Associated Press
Several journalists, human rights activists, opposition lawmakers and other government critics have been convicted or sentenced to jail this year and last year after being found guilty of defaming Hun Sen and his allies.Cambodia's parliament on Wednesday approved a bill banning demonstrations of more than 200 people, raising opposition concerns that it would further limit freedom of speech in the Southeast Asian nation.
The bill also would require protesters to seek permission five days ahead of a planned rally. The law will take effect if formally passed by the Senate and endorsed by King Norodom Sihamoni.
Cheam Yeap, a lawmaker from the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said the law would help ensure public order and maintain national security.
Lawmakers from the country's main opposition party, the Sam Rainsy Party, said it would stifle free speech.
"This is definitely a setback for Cambodia's democracy," party president Sam Rainsy said.
No opposition lawmakers voted for the bill, which was passed by 76 members of the ruling party out of 101 lawmakers in attendance in the lower house of parliament.
Prime Minister Hun Sen's government has often been accused by rights groups and opponents of curtailing Cambodians' rights to peaceful protests.
Several journalists, human rights activists, opposition lawmakers and other government critics have been convicted or sentenced to jail this year and last year after being found guilty of defaming Hun Sen and his allies.
9 comments:
Don't blame CPP. Sam Rainsy voted for that bill.
Sam Rainsy - it's time for you to leave and let more capable people run the party to challenge CPP.
One eyed Hun saw what happened in thailand with the red shirts. That goot him scared.
Sam Rainsy party does not have enough voice to pass the bill. It is the CPP gameplan intended to silence the oppostion and people from criticizing this corrupted government. If this law really takes effect, then absolutism also takes its roots, too.
Let's just wait and see how much more barbarous and evil the Hun Sen government can go.
Cambodia Town
Long Beach, Ca
For security reasons, we should not allow larger demonstration, that can destroy properties, anachy in the community. Furthermore, I have been proposed this ideas since last year.
New Phally
has corruption law passed yet?
The demonstration of various....are part of the Democratic society elements....to speak u against immoral, oppressive, and brutal organizations, and without the protests/demonstrations, the society would be then: China, Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Sudan, Thailand, and others like them.
New Phally answer to the folk's question.
i think cambodia is just doing what we see fit for cambodia. it doesn't mean gov't is oppressing or suppressing its people of freedom to demonstrate or protest, it's just a way to control unruly crowd so they don't get out of control like those of the pad thugs in thailand, really! why would cambodian gov't want to be ineffective like the thai gov't in controling pad thugs? explain!
But why Hun Sen government doesn't set the limit of numbers of Yuons flowing into Cambodia?
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