By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
22 June 2009
The National Assembly voted to suspend the parliamentary immunity of two opposition lawmakers Monday, as journalists and diplomats were barred from the session.
The two Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers, Mu Sochua and Ho Vann, are each facing lawsuits from figures in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which has a vast majority of National Assembly seats.
Mu Sochua is being sued by Prime Minister Hun Sen for defamation, and Ho Vann faces a similar charge from a block of 22 military officers, following public criticism of certificates they were awarded by the Vietnamese government.
Mu Sochua’s original lawsuit against Hun Sen, for allegedly degrading remarks made during the 2008 election campaign, has been dropped by the court.
Democracy advocates have said the cases represent political intimidation and an erosion on the freedom of expression.
Lawmakers from two opposition parties gathered after Monday’s session wearing masks to protest the immunity pull.
All 90 of the CPP lawmakers were present for the closed-door session Monday.
“The National Assembly is thinking of the [CPP],” Mu Sochua told reporters after the decision Monday. “The National Assembly is not an National Assembly belonging to the nation.”
She called the decision a “very serious” blow to Cambodian democracy. “The suspension of parliamentary immunity has no justice.”
Ho Vann called the decision “not fair or proper, because I corrected what I said.”
Am Sam Ath, chief of the investigation unit for the rights group Licadho, called the decision improper, as both cases were minor, while Rong Chhun, head of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Assocition, called on all 26 opposition lawmakers to resign from the National Assembly over the matter.
“The parliamentarians cannot defend themselves,” he said. “So the people will face a violation of their rights and freedoms, because the parliament represents the people, to protect the people, and now, parliamentary immunity is not guaranteed. This is a serious point.”
CPP parliamentarian Cheam Yiep said Monday the decision had been made “following the procedures and the law.”
“We must respect the law,” he said.
Journalists, diplomats and other observers were barred from Monday’s meeting.
“We’re surprised and disappointed about this,” Elizabeth Haven, deputy chief mission for the British Embassy told reporters in front of the National Assembly. “We do not understand why access has been denied. We normally monitor the National Assembly.”
“Usually, this should be a public session,” said German Ambassador Frank Mann, adding that he too was disappointed.
Mu Sochua reiterated Monday claims that she would not flee the country and would struggle by legal means against Hun Sen’s lawsuit. She did say, however, that she is to travel for business purposes to the United States and would be back in early July.
The two Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers, Mu Sochua and Ho Vann, are each facing lawsuits from figures in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which has a vast majority of National Assembly seats.
Mu Sochua is being sued by Prime Minister Hun Sen for defamation, and Ho Vann faces a similar charge from a block of 22 military officers, following public criticism of certificates they were awarded by the Vietnamese government.
Mu Sochua’s original lawsuit against Hun Sen, for allegedly degrading remarks made during the 2008 election campaign, has been dropped by the court.
Democracy advocates have said the cases represent political intimidation and an erosion on the freedom of expression.
Lawmakers from two opposition parties gathered after Monday’s session wearing masks to protest the immunity pull.
All 90 of the CPP lawmakers were present for the closed-door session Monday.
“The National Assembly is thinking of the [CPP],” Mu Sochua told reporters after the decision Monday. “The National Assembly is not an National Assembly belonging to the nation.”
She called the decision a “very serious” blow to Cambodian democracy. “The suspension of parliamentary immunity has no justice.”
Ho Vann called the decision “not fair or proper, because I corrected what I said.”
Am Sam Ath, chief of the investigation unit for the rights group Licadho, called the decision improper, as both cases were minor, while Rong Chhun, head of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Assocition, called on all 26 opposition lawmakers to resign from the National Assembly over the matter.
“The parliamentarians cannot defend themselves,” he said. “So the people will face a violation of their rights and freedoms, because the parliament represents the people, to protect the people, and now, parliamentary immunity is not guaranteed. This is a serious point.”
CPP parliamentarian Cheam Yiep said Monday the decision had been made “following the procedures and the law.”
