By Tim Johnston in Bangkok
Financial Times (UK)
Asia is no stranger to governments using the courts to muzzle their detractors, but the Cambodian government’s current legal attack on its opponents is causing concern in the region.
Hang Chakra, former editor of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, is sharing a cell with 50 other convicts in Phnom Penh’s notorious Prey Sar prison, serving a one-year sentence for articles that alleged corruption among government officials.
Moeung Sonn, head of the Khmer Cultural Civilisation Foundation, was last month sentenced to two years in jail in absentia for “disinformation” after suggesting that a new lighting system at the Angkor Wat temple complex might damage the 600-year-old buildings.
And on Friday, a court is to hand down its verdict in a case against Mu Sochua, an opposition parliamentarian accused of defamation against Hun Sen, Cambodia’s prime minister.
“I’m sure I will be found guilty unless there is some magic in the air, and I don’t feel that there is,” she said on Sunday.
“The Cambodian government is imposing its most serious crackdown on freedom of expression in recent years,” Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said last week.
The case against Mu Sochua, a former minister for women and veteran’s affairs, is based on her allegation that Hun Sen called her “strong leg” – a cutting insult in Khmer culture – in a speech in her constituency in early April. When he declined to apologise, she called a press conference in which she alleged that not just herself, but all Cambodian women had been insulted.
That allegation provoked a counter-suit from Hun Sen. The courts threw out her case but agreed to hear Hun Sen’s complaint.
Her lawyer withdrew after he came under pressure, provoking a protest from the office of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mu Sochua declined to find a different attorney. “I am not going to put another lawyer through that torture,” she said.
If she is found guilty, she will face a fine of about $2,500 (€1,760, £1,520). More importantly, she could lose the right to sit in parliament. Some analysts say that might be Hun Sen’s intention.
“The concept of pluralism hasn’t got any roots in Cambodia,” said David Chandler, a professor of history at Monash University in Australia. “The opposition is almost by definition disloyal.”
Son Chhay, another outspoken opposition parliamentarian, says the recent crackdown is a symptom of a government that is trying to address the issues facing the country, such as corruption, land seizures and economic stagnation.
“Like many dictatorial regimes in the region, because they are unable to solve the problems, they resort to measures to control the people and shut them up,” he said.
“If he allowed Mu Sochua to challenge him, other people might go down the same path,” said Son Chhay.
In the early 1990s, the international community invested some $1.5bn in a UN operation to restore civil government to a country that Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge cadre, had run since 1985.
The opposition fears the prime minister is using his parliamentary majority – the CPP won 90 of the 123 seats in parliament in elections last year – to destroy fragile institutions that have taken years to build.
“It is not me on trial, but the judiciary of Cambodia that is on trial,” said Mu Sochua.
Hang Chakra, former editor of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, is sharing a cell with 50 other convicts in Phnom Penh’s notorious Prey Sar prison, serving a one-year sentence for articles that alleged corruption among government officials.
Moeung Sonn, head of the Khmer Cultural Civilisation Foundation, was last month sentenced to two years in jail in absentia for “disinformation” after suggesting that a new lighting system at the Angkor Wat temple complex might damage the 600-year-old buildings.
And on Friday, a court is to hand down its verdict in a case against Mu Sochua, an opposition parliamentarian accused of defamation against Hun Sen, Cambodia’s prime minister.
“I’m sure I will be found guilty unless there is some magic in the air, and I don’t feel that there is,” she said on Sunday.
“The Cambodian government is imposing its most serious crackdown on freedom of expression in recent years,” Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said last week.
The case against Mu Sochua, a former minister for women and veteran’s affairs, is based on her allegation that Hun Sen called her “strong leg” – a cutting insult in Khmer culture – in a speech in her constituency in early April. When he declined to apologise, she called a press conference in which she alleged that not just herself, but all Cambodian women had been insulted.
That allegation provoked a counter-suit from Hun Sen. The courts threw out her case but agreed to hear Hun Sen’s complaint.
Her lawyer withdrew after he came under pressure, provoking a protest from the office of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mu Sochua declined to find a different attorney. “I am not going to put another lawyer through that torture,” she said.
If she is found guilty, she will face a fine of about $2,500 (€1,760, £1,520). More importantly, she could lose the right to sit in parliament. Some analysts say that might be Hun Sen’s intention.
“The concept of pluralism hasn’t got any roots in Cambodia,” said David Chandler, a professor of history at Monash University in Australia. “The opposition is almost by definition disloyal.”
