By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh
19 October 2009
The National Assembly on Monday restarted debate on a demonstrations law that critics charge will erode freedoms of speech and assembly.
Seventy-six of 103 lawmakers, all of them from the dominant Cambodian People’s Party, approved the second chapter of the draft law, with members of the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties voting against.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said the law would allow the government to oppress “democrats.”
Proponents of the law, which sets rules on when demonstrations can and can’t be held, say it is necessary for preventing unrest.
“This law is important, important for us to follow the law and carry it out for people who do not respect the law,” Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, told reporters after Monday’s session.
Critics find faults in places like Chapter 2, Article 7, which requires the announcement of peaceful demonstrations five days ahead of its scheduled date, and Article 14, which limits the number of demonstrators in any gathering to 200 people.
“This law closes democracy for those who want peaceful demonstrations,” Sam Rainsy said.
Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, said the law remained unclear on the precepts of national security and public disorder that would be used by authorities to allow or prevent demonstrations.
Debate on the demonstration law follows the passage earlier this month of a modern penal code.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, rights group and opposition members urged the passage of two laws that would strengthen the judiciary.
Seventy-six of 103 lawmakers, all of them from the dominant Cambodian People’s Party, approved the second chapter of the draft law, with members of the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties voting against.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said the law would allow the government to oppress “democrats.”
Proponents of the law, which sets rules on when demonstrations can and can’t be held, say it is necessary for preventing unrest.
“This law is important, important for us to follow the law and carry it out for people who do not respect the law,” Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, told reporters after Monday’s session.
Critics find faults in places like Chapter 2, Article 7, which requires the announcement of peaceful demonstrations five days ahead of its scheduled date, and Article 14, which limits the number of demonstrators in any gathering to 200 people.
“This law closes democracy for those who want peaceful demonstrations,” Sam Rainsy said.
Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, said the law remained unclear on the precepts of national security and public disorder that would be used by authorities to allow or prevent demonstrations.
Debate on the demonstration law follows the passage earlier this month of a modern penal code.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, rights group and opposition members urged the passage of two laws that would strengthen the judiciary.
2 comments:
Ah chbarb ith ney...kmean barn kar ey...cheas pass touve keuth!
Kom ream kom heang....bor borth chea lbeang orm peur heing sar..!
Yoke chbarb ith ney chea kole kar...ponge pouk ah svar...kar pear tea pouk vea!
Pouk ah svar kress...keng teub tea kdeth...chour Youn chorng rai...sei dech..deu peok...heuy sale tea dei...oss Kemara cheath!
Ah Youn bom pean ton tean tek dei and som larb Khmers...Kemara ta dai..ah Hun ta kom...anh min ouy nei bro yard krom beak explodes leung Peng...!
Ah hun outh arng ta deing mettras...tea pouk ah svar breu tea mettra Youn...peil keung mdorng mdorng...bror mole pouk youn mouk karb heuy poun lob pos tang choul..!
Ah youn plon cheat...min tea mouy som pead...vea plon rorb toun...heuy bom bart pos tang Khmer Krom....veay choul mdorng mdorng rorb min oss...! ah hun ta euar ahn brarb heuy teir...ta kom bro vars neing my brother youn...ouy soss bror yard oss kbarl...Ah youn barn dai...vea min tob eiy som larb ouy oss...Khmer Krom...Khmer Leu...Kondal vinh noss sith tea ah youn...smoss roke Khmer min keuonh.
ah kwack heuy lngeur..vea arng tea leur ah youn teang srong...som larb Khmer eang...yoke kbarl tweur tea ong...som rarb tea chorng ouy ah youn..!
Ah charb ith klem sar pel pass karl na ouy Khmer cheu charb...bom barth sith knea..kom ouy har brarb...dol neak borng keurth chhbarb in the US....! Ah hun keong cheth..kor breu lbech touve oub ponge chen...som loke dark tean...ouy knhom mouy ptil...bom norl mouy mseil tok ouy kone Khmer sorng choss!
To be continue...!
cambodia ought to encourage our people to demonstrate and protest something they see as injustice or need to be done in order to benefit our country and people, really. that is a real democracy when we tolerate all peaceful demonstration. people shouldn't be afraid to speak out about something they see or know as a disservice to the khmer people and nation and something seems injust to the right of the people, really. usually demonstrators are smart and educated people who see what needs to be done in order for the country and people to benefit, really. we should encourage it, not forbid it.
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