Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Opposition MPs face wage cut after boycott of Assembly session

Wednesday, 03 June 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

DISABLED RIGHTS
In a statement Friday, SRP lawmakers claimed the new Law on Disabilities fails to provide "full measures to protect women and children with disabilities from violence" and "the rights to own land and provision of decent employment, housing and free health care".
Ruling party says 26 lawmakers could be ‘fined' for walkout, which opposition says was sparked by rejected changes to disabilities legislation.

RULING party lawmakers have warned that the National Assembly could slash the salaries of opposition Sam Rainsy Party and Human Rights Party lawmakers for walking out of a parliamentary session in protest Friday.

CPP lawmaker Sman Teath said Tuesday that during the boycott, National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin had told the secretariat to write down the names of opposition parliamentarians who left the meeting and that the body would consider cutting their salaries.

"The chairman said that, based on parliamentary regulations, parliamentarians who leave meetings without asking permission can be fined by a reduction in their salaries," Sman Teath said.

"Whether they are fined or not depends on a meeting [Heng Samrin] is holding with the committee to decide this. He cannot decide by himself."

Lawmakers make a base monthly salary of US$1,050, although it is unclear by how much this could be cut, he said. Sman Teath added that Heng Samrin has always tried to understand the positions of opposition lawmakers but lamented that they still did not follow the Assembly's regulations.
"OUR BOYCOTT WAS UNDERTAKEN BECAUSE WE HAVE ASKED FOR CHANGES TO THE LAW..."
Opposition groups boycotted Friday's session, saying that they did so in protest against Heng Samrin's decision to reject their request for amendments to the Disabilities Law, which was passed without their recommendations.

SRP lawmaker Ho Vann said that the party had sent its request to CPP lawmaker Ho Naun, president of the Assembly's Special Committee for Public Health, Social Work, Labour and Women's Affairs Wednesday, but they were not called for follow-up discussions.

"Our boycott was undertaken because we had asked for changes to the law in the interests of disabled people, but when [CPP lawmakers] did not listen to our requests, we decided to leave the meeting," he said.

"We do not care about salary cuts. We have not seen any law stating that our salaries would be cut ... but whether they cut our salaries is up to them."

Committee President Ho Naun, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Hang Puthea, executive director of election monitoring group Nicfec, said that the threat of salary cuts was not technically correct because the law was not clear on the point.

"I think that both the ruling party and opposition parties should resolve this properly ... so that people can have confidence in them," he said.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

naturally, if you don't show up for work, you don't get paid. it's simple as that!

Anonymous said...

What the fuck with ah Hun Xen! Is money every thing to the motherfucker?

Anonymous said...

1:51 am, those pm don't work for the company to get paid like what you think. they all work for the people , walk in or walk out of the meeting is all for the people . when one side disagree with the other , they walk out ... is not unusual in the democratic country .

Anonymous said...

Hey PhD from England? can you tell the PhD from Hanoi?

Anonymous said...

Dear Her Excellency Ms. Mu Sochua,
Dear SRP Members,

In fact, even if Her Excellency Ms. Mu Sochua and her teammates had seemingly just walked away from the so-called National Assembly that mostly led by the CPP was not an act of shame at all, in the contrary; it was an act of courage and protest.

Indeed, you and your team did very well and I am certainly impressed with your recommendations.

Actually, I support this big deal, and I myself strongly oppose proceeding to this One-sided Legislation that will only benefit the Hun Sen Administration. As much as I applaud your act of courage, the best way for SRP and its Members to protest is to walk away from the National Assembly.

Let the biased National Assembly passed their Disability Law Draft, but in the end it was the time to stun the world and just walked away from the so-called powerful "Assembly".

Pardon me, I must say, it must be hard for one and all of you to just walk way from the parliamentary session, but do not think that your fruitless longing or woe is unheard or unfelt by others.

I am often reminded of, "A small amount of effort builds a lot of goodwill, and a serious attempt is afoot to success." A quote from a very well-regarded Jasmina. She is a friend of yours but a guru to me.


Sincerely,

Sarotee Sri Krsna

Anonymous said...

Heng Xamrin, you can take the whole month off salary from SRP law makers but you cannot foul the people to pass thw law that is not going to help them. This idiot is always talking about MONEY! MONEY!

When you was on the tree during Khmer Rouge revolution, you was ape and did you ever see the money?

Anonymous said...

Four days ago, we were SRP parliament member wish our salaries to be cut for violation the policies of institution, so right now our wish had been granted; we must thank Mr. Chairman of the parliament for his benign, Samdech Chatkrai Heng Samrin.

Sincerly,
SRP senior member

Anonymous said...

what's fuck of opposition party? The act you did never let Cambodia country growing up.All of you guys migth go to the jail in the future i hope like samransy father.

khmer innocent said...

What's next? This time is pay cut.

Next time would possibly be immunity stripping off.And the final one would surely be membership terminated?

Strange democratic! MPs sitting in the Parliment session with no voice is regarded. Majority will dominate is definitely understood but what's the point for the minority to be there?

3:03 AM has made a very good comment!

Anonymous said...

Don't cut their wages; fire them and bar them from politics ... for life.

PPU

Anonymous said...

I don't want to be hard with SRP member, cutting theirs salaries are enough. The most important thing, I need to think about KI team especially Socheata Has.

SRP senior member

Anonymous said...

I don't think we should show an ounce of mercy for these unruly leaders; they are incorrigible liars who are incessantly prevaricate their loyalty to the Cambodian people, yet in realilty they're hypocrites, and therefore, they must be put behind bars for party of behavior modification.

PPU

Anonymous said...

Sarotee Sri Krsna,

Would you find this offensive, if I corrected you?

Instead of "Dear Her Excellency Ms. Mu Sochua", please consider this: Your Excellency, or Mrs. Mu Sochua.

In fact, I don't think you are offended because (your friends and) you love to be corrected (in a good manner) when you guys did something wrong, right? That's what I thought!

I have ALWAYS thought that your guru Jasmine has taught you guys how to address when referring to titled and official persons. I guess not! Maybe your guru is sooo busy that she forgot to teach you guys some protocol(s), right?

Don't you guys look at me like that! Go and ask your guru to teach you all SOME proper protocol... I don't think you guys got it right. As your guru is a Lady of manner, I'm sure she'll teach you some lesson(s).

Good luck chaps!

The Monarchy's Critics Observer