Civil society group members sign a letter Monday to National Assembly President Heng Samrin against lifting Mu Sochua’s immunity. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
Human Rights Watch, local unions and civil society groups condemn the govt's move to strip Mu Sochua's immunity.
THE attempt to lift opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua's parliamentary immunity to allow Prime Minister Hun Sen's lawsuit against her to proceed met with a chorus of local and international criticism Tuesday, prompting the government to claim there was nothing illegal about the move.
"Mu Sochua is not Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar," Cheam Yeap, a senior lawmaker for the ruling Cambodian People's Party and a member of National Assembly's Permanent Committee, told the Post on Tuesday.
"We are not doing anything illegal. You must understand this [prodedure] is not new. We have done it since Sam Rainsy was a minister of finance [and] we lifted Prince Norodom Ranariddh's parliamentary immunity," he said.
But on Tuesday, the Cambodian Confederation of Unions issued a statement saying its members, numbering some 85,000 workers, were deeply concerned over the attempt to strip the Kampot lawmaker of her immunity.
The attempt has no legal grounds, and the government should concern itself with easing the plight of the Kingdom's workers in difficult economic times, not personally motivated lawsuits, the statement said.
Criticism from overseas
"Hun Sen has a long history of trying to muzzle Cambodia's political opposition and undermine the independence of the legal profession," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement released by the New York-based watchdog late Monday.
"This most recent case should be ringing alarm bells among Cambodia's donors, particularly those who fund judicial and legal reform".
"These lawsuits are a clear attempt to intimidate the opposition and prevent members of parliament from exercising free expression," Adams said.
A decision on whether Mu Sochua will lose her immunity is expected Friday when the National Assembly votes on the issue.
Also Tuesday, around 40 civil society groups gathered at the offices of the NGO Gender and Development for Cambodia to seek intervention on the immunity issue.
"We do not side with the opposition party, but we don't want to see freedom of expression silenced," said Thida Khus, director of the Cambodian NGO Silaka.
"We do not want to see the laws being enforced unequally. One side [Mu Sochua] was dismissed, and one side [Hun Sen] was allowed to go ahead. This makes justice seem unbalanced."
But Cheam Yeap said the civil society concern came too late, as the National Assembly's Permanent Committee was already considering the matter.
THE attempt to lift opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua's parliamentary immunity to allow Prime Minister Hun Sen's lawsuit against her to proceed met with a chorus of local and international criticism Tuesday, prompting the government to claim there was nothing illegal about the move.
"Mu Sochua is not Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar," Cheam Yeap, a senior lawmaker for the ruling Cambodian People's Party and a member of National Assembly's Permanent Committee, told the Post on Tuesday.
"We are not doing anything illegal. You must understand this [prodedure] is not new. We have done it since Sam Rainsy was a minister of finance [and] we lifted Prince Norodom Ranariddh's parliamentary immunity," he said.
But on Tuesday, the Cambodian Confederation of Unions issued a statement saying its members, numbering some 85,000 workers, were deeply concerned over the attempt to strip the Kampot lawmaker of her immunity.
The attempt has no legal grounds, and the government should concern itself with easing the plight of the Kingdom's workers in difficult economic times, not personally motivated lawsuits, the statement said.
"Hun Sen has a long history of trying to muzzle Cambodia's political opposition."It added that the union would organise mass protests if the National Assembly proceeded.
Criticism from overseas
"Hun Sen has a long history of trying to muzzle Cambodia's political opposition and undermine the independence of the legal profession," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement released by the New York-based watchdog late Monday.
"This most recent case should be ringing alarm bells among Cambodia's donors, particularly those who fund judicial and legal reform".
"These lawsuits are a clear attempt to intimidate the opposition and prevent members of parliament from exercising free expression," Adams said.
A decision on whether Mu Sochua will lose her immunity is expected Friday when the National Assembly votes on the issue.
Also Tuesday, around 40 civil society groups gathered at the offices of the NGO Gender and Development for Cambodia to seek intervention on the immunity issue.
"We do not side with the opposition party, but we don't want to see freedom of expression silenced," said Thida Khus, director of the Cambodian NGO Silaka.
"We do not want to see the laws being enforced unequally. One side [Mu Sochua] was dismissed, and one side [Hun Sen] was allowed to go ahead. This makes justice seem unbalanced."
But Cheam Yeap said the civil society concern came too late, as the National Assembly's Permanent Committee was already considering the matter.
4 comments:
Cheam Yeap hasn't learn anything since he came to the US ? Come on DR. Cheam Yeap where you did yu earned your degree from ? You should learned something since you have a high degree than me.
everyone has to be awary of critics. critics are just that, they criticize when they see something is not right, however, sometimes they can go overboard as well and backfire. that's why we have to know the different between professional opinion and the one with a big mouth and just talk and talk to no avail. in the court of law, everything such as accusation, etc require concrete evidence. well, again, nobody is perfect at anything; we all are human after all. that's well there are strict selection in a leader, otherwise, everybody can just be a leader than we have no one to follow. please think about it. leaders can come in many qualifications as well such as experience, education level, wise, articulate, smart, clever, bright and all the good characteristics; however, they all must keep in mind that they are really serving the country and its people not their own interest or family interest or whatever. i mean the list goes on and on. perhaps, get a refresher training in becoming a good, effective leader that cambodia ought to have. thank you.
12:41 AM
If your comment serves your ignorance and stupidity, I won't stop you.
PPU
I don't know!!! Sound stupid to me!
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