Cambodia: End Threats to Opposition Lawmaker
One of Parliament’s Few Women Faces Criminal Defamation Suit
May 5, 2009
Human Rights Watch
(New York) - Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior members of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) should stop threatening to orchestrate the removal of lawmakers' parliamentary immunity in order to silence government critics, Human Rights Watch said today.
In a speech on April 29, 2009, Hun Sen said that it would be "as easy as ABC" to have the parliamentary immunity lifted for Mu Sochua, a National Assembly member. This would permit the government to bring criminal charges against her and prosecute her for publicly criticizing the prime minister. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has summoned Sochua to court on May 7.
"This is yet another blatant attempt to silence the political opposition," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "By threatening to prosecute opposition members of parliament on bogus charges, Hun Sen shows once again that his goal is elective dictatorship, not a genuinely pluralistic democracy."
Under Cambodia's Constitution, members of the National Assembly are immune from prosecution unless the assembly lifts their parliamentary immunity. The CPP has a long history of lifting the parliamentary immunity of opposition figures, though, in order to bring politically motivated criminal charges against them.
Mu Sochua, a member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) representing Kampot province, is one of the few female members of the National Assembly. On April 23, she and her lawyer announced her intention to file a defamation complaint against the prime minister after he publicly accused an unnamed woman from Kampot of "inciting" problems and acting like a gangster (cheung klang, literally "strong leg," a term considered especially derogatory for women). Sochua had said she was physically manhandled by a CPP military general during the 2008 election campaign. But Hun Sen, in his remarks, contended that she had instead acted provocatively by "rushing to embrace someone" and then complaining that the person had ripped open several of the buttons of her blouse.
The day after Sochua announced her lawsuit, a senior prime ministerial adviser, Om Yentieng, told the press that Hun Sen would counter-sue Sochua, and that all CPP National Assembly members would support lifting her immunity.
Five days later, Hun Sen confirmed that he was suing "a lady," whom he described as "stupid," as well as her lawyer. The lawsuit against Sochua was filed on April 27 by Hun Sen's lawyer, Ky Tech, former president of the Cambodian Bar Association. Ky Tech has also filed a complaint with the Bar Association against Sochua's lawyer, Kong Sam Onn, accusing him of violating the lawyers' code of ethics in this case.
Opposition figures convicted on politically motivated charges after their parliamentary immunity was lifted include Cheam Channy, an SRP member convicted in a biased trial in 2005 on unsubstantiated charges of creating a rebel army, and the party leader, Sam Rainsy, the same year for allegedly defaming government leaders.
"Punishing Mu Sochua is no idle threat as Hun Sen continues to find ways to intimidate the opposition," said Adams. "Threats to prosecute government critics and lawyers are especially difficult to counter in Cambodia, where the courts are controlled by the government. No judge in Cambodia would stand up to Hun Sen."
May 5, 2009
Human Rights Watch
(New York) - Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior members of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) should stop threatening to orchestrate the removal of lawmakers' parliamentary immunity in order to silence government critics, Human Rights Watch said today.
In a speech on April 29, 2009, Hun Sen said that it would be "as easy as ABC" to have the parliamentary immunity lifted for Mu Sochua, a National Assembly member. This would permit the government to bring criminal charges against her and prosecute her for publicly criticizing the prime minister. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has summoned Sochua to court on May 7.
"This is yet another blatant attempt to silence the political opposition," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "By threatening to prosecute opposition members of parliament on bogus charges, Hun Sen shows once again that his goal is elective dictatorship, not a genuinely pluralistic democracy."
Under Cambodia's Constitution, members of the National Assembly are immune from prosecution unless the assembly lifts their parliamentary immunity. The CPP has a long history of lifting the parliamentary immunity of opposition figures, though, in order to bring politically motivated criminal charges against them.
Mu Sochua, a member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) representing Kampot province, is one of the few female members of the National Assembly. On April 23, she and her lawyer announced her intention to file a defamation complaint against the prime minister after he publicly accused an unnamed woman from Kampot of "inciting" problems and acting like a gangster (cheung klang, literally "strong leg," a term considered especially derogatory for women). Sochua had said she was physically manhandled by a CPP military general during the 2008 election campaign. But Hun Sen, in his remarks, contended that she had instead acted provocatively by "rushing to embrace someone" and then complaining that the person had ripped open several of the buttons of her blouse.
The day after Sochua announced her lawsuit, a senior prime ministerial adviser, Om Yentieng, told the press that Hun Sen would counter-sue Sochua, and that all CPP National Assembly members would support lifting her immunity.
Five days later, Hun Sen confirmed that he was suing "a lady," whom he described as "stupid," as well as her lawyer. The lawsuit against Sochua was filed on April 27 by Hun Sen's lawyer, Ky Tech, former president of the Cambodian Bar Association. Ky Tech has also filed a complaint with the Bar Association against Sochua's lawyer, Kong Sam Onn, accusing him of violating the lawyers' code of ethics in this case.
