2009-10-28 Associated Press
A Cambodian court on Wednesday upheld the conviction of a prominent opposition lawmaker for defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen in a case that critics charged was part of a pattern of intimidation against his opponents.
Judge Seng Sivutha of the Appeals Court let stand the ruling of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against Mu Sochua, a member of parliament from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party. He said her action had "incited to other Cambodian women to dislike" Hun Sen.
The original case against her was one of several recent legal actions taken by Hun Sen's government against its critics in the opposition and the press.
"The Court's decision confirms that there is no rule of law in Cambodia when a person dares to challenge the government," her party said in a statement.
When the case against her moved ahead in June, the New York-based group Human Rights Watch said Hun Sen had "a long history of trying to muzzle Cambodia's political opposition and undermine the independence of the legal profession."
The case against Mu Sochua was filed after she attempted to sue the prime minister for remarks he made about her, and he then countersued. In August, she was found guilty and ordered to pay a 8.5 million riel ($2,000) fine to the state and 8 million riel ($1,882) in compensation to Hun Sen.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court rejected her lawsuit in June, saying it was groundless, but moved ahead with the prime minister's countersuit.
Cambodia's Parliament, dominated by Hun Sen's ruling coalition, then stripped the immunity from prosecution of Mu Sochua and another opposition legislator who was being sued for defamation by Hun Sen and senior military officers, allowing the case to go ahead.
In June, the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia criticized the lawsuits against the lawmakers, saying they undermine the constitutional freedom of opinion and expression.
On Wednesday, Mu Sochua said that the legal proceedings were totally influenced by political manipulation, and that she would appeal to the Supreme Court.
"My trial is a political prosecution, not a real trial," she said.
Judge Seng Sivutha of the Appeals Court let stand the ruling of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against Mu Sochua, a member of parliament from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party. He said her action had "incited to other Cambodian women to dislike" Hun Sen.
The original case against her was one of several recent legal actions taken by Hun Sen's government against its critics in the opposition and the press.
"The Court's decision confirms that there is no rule of law in Cambodia when a person dares to challenge the government," her party said in a statement.
When the case against her moved ahead in June, the New York-based group Human Rights Watch said Hun Sen had "a long history of trying to muzzle Cambodia's political opposition and undermine the independence of the legal profession."
The case against Mu Sochua was filed after she attempted to sue the prime minister for remarks he made about her, and he then countersued. In August, she was found guilty and ordered to pay a 8.5 million riel ($2,000) fine to the state and 8 million riel ($1,882) in compensation to Hun Sen.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court rejected her lawsuit in June, saying it was groundless, but moved ahead with the prime minister's countersuit.
Cambodia's Parliament, dominated by Hun Sen's ruling coalition, then stripped the immunity from prosecution of Mu Sochua and another opposition legislator who was being sued for defamation by Hun Sen and senior military officers, allowing the case to go ahead.
In June, the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia criticized the lawsuits against the lawmakers, saying they undermine the constitutional freedom of opinion and expression.
On Wednesday, Mu Sochua said that the legal proceedings were totally influenced by political manipulation, and that she would appeal to the Supreme Court.
"My trial is a political prosecution, not a real trial," she said.
5 comments:
Let's see if his majesty the king Hun Sen has a guts to put MP Sochua in jail now.
wHAT DO YOU EXPPECT? EVENT THE KING AFRAID OF THE MOTHERFUCKER AH KWACH HUN XEN Phd FROM HELL!
Incitement will cause other woan to dislike Hun Sen, what a mentality!.
Like or dislike is personal perception that everyone entitles to form.This is not a law, it is in fact traditional perception.
Laws provides protection and security and prevention from power abuse.
Conflict always arise from the differences, most of the case is conficts of interest, particularly from the powerful to the powerless.
And that is how revolution started.
Cutting down abuse will reduce hostitity, the peace will come .
Neang SA
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 or new Aung San Suu Kyi” by any means available to her, even if that has the potential to destabilize the country. Even worse she is going to appeal her case against Prime Minister Hun Sen to the Supreme Court despite the Appeal Court upheld her conviction as the verdict which has issued 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.
No matter what she’s crying out to ask the US Congress to intervene with the Cambodian Parliament to re-instate her immunity back, but not much the US Congress can do. Indeed, she unabashedly criticized the Cambodian government and the Cambodian Parliament in front of US Congressmen on 10 September 2009, will put her even worst situation let alone ever get back her immunity.
Khmer Australian
Please in middle don't just look at one site.
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