Joint media statement by Civil Society organizations
INTIMIDATION AGAINST OPPOSITION MP: THREAT TO LIFT MU SOCHUA'S IMMUNITY
INTIMIDATION AGAINST OPPOSITION MP: THREAT TO LIFT MU SOCHUA'S IMMUNITY
Cambodian civil society organizations condemn the reported threat to lift the parliamentary immunity of National Assembly member Mu Sochua.
The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) MP last Thursday announced her intention to sue the Prime Minister for defamation, in connection with comments he made in a public speech in Kampot province on April 4. Within 24 hours of this, a pro-government television station quoted a Prime Ministerial advisor as saying the government would counter-sue Mu Sochua and that all Cambodian People's Party (CPP) MPs would support the lifting of her immunity.
"Arbitrarily threatening to suspend Mu Sochua's immunity, without any evidence of any crime having been committed by her, is a blatant act of intimidation against an opposition MP," said Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR). "This is clearly intended to silence her and to dissuade her from exercising her lawful right to file a defamation lawsuit."
"MPs from all parties must be free to do their jobs, represent their interests of their constituents and speak out publicly on issues of public importance, without fear of arbitrary arrest and detention," said Pung Chhiv Kek, president of LICADHO. "The threat against Mu Sochua is yet another example of the dangerous environment facing opposition MPs in Cambodia."
"Parliamentary immunity exists so that MPs - from whatever party - can have the confidence to discuss contentious issues of importance to the public without fear of retribution. It is not something which should be taken away at the whim of government officials," said Yeng Virak, executive director of Community Legal Education Centre (CLEC).
There is a history of opposition MPs' immunity being lifted to allow prosecutions on flimsy criminal charges. The most recent example is SRP MP Cheam Channy, whose immunity was lifted in February 2005 and who was then arrested and convicted on unsubstantiated charges of creating a rebel army. His trial by the Military Court was widely criticized for being grossly unfair, and an independent expert UN panel later ruled that his imprisonment violated both Cambodian and international law. He was released after 18 months in prison.
"If Mu Sochua's immunity is lifted, it will only prove the very point that she is trying to make - that opposition MPs are not free to do their jobs without fear of intimidation and persecution," said Koul Panha, Executive Director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL).
"Such a threat against an MP is doubly sad when it's against one of the few active women politicians in a country where women's voices are frequently suppressed and ignored," said Thida Khus, executive director of Silaka.
Cambodian civil society organizations call upon the Phnom Penh court to deal with all relevant complaints in an independent and impartial manner, and for National Assembly members from all parties to protect the role of their institution and its elected representatives. As such, they should refrain from lifting any MP's immunity unless there is compelling evidence of a crime having occurred.
This statement is endorsed by the following Cambodian civil society organizations:
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
Cambodian League for the Promotion & Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Community Legal Education Centre (CLEC)
Committee for Free & Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
Coordination of Action Research on Aids and Mobility (CARAM)
Gender and Development for Cambodia (GAD/C)
Khmer Institute for Democracy (KID)
Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia (NICFEC)
SILAKA
The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) MP last Thursday announced her intention to sue the Prime Minister for defamation, in connection with comments he made in a public speech in Kampot province on April 4. Within 24 hours of this, a pro-government television station quoted a Prime Ministerial advisor as saying the government would counter-sue Mu Sochua and that all Cambodian People's Party (CPP) MPs would support the lifting of her immunity.
"Arbitrarily threatening to suspend Mu Sochua's immunity, without any evidence of any crime having been committed by her, is a blatant act of intimidation against an opposition MP," said Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR). "This is clearly intended to silence her and to dissuade her from exercising her lawful right to file a defamation lawsuit."
"MPs from all parties must be free to do their jobs, represent their interests of their constituents and speak out publicly on issues of public importance, without fear of arbitrary arrest and detention," said Pung Chhiv Kek, president of LICADHO. "The threat against Mu Sochua is yet another example of the dangerous environment facing opposition MPs in Cambodia."
