By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
14 October 2009
The National Assembly on Wednesday began debate on a draft law for demonstrations that critics warn marks another restriction on fundamental freedoms.
The legislative body passed a national penal code this week that included provisions making defamation a criminal act.
However, Khuon Sodary, a Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker and head of the Assembly’s Human Rights Commission, said the demonstration law could “prevent violence,” including armed conflict.
In fact, police often bar demonstrations counter to government interests on grounds of maintaining stability.
The draft law on demonstrations, 30 articles long, updates a 1991 law that proponents say is not equipped to handle the current democratic climate of Cambodia.
“This law is very important for the freedoms of expressions and assembly,” Khuon Sodary said. “This law provides real will in demonstrations to protest dislikes and disagreements over something. This law does not want that demonstrations become explosions of weapons and violence.”
In the Assembly session Nuth Sa An, secretary of state for the Ministry of Interior, said “peaceful demonstrations” were a necessity to “protect the rights and freedom of expression through demonstration.”
However, he said, “in exercising rights and freedoms, everyone must be within the limit of the law.”
“The restriction of rights and freedoms is to respect the rights and honor of others, as well as to defend national security, public order, health and public morals,” he said.
Opponents of the draft say it does not clarify definitions relating to national security, public order, health and public morality, the bases authorities currently use to prohibit demonstrations.
“We do not support this draft as long as it does not clarify these…definitions,” said Yim Sovann, spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said the law would allow authorities to bar demonstrations “just like in the past.”
Other practicalities of the law need revision, said Thun Saray, director of the rights group Adhoc.
“We request that the National Assembly not limit the number of demonstrators,” he said. “If we limit the number of participants, it is not good.”
The legislative body passed a national penal code this week that included provisions making defamation a criminal act.
However, Khuon Sodary, a Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker and head of the Assembly’s Human Rights Commission, said the demonstration law could “prevent violence,” including armed conflict.
In fact, police often bar demonstrations counter to government interests on grounds of maintaining stability.
The draft law on demonstrations, 30 articles long, updates a 1991 law that proponents say is not equipped to handle the current democratic climate of Cambodia.
“This law is very important for the freedoms of expressions and assembly,” Khuon Sodary said. “This law provides real will in demonstrations to protest dislikes and disagreements over something. This law does not want that demonstrations become explosions of weapons and violence.”
In the Assembly session Nuth Sa An, secretary of state for the Ministry of Interior, said “peaceful demonstrations” were a necessity to “protect the rights and freedom of expression through demonstration.”
However, he said, “in exercising rights and freedoms, everyone must be within the limit of the law.”
“The restriction of rights and freedoms is to respect the rights and honor of others, as well as to defend national security, public order, health and public morals,” he said.
Opponents of the draft say it does not clarify definitions relating to national security, public order, health and public morality, the bases authorities currently use to prohibit demonstrations.
“We do not support this draft as long as it does not clarify these…definitions,” said Yim Sovann, spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said the law would allow authorities to bar demonstrations “just like in the past.”
Other practicalities of the law need revision, said Thun Saray, director of the rights group Adhoc.
“We request that the National Assembly not limit the number of demonstrators,” he said. “If we limit the number of participants, it is not good.”
A law that will help Hun Sen become a dictator faster?
ReplyDeleteFuck that is dictator law.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Cambodian law makers make Cambodian look stupid under world vision.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
ReplyDeleteTortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Executions
Executed members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed 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.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters.
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
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
well, it goes to show that cambodian gov't is not ineffective like the thai gov't who just let the pad thugs take over. i'm sure cambodia does not want to be like thailand's ineffective gov't, really. plus, cambodia is doing things differently in our best national interest, of course. so there! god bless cambodia for having come a long way.
ReplyDelete6:01 AM,
ReplyDeleteJuding from the way you said and thought. You are such an old school man...a law in which if passes...most likely it will by the CPP to serve its own interest....would chip away a freedom of expression...! You call it as an effective law. You are so lamed and dulled. Are you at all enjoying the freedom of speech in the US? If yes, you then understood my very point. If no, you must consider moving back to Cambodia to work for CPP....!