“We must respect the law,” he said.
Journalists, diplomats and other observers were barred from Monday’s meeting.
“We’re surprised and disappointed about this,” Elizabeth Haven, deputy chief mission for the British Embassy told reporters in front of the National Assembly. “We do not understand why access has been denied. We normally monitor the National Assembly.”
“Usually, this should be a public session,” said German Ambassador Frank Mann, adding that he too was disappointed.
Mu Sochua reiterated Monday claims that she would not flee the country and would struggle by legal means against Hun Sen’s lawsuit. She did say, however, that she is to travel for business purposes to the United States and would be back in early July.
16 comments:
when you're in gov't, you suppose to cooperate and work in gov't for the country, not against the country. otherwise, it beckons the question whether you are the in the right profession. cambodia should question these in court! disagreeing is normal, not the constant fighting, though! gov't people are expected by the people to a higher level, otherwise, get another job!
anyway yuon pet is won on every things and congres pet prepare to hand up to approve draft for land to allow foreiner to own land as yuon occupyed land .
yuon took all of khmer mind
"Yuon took all of Khmer mind" that is true. I see that too.
Too bad folks!
5:41 am, i hate your thinking! everything is about youn! not true. remember khmer people can learn from others all over the world, so stop giving too much credit to youn, youn, youn! i as a khmer person, don't have to learn from youn. it's called ignorant, really, to only think everything khmer and cambodia did was only learned from youn, youn, youn. i hate that type of thinking; that is so outdated! the other thing, too, was that even catholic religion, khmer thinking was invented by youn and only youn are catholics. that is so ignorant of those people who said such thing! catholics are european and western christian religion, not youn's, ok! the philipines is the largest asian country to adopt catholic religion was the majority religion in that country. south korea is perhaps the second on after the philipines. and for youn or vietnam, not that i give a shit about youn, is probably at the bottom of the catholic religion. so for once, stop thinking that cambodia is revolved only around youn, youn, youn. cut that ignorant thinking for a change already! god bless cambodia.
stop giving credit to youn, our historical enemies as well. look at khmer krom lands, youn took it from cambodia, then youn abuse suppress our indigenous khmer krom people's rights and freedom. that's why we hated youn and siem forever. it would take a miracle for khmer people to have a fond of youn and siem, i mean a miracle! god bless cambodia.
5:50 AM, Were you born to hate?
People should have freedom to think.
I do not understand what are you talking about?
it's ironic because lawmakers should know the law. why are they in violation of the very law they created? makes no sense!
It's so great... this is the result of useless talkative..
Thevada has decided that these two big mouth must let go, and voted by lawmakers 90 to 33, bingo...
Srey Choeung khlang huh? Khlang chea muy Sdach nung Thevada mech tov rouch... mi neang.
when you have a law marker who is always against the gov't, it is questionable whether the job is right for them. maybe they ought to seek another profession. when you're in gov't, you suppose to support the gov't, not always fighting in the gov't!
I don't think you are a man, if you a man you should respect a woman, I don't know how your born it from.
Don't you know your mother she is a woman, and she never ever let you grow up to be no respect.
Behavior yourself, if you are kaun Khmer, you should not speach like that.
Ah Scum Rainsy is next!
PPU
Her assumed ignorance assures her imminent participator of the criminal justice system as a part of behavior modification. Prey Sar welcomes you.
PPU
Let's pit Mu Sochua and hun sen in a boxing ring! Mu sochua would defeat hun sen in the first round for sure. Don't think that a woman boxer can't topple hun sen, LOL...hun sen would be beggin for mercy.
Who are the real sore losers now?
PPU: Pi Anh
All khmers are the real losers because this ditactor bleed dry Cambodia natural resources, steal all for his own and his dogs. He leads this country in the wrong direction. For 15 years, Camboida has only one 7 stories high builing, inferior roads with only 1 inch thick pavement, and many many beggers in trash dump and governmental builings.
Post a Comment