Mu Sochua gestures in front of Phnom Penh Municipality Court in Phnom Penh, 04 Aug 2009By Luke Hunt, VOA
Phnom Penh
04 August 2009
In Cambodia, opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua has been fined $4,000 for defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Mu Sochua, the former minister for women's affairs, sat quietly in the court Tuesday as the judge ruled she had defamed Hun Sen at an April news conference.
The suit was brought against her in a tit-for-tat action after she initially attempted to sue the prime minister, also for defamation, over derogatory remarks he allegedly made.
However, the court dismissed her suit. Many rights activists had expected Tuesday's ruling, as there is a history of political interference in Cambodia's judiciary.
Mu Sochua says that outside influence frightened lawyers away from taking her case and affected some of the court's rulings.
"If the court, the judiciary system in Cambodia were free, independent and impartial, my case should not even go to court. It's the case that I filed against the prime minister of Cambodia for defaming me that should have gone to court," she said.
She and human rights activists say the courts are being used to silence government critics, after a rash of law suits was brought against the opposition and civic groups.
"I think he feels I am too critical, I am too vocal and his aim is to destroy the opposition," she said. "I think it's about wanting to eliminate the voice of the opposition."
Mu Sochua originally served as a member of Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cabinet, but later left the government and now is a senior member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party. The U.S.-educated social activist has long worked to help Cambodian women and children, particularly victims of human trafficking and the sex trade. She has been internationally recognized for her human rights work.
The Sam Rainsy Party has indicated it will pay the $4,000. Almost half will go to the state, the balance to the prime minister. Mu Sochua has one month to appeal the verdict.
Mu Sochua, the former minister for women's affairs, sat quietly in the court Tuesday as the judge ruled she had defamed Hun Sen at an April news conference.
The suit was brought against her in a tit-for-tat action after she initially attempted to sue the prime minister, also for defamation, over derogatory remarks he allegedly made.
However, the court dismissed her suit. Many rights activists had expected Tuesday's ruling, as there is a history of political interference in Cambodia's judiciary.
Mu Sochua says that outside influence frightened lawyers away from taking her case and affected some of the court's rulings.
"If the court, the judiciary system in Cambodia were free, independent and impartial, my case should not even go to court. It's the case that I filed against the prime minister of Cambodia for defaming me that should have gone to court," she said.
She and human rights activists say the courts are being used to silence government critics, after a rash of law suits was brought against the opposition and civic groups.
"I think he feels I am too critical, I am too vocal and his aim is to destroy the opposition," she said. "I think it's about wanting to eliminate the voice of the opposition."
Mu Sochua originally served as a member of Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cabinet, but later left the government and now is a senior member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party. The U.S.-educated social activist has long worked to help Cambodian women and children, particularly victims of human trafficking and the sex trade. She has been internationally recognized for her human rights work.
The Sam Rainsy Party has indicated it will pay the $4,000. Almost half will go to the state, the balance to the prime minister. Mu Sochua has one month to appeal the verdict.
9 comments:
Well, Well, Well…concerning Lady Mu Sochua’s case. Does anybody have any comments? Nop! Why you guy so quite, I thought you like Mu Sochua to win the case. My Godness ,the bottom line she lose. Oh God! Oh baby! Go help your lady..Hah..Ha...
AngkorianMan Krama Man
CPP (Cuffed People to Prosecute)
PPU (Pimping People Pussy)
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.
people can get too personal sometimes, it's not about suppression or the lack of freedom of expression, really. it's like you call me name and i retaliated; it happens all the time everywhere and in any country, not just cambodia. and it has nothing to do with gov't suppression of free speech or whatever the case maybe; it's a human thing, people get angry and call each other names, etc... when when a person has rank, it matters a lot like in the case of the prime minister, he deserve respect, at least when he is the prime minister, not a private citizen. well, a private citizen is different. how would you like it if i call your president or your king or your prime minister names, etc? same concept here! even freedom of speech has its limit and boundary! this is the case here! so, stop using politics as an excuse here! because it's not politics! that's why we must use code of ethics or code of conduct in gov't because this kind of personal issue can get in the way of doing work! wake up, people. the court was right. i don't think the court was stupid, you know!
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.
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 contract, 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
shut the fuck up Ah Khmauch Australian. from Youn Australia.
Disgrace Mu Sochua’s problem all along, is that she is trying to be a politician. She's not, never has been and quite obviously, never will be. She should have just been herself, provide alternative policies and show Khmer people what a great alternative MP opposition she would be. Instead, her foray into being a politician has been a disaster. She comes across as pretending to be something she's not. Now, her political career is on the line and herself also in the hot water.
While the nation is facing complex economic, social and environmental issues disgrace Mu Sochua tried to promote her political stunt, aimed to get media attention. If this wasn’t such a clear demonstration of her selfish pursuit of personal ambition it would be laughable. There is no doubt that Mu Sochua has no real regard for the best interest of the nation. She is driven solely by a desire to become a “Champion of Women” by any means available to her, even if that has the potential to destabilize the country. Even worse she now says that she will appeal her case against Prime Minister Hun Sen to the Appeal court following the announcement of her guilty verdict by the Phnom Penh municipal court.
People of integrity admit their faults, make amends and are judged fairly...Disgrace Mu Sochua is lacking in integrity and common sense and tries to change Cambodia into her own world. As long as Cambodia’s Court doesn’t issue any verdict which is fitted for her political stunt, she will scream for the justice all day long.
Khmer Australian
khmer Australian,
You are not literate!
You must amend your signature "Khmer Australian. You don't represent Khmer Australian. You probably don't deserve one.
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