"Parliamentary immunity exists so that MPs - from whatever party - can have the confidence to discuss contentious issues of importance to the public without fear of retribution. It is not something which should be taken away at the whim of government officials," said Yeng Virak, executive director of Community Legal Education Centre (CLEC).
There is a history of opposition MPs' immunity being lifted to allow prosecutions on flimsy criminal charges. The most recent example is SRP MP Cheam Channy, whose immunity was lifted in February 2005 and who was then arrested and convicted on unsubstantiated charges of creating a rebel army. His trial by the Military Court was widely criticized for being grossly unfair, and an independent expert UN panel later ruled that his imprisonment violated both Cambodian and international law. He was released after 18 months in prison.
"If Mu Sochua's immunity is lifted, it will only prove the very point that she is trying to make - that opposition MPs are not free to do their jobs without fear of intimidation and persecution," said Koul Panha, Executive Director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL).
"Such a threat against an MP is doubly sad when it's against one of the few active women politicians in a country where women's voices are frequently suppressed and ignored," said Thida Khus, executive director of Silaka.
Cambodian civil society organizations call upon the Phnom Penh court to deal with all relevant complaints in an independent and impartial manner, and for National Assembly members from all parties to protect the role of their institution and its elected representatives. As such, they should refrain from lifting any MP's immunity unless there is compelling evidence of a crime having occurred.
This statement is endorsed by the following Cambodian civil society organizations:
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
Cambodian League for the Promotion & Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Community Legal Education Centre (CLEC)
Committee for Free & Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
Coordination of Action Research on Aids and Mobility (CARAM)
Gender and Development for Cambodia (GAD/C)
Khmer Institute for Democracy (KID)
Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia (NICFEC)
SILAKA
8 comments:
That's all the dictator can do against his own people, but when it comes to talking about acting agaist the neighboring aggressors, Hun Sen the mad dog wagging his tail in submission to them.
Hun SenVarman not yet sees his coming coffine, therefore he doesn't publicly implore!
Then, he will tirelessly attempts to convincing the people of Khmer what he has magnificently accomplished in his PM's career in French? like SihanoukVarman,
Nay, in English?
Nay, in Youn?
Nay, in Khmer?
Nay, he can't write!
10:34PM!
Noble title like VARMAN should not be used for guy like HUN SEN or sihanouk.Only khmer kings at ANGKORIAN era are entitle to this noble title.
HUN SEN and SIHANOUK are nothing but trouble makers.
hun sen =pol pot=hunsen =pol pot=hunsen
I totally agreed with all of the above comments. Ah Hun Zen only lifts immunity to opposition members, but not his own or Hanoi. If he lifts Hanoi immunity, he will be visiting Hanoi 5 star prison or death wish. Khmer leaders including Sihanouk are helping themselves in power. Never think about the country first, but their own interest. We, Khmer, don't respect any of these gangster and moreon leaders. W
We need to abolish the socialist led by Ah Kwak Hun Zen and the royalist led by Ah Sihamony and Sihanouk. These gangsters are only helping destroy Cambodia and her people. Cambodia shrinks smaller and smaller by dictator Kwak Chick, Hun Zen. Thanks for the job well done, Ah Kwak, history will place you in the last place.
My beloved 10:45PM!
I am undeniably agreeing with your complanation, but do you know they both have unashamedly tittled themselve as Varman?
If you have patiently read some of my writings, you will fully or partailly understand my intention of using Varman, because we Khmer unfortunately have only the boastful leaders who are not entirely different from the frog's king inside the glooy well.
10:08pm
you are on point - hun sen was taught to be this way, and he'll be this way until his death
I think the KI must have enough of "PPU."
It's too bad that this pseudo-journalists unable to handle the freedom of speech.
KI, fuck you, and the rest of your fucking clans.
Yes, FUCK YOU, KI, AND FUCK YOU AGAIN.
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