Son Chhay, another outspoken opposition parliamentarian, says the recent crackdown is a symptom of a government that is trying to address the issues facing the country, such as corruption, land seizures and economic stagnation.
“Like many dictatorial regimes in the region, because they are unable to solve the problems, they resort to measures to control the people and shut them up,” he said.
“If he allowed Mu Sochua to challenge him, other people might go down the same path,” said Son Chhay.
In the early 1990s, the international community invested some $1.5bn in a UN operation to restore civil government to a country that Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge cadre, had run since 1985.
The opposition fears the prime minister is using his parliamentary majority – the CPP won 90 of the 123 seats in parliament in elections last year – to destroy fragile institutions that have taken years to build.
“It is not me on trial, but the judiciary of Cambodia that is on trial,” said Mu Sochua.
45 comments:
of course, we crack down on unruly individuals! who wouldn't? even in the USA, they have police crackdown on unruly protestors or demonstrators as well, especially if they are doing it in the place at the wrong time, etc... get used to that! law is law! no more double double standard or special treatment for relatives of official or whatever! welcome to a new cambodia. we want a new cambodia!
2;27
No point arguing with you. Even a respected newspaper like FT feels concerned about the crackdown on freedom of expression in cambodia.
Unless you are the bastard of one eyed hyena, I would say you are blind.But then again, you must be an offspring of those corrupted murderers which doesn't surprise me.
2:27 AM . I have been in the US since 1980 . there was no such thing as what you said. stop barking you idiot .. you know nothing about it .
2:27AM
You are making fun a lot. Although FT's analysis is still not right in your mind. What kind of being you are?
I accept that in Cambodia, the Cambodian people have overwhelming brainwashed by the biased mass media by your thinking.
But please don't try to fool us through this open source of internet.
You will get more words of idiot to yourself.
“The concept of pluralism hasn’t got any roots in Cambodia,” ---David Chandler
2:27 AM ! you said police in the US crackdown on protestors ? you must have been on drug . you can lie to people in cambodia but you can't lie to the world because they are not dumb like you .
You People please, do like I do - DO NOT give a SHIT about ah Viet/Yuon's TRASH, PPU (unsigned) @2:27 AM!!!
All Khmers didn't, don't know how to compromise to work together yet!!, said David P.Chandler with me in WA state in 1988.
Thai and Viet manage to benefit from the Ignorance of khmer leaders.
Notorious PREY SAR prison OUTLAW innocent proven until guilty.
we clear they declare
we jail they bail
we can't they can
we around they surround
we try they spy
we talk they stalk
we dispute they refuse
we recognize they deny
we cool they fool
we good they rude
we slave they crave
we sit they spit
we run they hunt
we hungry they angry
we sleep they peep
we sell they steal
we feel they heal
we sick they kick
we sun they fun
we clap they slap
we beat they beast
we sad they bad
we stay they play
we yell they tell
we reserve they deserve
we beg they bag
we fine they whine
we meet they beat
we nowhere they somewhere
we made they ate
we blame they claim
we pain they gain
we one they ton
we loney they homey
we work they perk
we resident they president
we apply they qualify
we fire they hire
we drive they ride
we moto they auto
we decrease they increse
we pocket they bucket
we share they stare
we excuse they execute
we met they set
we harm they arm
we concentrate they penetrate
we attend they attempt
we energy they enemy
we reject they inject
we policy they police
LET'S BE A WINNER.
we dare they scare
we defeat they repeat
we protect they detect
we power they coward
2:27 AM
How can you say such a stupid thing by comparing the freedom of expression in Cambodia with that of the US?
Have you been to the US yet? Give me a proof of what you said.
The court process is not the same procedurally as in the US for example. She had her day in court when she met with the Investigating Judge.
law, procedure.......... are......??????
End of the day, who has the most power will SAY then people will FOLLOW!!!
That how it has been working which I am not surprise at all.
Mu Sochua is out of her mind trying to get her image bold. If you play with fire, undoubtedly you get burn, that can be either serious or light. I am also wondering if Mu Sochua has done anything for Cambodia besides switching from Fun to SRP to get good image. KK
the last time i checked, if you neither know how to start a fire nor put out a fire, then you would definitely in big trouble.
But this is not about a "fire" Ah Pleu! This is someone who vehemently standing up against the dictator. She is doing this not only for her rights as a khmer woman, a citizen, but also for the rights of the Cambodian people!
