Washington
23 June 2009
The National Assembly’s vote to take parliamentary immunity from two opposition lawmakers will lead to a deterioration of lawmakers’ expression, a leading democracy expert said Monday.
Without a guarantee of immunity, lawmakers will be less likely to express their opinions, said Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”
“They express their opinion, that is their main task—voicing support or criticism on policy, its implementation by the government, the ruling party, a draft law—that’s the role of the [parliamentarian],” he said.
Truly democratic countries rarely stripped immunity of its lawmakers, he said, but wrongdoers often themselves resign. The constitution provides for strong protections of parliamentarians, he said.
One of the Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers, Mu Sochua, who is a facing a lawsuit for defamation from Hun Sen, spoke live on “Hello VOA” before her departure from Phnom Penh International Airport, saying she had not had any problem with the police and would return July 6.
The court dropped Mu Sochua’s own suit against the prime minister, for allegedly degrading remarks during the 2008 campaign, following Hun Sen’s countersuit.
Without a guarantee of immunity, lawmakers will be less likely to express their opinions, said Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”
“They express their opinion, that is their main task—voicing support or criticism on policy, its implementation by the government, the ruling party, a draft law—that’s the role of the [parliamentarian],” he said.
Truly democratic countries rarely stripped immunity of its lawmakers, he said, but wrongdoers often themselves resign. The constitution provides for strong protections of parliamentarians, he said.
One of the Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers, Mu Sochua, who is a facing a lawsuit for defamation from Hun Sen, spoke live on “Hello VOA” before her departure from Phnom Penh International Airport, saying she had not had any problem with the police and would return July 6.
The court dropped Mu Sochua’s own suit against the prime minister, for allegedly degrading remarks during the 2008 campaign, following Hun Sen’s countersuit.
7 comments:
not really! it is actually a blessing in disguise as most khmer people are sick and tired to see some lawmaker official broke the law and fight each other endless with no avail and no respect or regard to the law at all. someone is responsible and should be reprimanded for their own action. if the gov't vote and use the court of law to do this and no violence, then, there is nothing wrong with using the law properly in the name of newly reformed system, etc... perhaps, it is a wake-up call for some some officials that they too can be reprimanded for their wrong doing with the law. think about, everyone! stop crying wolf so often as it is getting old already! god bless cambodia.
Ass hole 4:01 AM,
Khmer people except Viet/Yuon inhabitant of Cambodia under HUN SEN has been and is being oppressed. The world knows that.
Don't you ass hole deny that.
And quit talking about asking Khmer people, okay ass hole?
Remember HUN SEN's threat with "Free coffin" to Khmer people? Don't you dare denying that either you freaking ASS HOLE...
PPU
Who care? All CPP lawkamers are Just Monkey MPs. Funcipec and Norodom Ranarith are sub-Monkey MPs.
The top monkey is the one eyed bandit.
Please cast my vote in absentia.
PPU
Don't expect justice when Hun Sen is the judge, the prosecutor, and the jury.
Law is law! no body above the laws!
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