election. Once they let CPP to bully them at any time they wanted, CPP will increase their bully non stop.
Ina democracy System, regardless small or large, each party leader has their right to make their concern. The CPP must respect other party right. If this right has lost, a small nation such as Nue ( only 1200 people) would have lost their statehood already. A large country like Australia would take that country already. Or a large could like China would take Vietnam or Laos or Mongol ( only 2 millions population already. Law is Law. It is not about large number or small Number. If CPP is running a National Assembly with their large MP withour considering the law and right of other parties, Cambodian National Assembly would soon turn to be a farm of sheep which would only say Maaaak. Areak Prey
It's simple really.
Ask ah HUN SEN to let loose of the Cambodian people:
No threat, no political intimidation, no secret killings....from the part of the Viet backed police and killing machine of HUN SEN....
And we will see how the real democracy takes its course.
But again if life is that simple!
Ah Pleu-oversea trying to destroy Cambodia. Don't listen them. They are nothing more than donut maker in the back of the kitchen, or tomato picker from a stinky US farm, or taxi driver in the Long Beach slum.... .
No one is much pleu than ah pleu 8:32AM which has his mental problems by thinking that all overseas Cambodian are doing Donut, Taxis driver and fruits pickers. we have thousands of medical doctors, Scientists, economists, Pharmacist, accountants, politicians, insurance advisors, bankers etc.. and etc.. where they do not to work in Cambodia to be slave of Hun Sen and his family like this pleu poster 8:32AM. This generation you may have lived better than other Cambodian inside Cambodia but without a good system, your daughter need to sell your grand-daughters for living in the next generations as one proverbs goes " The flood come, the fishes eating the ants and the drough come, the ants will eat the fishes. Do you want this cicle to repeat? The Buddha has said" If you committed with all the good deeds, you deserve to have good return. But if you have committed with crimes and karma, the spirit of devils will be born as your son and daughters. Tevova will not born in a family with full of karma. Areak Prey
Even our donuts makers, fruit pickers, taxis drivers and bakers, they have played very important roles in USA, Australia and other countries economy by paying taxes and creating employment. The wisemen in China has said" Man must has a job usefull to the society. Without a job, a man would be worst than a dog. A dog can guard the house and other animals. Only people who lived by making their wealth from corruption should be shamed because your corruption means daylight robbery. Your ancestors should be shamefull and your descendant should be also shamefull. Areak Prey
I have 3 kids.Two boys are engineers,the other one is teacher and still study for her PH.D.
Don't you motherfucker 8:32am pick on our people anymore.You deserve a bullet right between your eyes.
Hey, you can do whatever you want oversea, but we want better in Cambodia. So stop bragging about your stupid milestone achievements to become a tomato picker, potato digger, dish washer in Viet restaurant, or donut maker in the backroom, ... .
So why are still sucking cunts in the US , huh ? You are fucking brave but still hiding in the US, and you probably overstayed your visa to get PR, huh ?
8:32 AM, even the Khmers that make donuts, pick vegetables or even mop the floor are way smarter your lok chamkout pleur hun sen. A pleur hun sen knows only to chain smoke, beg for leouy dolla amaritkang, and bully his own Khmer people. To me, ah pleur hun sen is still the same peasant who failed to invade ah srok Yuon in the eastern zone and to save his own ass, started sucking Yuon dicks.
Ah sen is so stupid that he probably poked out his own eye when in an attempt to peal a mango...not a grenade explosion.
Wrong, no one is smarter than people with Hanoi Phd.
Your idiots Khmer Vietminh will be killed like Hok Lundy again when your boss felt he has enough with you. Do you know that Hok Lundy has died without Peny. In the next he will be bornt without a peny!!
8:32 AM, is it enough for you or should I add more??
You piece of shit
It's time for Ah Scam Rainxy to step down and let Kem Sokha do his job as opposition.
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