If you must compare Primitive Hun as a "fire", then HE must be a "Savage fire". Comprendo, Ah Pleu! Scumbags!
All this is the work of vietnamese dictating to hun sen regime.
first they lock up all khmer or kill. One ways or the other. Then, cambodia is home free from the viets.
Politics in cambodia is another story. We have different culture from the west so to do politic in here, the opposition should know. They has lived in the system for more than a decade, so they should find a proper way to counter the strongman. I like the way, Mr. Son Chhay does. So far he is the most outspoken MP and no one sues him in the court.
democractic is democratic , communist is comminust no matter where is it ...east or west .
The strategy of Hanoi to eliminate Khmer mchas srok is working by using a dummy to legitimize his own government for the world to see that this dummy act appropriately according to the Cambodian law which create by Vietnamese. Khmer people need to wake up and eliminate those thugs before it is too late to save your country and its people.
9:00 AM
when someone tands up for her rights you say that person plays with fire . do you mean , you have to lay donw to hun sen whatever he does ? is hun sen above the law ? some of you have been treating him that way that's why he has been acting like a dictator .
Culture for fear of loosing face is the ignorance's culture.
when people do not know facts, knowledge of humanity but pretend to understand and taking unreasonable risks, that is a recipe of disaster in politics.
Nothing to do with East or west anymore, world economy become global and so does politics.
Neang SA
Please acknowledge that without accepting changes to it, culture won't survive and florished.
China has changed political and economical platforms for better survival of her human race, and likewise free market countries have turned to their own socialist for benefit of economy.
9:53 AM ! do you mean , according to Khmer culture ,all opposition Parties need to leave Hun Sen alone whatever he does ? What's your sugestion ? I thought Cambodia was a democratic country and everyone had the same rights to freedom of speech .
Hey, you (09:12) do not understand much about politics- you were born to be a servant only. Mu Sochua is NOTHING. She is an opportunist and I am sure she will be fired from SRP soon. She can cheat you, but not all Cambodians. She stand for shitss I tell. KK
if her statements were true she not guilty- if not true then she's going to be convicted- simple as that.
You people just don't get it.
Pi Anh: PPU
11:24, you got me wrong. we are living in a society that the leaders are everything for thousands of years. The recent history of Kampuchea Democratic is just to make Cambodian feel more uncomfortable for change. If you follow well the evolution of opposition party in Cambodia, you will see that their critic method doesn't work well. Before at least they had some decision positions in Parliament but not now. The donor countries have not much influence on government as they did 10 years ago. So all of these combine together make Opposition party in a very vulnerable situation. Many opposition figures have known this very well that is why many of them have defected to the ruling party.
they all defected to CPP for money and positions . how many times have you heard that ..if you join CPP you will recieve this and that ? no need to say more .....
I thought you were lop! and i was right!
whether she is in your way, an opportunist like you have claimed, and/or an internal political issue that needs to be resolved within the SRP - THIS IS NOT THE CASE, AH Chkout!
ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE BRAIN! THIS CASE IS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL "RIGHTS" OF AN INDIVIDUAL (MuSochua), WHICH HAS BEEN VIOLATED BY NOT AN ORDINARY CITIZEN, BUT BY A COUNTRY PRIME MINISTER, A THUG!
INSTEAD OF CHOOSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND LEGITIMISE THE ISSUE AND HAVE THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TAKES IT COURSE, PRIMITIVE HUN HAD HIS MINIONS TO STRIP MuSochua OFF OF HER IMMUNITY, OUTCASTED HER FROM HER MP POSITION, AND MANIPULATED THE JUDICIAL SYSTEMS TO COUNTERSUED MuSochua, A Khmer woman, who has been fighting for freedom for her Khmer people and nation.
You must be like another Mi Sompoeung Pimping Pussy University!
Hey, you're better pray, because your house is haunting!
Hey, Welcome back Mi Sompoeung Pimping Pussy University!
I thought you proclaimed that coming to this sit is a waste of your fking time, asshole!
By the way, Ah Chkout Aing said "You people don't get it" Or "Ah Chkout individual Aing don't get it"
Keeping licking, asshole! You might have a doggy style "Position" in the CPP!
Soon after we'll go after Puok Ah potatoes diggers.
PPU
12:37 PM
I'm certain that you still want a piece of me. Come and get it, asshoel.