Opposition figures convicted on politically motivated charges after their parliamentary immunity was lifted include Cheam Channy, an SRP member convicted in a biased trial in 2005 on unsubstantiated charges of creating a rebel army, and the party leader, Sam Rainsy, the same year for allegedly defaming government leaders.
"Punishing Mu Sochua is no idle threat as Hun Sen continues to find ways to intimidate the opposition," said Adams. "Threats to prosecute government critics and lawyers are especially difficult to counter in Cambodia, where the courts are controlled by the government. No judge in Cambodia would stand up to Hun Sen."
19 comments:
Cambodian Town
Long Beach
This case was about only political manipulation for SRP, during a councilors campaign election. Actually, in Khmer society, justice, people would get equal treatment if they have something to offer for the country, or they are the same class. For that reasons, Samdech Deycho Hun Sen, will use his higher title versus MP Mu Sochua, her lower title in the court.
Finally, MP Mu Sochua and her lawyer both will be fine $2500 each, then the money will be donated to charity group.
As I have said before for many times that all Cambodian National Institutions are in very bad immage. None of them are Neutral, in credibility, reliablity and with strong integrity. The National Constitution has clearly stated that all Cambodian members of Parliament are immuned from prosecution, arrest and intimidation for expressing their opinion and their words during their parliamentarian works. At all time, some of the members of the same parliament have illegally misinterpreted the laws to keep their boss happy by ignoring the importance of the laws and the security of the country. These same members who have no self integrity and self-independent expression of opinion have harmed the country even deeper into an arnarchy Nation where a blind leader can do every thing to suite his own desire and ignoring the interest of the country. It is very sad to see Cambodia to fall down to the dark years of Pol Pot again. Areak Prey
It takes an educated person to understand the evil of THE CPP ruled by HS.
Don't bark for Hun Sen, New Phally!
Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, Chea Sim do not actually understand the word "justice". Why? These monkeys came from the barbaric origin. Expecting these monkeys to give equal justice to all Khmers seems like expecting mokeys to talk human language.
pourk ah phler 3 neak vear ot mean koor kbal. vear ot jess kit...vear ang tae om nach mouy kut. ah lop sa tek men ngorb oy bat bat.lol
It doesn't have to be an educated person to understand the evil of the CPP ruled by Hun Sen. Even an mental-health person understand between wrong and right better than the feeble-minded government in Phnom Penh an its brain-washed followers both inside and outside of Cambodia.
Cambodian Town
Long Beach,
Are you Old Phally now?!
F--k you man!
These monkeys are busy finding their ways to defeat the others for their life-long power. They do not care much about fiding ways to help their needy people.
Sometimes it's very difficult to understand who responses to who. It is easy to address who you response to for a direct feedback because some of the reactions are misleading based on a wrong assumption.
For example: 9:50 AM, are you responding to 8:51 AM or 7:15 AM?
Don't forget these baboons hun sen, heng somrin and others are former khmer rouge; they are good for nothing. they worship their vietboss who steer them in any directions.
I guess the whole charade is showing the true nature of how illeterate commies operate - we saw how primitive the original Khmer Rouge were, but these break-aways/remnants of the original gang learned a bit more on how to put on the make up and monkey suits to fool the donors on one hand, and to preserve their way of life/power on another.
To New Phally 7:15 AM
I do not think you have any brain cell at all.
If you do, you won't be supporting criminals that assassinate and murder innocent Khmer peoples.
Hun Sen is a killing machine.
Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge commander.
Hun Sen is a Khmer Rouge leader after his boss (Pol Pot) die.
Do me a favor,
Don't tell anyone that you are Khmer, because you make all Khmer peoples look bad.
Dear New Phally,
I have read all your comments and I am surprised that your comments are like Vietnamese and Thai who used that kind of speech to divide Khmers.
You cannot hide your real skin.
Mu Sochua is the victime. But according to your comment, the Cambodian people victims have to be punished as usual if they dare challenge with the powerful.
who care about the fucking democrazy. only those who are paid to do so care. by the same token, i am paid to support my boss samdech techo hun sen.
phnompenoir
3:57pm
Lick your ass of suffering and injustice if you don't pay for the rule of laws and democracy. Food of rice is important, but food of fair treatment in front of the law is more important.
Wake up stupid 3:57pm
6:25 PM,
PhnomPenhois was just being sarcastic.
respon to New Phally, Now there is no more Name. what happen to you name,scare now? are you right now change your mind against your emty brain boss too. i know you are afraid of your life huh! try to support him because you familly inside of cambodia? which one did he treat to turtor? your mom, or your dad? to make sure you are a good dog for him.
in reston to phnompenoir,
how much did he pay for you? $150 per month or less than that, have this money pay on time? or he owe for couple moth than pay $150 include couple month that he had owe? is this money enoeght to support your familly?
according to food inside phomphen right now $10 per day to buy just only meats and vetable not include rice, so $150 dollar permonth you could only support your familly 15 days, how about 15 more day? so what did you do beside this money? abuggler, robber, or kill people to get money?
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