Thursday, May 14, 2009

Cambodia: Activist Parliamentarian May Drop Lawsuit Against Prime Minister



Thursday, May 14th, 2009
By Chhunny Chhean
Global Voices


Mu Sochua is an internationally recognized activist and Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) member of the Cambodian National Assembly. She recently filed a lawsuit against the country's prime minister, Hun Sen, for defamatory comments he made in April 2009. Subsequently, Hun Sen filed a countersuit against Mu Sochua, also for defamation.

KI Media posted an article from the Phnom Penh Post detailing Hun Sen's countersuit:
[G]overnment lawyer Ky Tech, representing Hun Sen, filed a countersuit. Ky Tech claims he might seek as much as 10 million riels (US$2,427) in damages from Mu Sochua and other, unspecified involved persons for the defamation of his client in the press conference last Thursday.
In contrast, Mu Sochua seeks 500 riels in her lawsuit.

Cambodian Bright Future posted a letter in which Mu Sochua writes:
Within days my parliamentary immunity will be lifted so the court can “investigate” my case. This is normal procedure for politicians from the opposition party or human rights activists or the poor who cannot bribe court officials. I will be detained in the notorious prison of “Prey Sar” for as long as the courts wish to take…Is the world still watching in silence while Cambodia is now ruled by one man?

Details are Sketchy echoes Mu Sochua's thoughts:
Considering that Prime Minister Hun Sen owns the courts, [a defamation suit] seems unlikely. But good luck. It would make for an interesting two seconds — about how long the court is likely to take before it throws the case out.
Mu Sochua was recently a guest on VOA Khmer, where she announced that she would consider dropping her lawsuit.

“To protect the country, if both sides agree to withdraw the complaints, I agree,” Mu Sochua said.

Human Rights Watch supports Mu Sochua and is calling for more support worldwide.

Mu Sochua was recently interviewed by Equitycam.tv on the status of women in politics in Cambodia [see above]. Her interview is second, following an interview with fellow female lawmaker Men Sam On.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This video clip is made in 2008. There is nothing related to current event.

Anonymous said...

សូមកុំធ្វើអ្វិឲ្យជ្រុលពេកឬក៏ចង់យកពងមាន់
ជល់នឹងថ្ម?សូមកុំភ្លេចលោកហុនសែនជាអ្នក
រំដោះស្រុកខ្មែរពីរបបវាលពិឃាតឲ្យសោះ
ហើយពិភពលោកក៏ជឿគាត់ច្រើនណាស់ដែរ។
ហើយកុំអាងគណបក្សជួយឲ្យសោះដល់ទី
ជុងក្រោយពួកគេដោះដៃចោល។

Anonymous said...

more power to our khmer women in politics, etc... khmer women can help cambodia develop in all fields as well. god bless all khmer women.

Anonymous said...

to 10:18 AM ,

if you PM Hun Sen a good person no body will hame him, or swear at him. of course we would like to try to take an egg to again rock see if rock could learn something from this egg.

Hun Sen not the one who is free khmer from polpot. Pen Sovan and vandi ka un who are help the country free from polpot. Hun Sen who is stealing the power from Pen Sovan and Vandi Kaun by selling his head to youn.


without Hun sen i think we probably have a better person who came to free cambodia from polpot. probably real khmer who love khmer land will came and free khmer from polpot. anyway Hun Sen not the person who free khmer from polpot but a person who steale the power from Pen Sovan and Vandi Ka un by selling his brain to youn.