Don't worry, because I'm here to ensure that I'm giving you and you people a good shit.
Pi Anh: PPU
12:37 PM
Yup, you still don't get. Don't be uspet; you'll get over it.
Pi Anh: PPU
Take your pick, Mi Sompoeung Doss Koy.
A potato digger or a "doggy Style Position" with the CPP!
If Ah Aing not sure, call the life-line, Mi Sompoeung Wat phnom whore!
Pi Anh: Oav Ah Aing!
You (12:29PM) have a strong emotion toward Mrs Mu Sochua. Come on, my friend, don't do that. U know what, Mu Sochua could not find a propoer job in the US- here she came to Cambodia to get a job so she can sell herself as a VIP. I think she should go back to America and live there. We, Cambodians, with only Cambodian citizenship, know how take care of our country, democracy and rule of law. Mu Sochua is juat a piece of dry shit that smell even worse when it gets wet. You know that: She will be fired from SRP and you will be very diappointed. KK
1:13 PM
You still want a piece of me, don't you?
We know so much about you people. You can run, but you cannot hide, pal.
Pi Anh: PPU
1:18 PM
This bitch does not want anything but power, yet these potatoes diggers are worshipping this whore as if she's their God.
What can she do, if she returns to the United States? Dig potatoes, or better yet, pick fruits. Perhaps apply for public asistance.
These Puok Ah Scum Rainshit still amaze me to see them still support this bitch.
I think what she needs is a sharp stick and stick it into it.
PPU
PPU ! you keep calling her a bitch you must be a premature born son of bitch yourself . no need to say more...
1:18 AM !
you must have been on yaba the way you talk about Mrs Mu Sochua. Let me tell you this, she is fluent in english and french and she got a master degree in psychology . what make you think that she had no job in the usa ?
you and PPU are the ones who got no job ... unless you call , kissing hun sen's ass is a job.
4:36: You don't know this: people work in the US like horse runing on the road but in Cambodia like a King. Mu Sochua wants to be like that. I also understand that you are such a blindedly faithful supporter of Mu Sochua and for this you know that you don't get any where. Be reasonable my friend. kK
The Bible (Proverb 24.23-25)
It is wrong for judges to be prejudiced. If they pronounce a guilty person innocent, they will be cursed and hated by everyone. Judges who punish the guilty, however will be prosperous and enjoy a good reputation.
5:32 PM
Hey, kid, fuck the Christianity. The Christianity should not have been allowed in Cambodia in the first place.
What the fuck are you preaching? Are you trying to tell us how your God (Jesus) took off without telling you when he will be back?
Oh! When Noah built his arc, why didn't he include the dinosaurs?
Pi Anh: PPU (Anti-Christ)
4:23 PM
What about you, asshole? Need I say more to convince you to stick a sharp stick into yours?
Now, get the fuck out of my face, asshole.
Pi Anh: PPU
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Tortures
Executions
Massacres
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Overwork to Death
Slavery
Rapes
Human Abuses
Assault and Battery
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Assassinations
Assassinate Journalists
Assassinate Political Opponents
Murders
Killings
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and others military official on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Remove Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Under Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed all of these crimes above within Hun Sen Khmer Rouge government have ever been brought to justice.
1.13 PM
Every mother is very special figure to me and you,irrespecitve of our differences.
Why can you treat everyone here in this site like your mother would like to be treated?
In this case, I'd rather choose to say other unpleasant things about you and your opinion and view, irrespective of our philosophical difference--but not your mother, because she has no part in this discussion, and I'd also like to leave your innocent mother out of it.
PPU
sometimes people can step over the limit or the boundary in their freedom of expression! i think to prevent this gov't should write more law in this regards who people will be responsible for their unruly behavior sometimes. the problem is they mixed freedom or abuse their freedom with knowing their limit in their rights. gov't needs to raise this up in educating the public and the international organization so people and the world don't misunderstand cambodia's stance, sometime. everything people can do has a limit, don't you think? what happens if they overstep their boundary? there have gotten to be penalty for that, don't you think?
3:38 AM
There's not such thing as "freedom of speech or expression"; however, there's a freedom of responsible "speech" and "express." Also, remember that the freedom of expression is like the double-edged sword.
The folks in this forum will not find themselves in the hot water, if they're not posing the "clear and present danger" to anyone in this forum or the global community
The question to you is this: Do you REALLY want the government to step in to regulate your speech and expression?
PPU
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