By Tim Johnston in Bangkok
Financial Times (UK)
A Cambodian court on Tuesday found opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua guilty of defaming Hun Sen, the prime minister, and fined her 16.5m riels ($4,000) sparking concern by human rights groups the government is using the judiciary to muzzle its opponents.
Ms Mu Sochua had called a press conference where she accused Mr Hun Sen of insulting her and all Cambodian women in a speech he gave in her constituency. She then sued the prime minister.
However, the courts threw out that case but allowed a counter-suit from the prime minister, who alleged that he had been defamed by Ms Mu Sochua’s comments.
The court in Phnom Penh on Tuesday upheld his complaint, fining Ms Mu Sochua 8m riels for defamation and awarding a further 8.5m riels in damages to Mr Hun Sen.
Ms Mu Sochua, a member of parliament who represents the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said she would appeal.
“It was a foregone conclusion. I am not surprised, only sad – sad that the Cambodian people continue to live an existence where there is only justice for those with money and power,” she said after the verdict.
Human rights groups condemned the process even before the court reached its verdict.
''Considering the flaw in the justice system and the scheme to end the political activities of the opposition Member of Parliament, the Asian Human Rights Commission holds that Mu Sochua is denied her rights to a fair trial by an independent, competent and impartial tribunal duly established by law,'' the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission said in a statement on Monday.
The Cambodian government has rejected the criticism. In a letter last week to the Financial Times, Hor Nambora, the Cambodian ambassador in London, said that the government and the country’s judicial system were entirely separate.
“By filing a formal complaint against Ms Mu Sochua, the prime minister has only exercised his legal rights in seeking to defend and protect his reputation,” Mr Hor Nambora said.
“Sadly to say that the quality of the professional standards and matured opposition parties in Cambodia is not always as high as it might be,” he said.
Ms Mu Sochua represented herself after her lawyer withdrew from the case in response to what she alleges was government pressure. She said she had no chance to speak in her defence on Tuesday.
Ms Mu Sochua had called a press conference where she accused Mr Hun Sen of insulting her and all Cambodian women in a speech he gave in her constituency. She then sued the prime minister.
However, the courts threw out that case but allowed a counter-suit from the prime minister, who alleged that he had been defamed by Ms Mu Sochua’s comments.
The court in Phnom Penh on Tuesday upheld his complaint, fining Ms Mu Sochua 8m riels for defamation and awarding a further 8.5m riels in damages to Mr Hun Sen.
Ms Mu Sochua, a member of parliament who represents the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said she would appeal.
“It was a foregone conclusion. I am not surprised, only sad – sad that the Cambodian people continue to live an existence where there is only justice for those with money and power,” she said after the verdict.
Human rights groups condemned the process even before the court reached its verdict.
''Considering the flaw in the justice system and the scheme to end the political activities of the opposition Member of Parliament, the Asian Human Rights Commission holds that Mu Sochua is denied her rights to a fair trial by an independent, competent and impartial tribunal duly established by law,'' the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission said in a statement on Monday.
The Cambodian government has rejected the criticism. In a letter last week to the Financial Times, Hor Nambora, the Cambodian ambassador in London, said that the government and the country’s judicial system were entirely separate.
“By filing a formal complaint against Ms Mu Sochua, the prime minister has only exercised his legal rights in seeking to defend and protect his reputation,” Mr Hor Nambora said.
“Sadly to say that the quality of the professional standards and matured opposition parties in Cambodia is not always as high as it might be,” he said.
Ms Mu Sochua represented herself after her lawyer withdrew from the case in response to what she alleges was government pressure. She said she had no chance to speak in her defence on Tuesday.
10 comments:
CPP (Cuffed People to Prosecute)
PPU (Pimping People Union)
The interesting thing in this case is that the plaintiff,Hun Sen, was not present in the court, but his lawyer. On the contrary, defendant, Mu Sochua, did not have lawyer, but herself to be in court.
This is the proof of the governemnt to say that court in cambodia is so independent, because process can be anything. it is up to the decision of the judge, and governemnt did not interfere.
I remember the story in regard to Samdech Daychu speech during a conference at Kampot province, he mentioned that a woman in Kampot province took off her shirt and rushing to hug a man during the general campaign. This was a little thing which she shouldn’t be filling a compliant against Samdech Daychu. She cause lot of problems, she gets to get out. That’s bullshit! Lady Mu Sochua. Now you lose. Can she finds something to sue Samdech Daychu Hun Sen?
AngkorianMan Krama Man
Hor Nambora a small babe of barking puppy...
The court in Cambodia is independent...bullshit...
Bravo Sochua for your stand to adjust the court system in Cambodia.
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
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leader of the Free Trade Union
Attempted Assassinations on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Attempted Murders on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Executed members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders members and activists of Sam Rainsy Party
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.
Hun Sen international crimes against human in Cambodia.
PPU is Me Hun Mana ,daughter of A Me-Chor Hun Sen & Me Kachrouk Pig-h-D Bun Rany.She is one of Toul Krasaing IT-Groups under supervision of A Me Chor-Khmeng Hun Maneth.
CPP (Corpes of Pol Pot)
PPU (Prosecute People Union)
See, as I said 10 days ago that "If the Court found the disgrace Mu Sochua not guilty, SRP and its stupid supporters will applause that the Court is independent and impartial, by contrast, if the same Court found the disgrace Mu Sochua guilty, SRP and its supporters will point their fingers blame to the Court". Now, it becomes the reality. So, as long as Cambodia's court doesn't give any verdict which is disgrace Mu Sochua wanted, SRP and its supporters will condemn to the Court no matter what they have broken the laws in Cambodia.
If the disgrace Mu Sochua is brave as she always said all along that, she's happy going to jail rather than pay the fine, she should honour her word and don't need to pay fine 16.5 Million Riel and let see what will happen??
In my view, I am sure that she will pay the fine and uses SRP's policy which wants to end this defamation case as an excuse to cover up her coward act.
Khmer Australian
hun sen fate will be the same as Ah Youn hoc lon di.
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