Original report from Washington
30 September 2009
Cambodia needs an independent body to oversee police performance, a Hong Kong-based right group recommends, claiming the National Assembly’s traditional oversight duties are failing because the police and Assembly are stacked with ruling party members.
“In other countries, there are independent committees to oversee police performance,” said Lao Monghay, a researcher for the Asian Human Rights Commission. “If police officers abuse citizens, people can file complaints to the body. Right now there is a chance, because Cambodia is drafting a bill for police, in which such an independent body could be included.”
The National Assembly is “politically implicated” and “controlled by the ruling party,” he said, making an independent body more important.
Police have put out suggestion boxes in recent months, but critics say these have not been used. However, Lt. Gen. Keat Chantharith, a spokesman for the national police, said not many police mistakes had been reported because not many police abuse their positions.
After his appointment to national police chief last year, Gen. Neth Savoeun has worked to improve the image of Cambodian police, who are often criticized as corrupt or involved in the crimes they are supposed to fight.
Hotlines and suggestion boxes are fine but people are likely afraid to use the boxes properly, because it is 'only and internal measure', Lao Monghay said.
Nhuon Nhil, first deputy president of the National Assembly, said Cambodia law allows only the Assembly and its commissions to oversee national security and defense, including police.
“The law doesn’t authorize NGOs to do the work instead of the National Assembly commissions,” he said. “People didn’t vote for NGOs to do so.”
The Assembly can also gather ministers and other government leaders to solve complicated matters, he said.
Yim Sovann, a lawmaker for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said that in order to enforce security and gain the public’s participation, security work needs to be transparent and responsible.
“To get more inputs, transparency, I think human rights groups, NGOs that have watched government performance should be allowed to review these problems,” he said.
“The term ‘the secrecy of interior security, national security’ refers to absolute secrecy for the whole national security, war,” he said. “The term doesn’t refer to social order, abuses by police, human rights worker’s safety. These issues have nothing so confidential that civil society shouldn’t take part.”
He also pointed out that the National Assembly’s nine commissions are all controlled by the Cambodian People’s Party, which controls the executive branch, creating a demand for people to be allowed to oversee government through civil society.
“Experience proves that the commissions didn’t oversee the government of their own party effectively,” he said. They “indentify the problems only to ignore them.”
Nguon Nhel called such criticism “groundless.”
“In other countries, there are independent committees to oversee police performance,” said Lao Monghay, a researcher for the Asian Human Rights Commission. “If police officers abuse citizens, people can file complaints to the body. Right now there is a chance, because Cambodia is drafting a bill for police, in which such an independent body could be included.”
The National Assembly is “politically implicated” and “controlled by the ruling party,” he said, making an independent body more important.
Police have put out suggestion boxes in recent months, but critics say these have not been used. However, Lt. Gen. Keat Chantharith, a spokesman for the national police, said not many police mistakes had been reported because not many police abuse their positions.
After his appointment to national police chief last year, Gen. Neth Savoeun has worked to improve the image of Cambodian police, who are often criticized as corrupt or involved in the crimes they are supposed to fight.
Hotlines and suggestion boxes are fine but people are likely afraid to use the boxes properly, because it is 'only and internal measure', Lao Monghay said.
Nhuon Nhil, first deputy president of the National Assembly, said Cambodia law allows only the Assembly and its commissions to oversee national security and defense, including police.
“The law doesn’t authorize NGOs to do the work instead of the National Assembly commissions,” he said. “People didn’t vote for NGOs to do so.”
The Assembly can also gather ministers and other government leaders to solve complicated matters, he said.
Yim Sovann, a lawmaker for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said that in order to enforce security and gain the public’s participation, security work needs to be transparent and responsible.
“To get more inputs, transparency, I think human rights groups, NGOs that have watched government performance should be allowed to review these problems,” he said.
“The term ‘the secrecy of interior security, national security’ refers to absolute secrecy for the whole national security, war,” he said. “The term doesn’t refer to social order, abuses by police, human rights worker’s safety. These issues have nothing so confidential that civil society shouldn’t take part.”
He also pointed out that the National Assembly’s nine commissions are all controlled by the Cambodian People’s Party, which controls the executive branch, creating a demand for people to be allowed to oversee government through civil society.
“Experience proves that the commissions didn’t oversee the government of their own party effectively,” he said. They “indentify the problems only to ignore them.”
Nguon Nhel called such criticism “groundless.”
9 comments:
Cambodia Town
Long Beach, Ca
H.E Ngoun Nhel was brillant, his statement absolutely right.
New Phally
Dear Dr Hay,
You are right. In most countries, we have a body govern by an auditor General. This auditor general need to be approved by all political parties who have seats in the National assembly and then appointed by the King. This Auditor general has his job to investigate all government officials for having had complainted from the public for corruption, irregularity and abuse of power. Each party has only one vote and have to swear to be neutral from assiciating with other party.
Indeed in Police forces, they should splitted into two groups which we called anti-crush and anti-crime.
1-Anti-crush group to watch and observe the behavious of all drivers to make sure that Cambodian has minimal accident in the road.
2-Anti-crime to carry on with all task to fight crimes.
They don't need so many commander at all. THey need a central calling system like many advance countries with Telephone call 111 or 999. This call will go into a call centre which the caller require, Police or Ambulance or fire fighter.This call centre will commande accordingly. THe commanders shouldn't have any right to commande police officers. Their job is to look at their daily work to make sure each police officer has done their task. If we allow commanders to commande the police, it will create a conflict of interest and will create corruption within Police force. The Police should be commande by general public who has call them for interview and who has complained to their office. Each Commander needs to check to make sure that each complain has been served by police force.
Areak Prey
New Phally, you are no better than a monkey. Three days ago I saw you, who supprt the CPP, mistakenly signed a petition to support human rights group in Cambodia. Do you understand it? Or are you do it through your ignorance?
police in cambodia are the one who commited the crime not fighting the crime law in cambodia is only created to protec and setve the rich and powerful lot of government officiaL ARE CRIMINAL themself and let THOSE CRIMINAL running the country? i can see a lot mess buil up for the next generation.
Can anyone explain:
What's "independent committees"?
How it is established?
How it is going to be functioning?
How can we know if it's truely independent?
I support freedom of expression so I rather tell my real name.
Nissay
Collected People Property! I stop here too much to list on and on.
New Phaly,you are not better than Ah Ngoun Nhel and ah dictator Hun Xen!!!you are so agressor the same ah Ngoun Nhel and dictator Hun Xen!!!Your brain is the pig's brain!!!
Cambodia Town
Long Beach, Ca
Ah chkout Ngoun Nhel wasn't brillant, his statement absolutely stupid. His not fit for PM member.
New Phally
9:44 you can give people constructive criticism and you don't have to use such a language, so i believe you have an attitude problems. I can critically analyse you of who you are to be when you use such a language. I think you need to get yourself into further education, especially focusing on communication skills and inter-personal skills, mainly about respect, listening, understand with reflective respond. When you have gain these skills you will be able to link with almost everyone on the same ground, and we call it as a diplomatic dialogue. so, all the best bros. smile
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