US Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) at the podiumBy Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
18 November 2009
A US congressman warns that removing immunity of the Cambodia's main opposition leader is a threat to democracy the country has barely achieved.
"The lifting of parliamentary immunity from the head of the Sam Rainsy Party is just the latest troubling sign from Cambodia's fledgling Democracy," said Ed Royce (R-Calif.) in an e-mail response to VOA Khmer on Tuesday.
"Cambodia needs to embrace political pluralism in all of its forms, and the State's continued attempts to marginalize the political opposition are of great concern," he said.
The National Assembly stripped Sam Rainsy of his immunity on Monday in a session present only by parliamentarians from Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party.
Sam Rainy has been charged with inciting a failed criminal act and misdemeanor when he led a team of villagers to uproot six wooden boundary markers in Svay Rieng province bordering Vietnam.
However, Sam Rainsy defends his act saying that he only helps people who brought to his attention a complaint about an encroachment of their rice field by Vietnamese authorities.
"If the US congress wishes to let the opposition do whatever they want, that's not the rule of law," said Phay Siphan, a spokesman at the Council of Ministers, adding that the removal of the immunity was merely to pave the way for a court investigation.
"If the court finds him not guilty, it is not a problem," he said.
Sam Rainsy is currently in Europe mobilizing political support from European parliament and international community.
Three opposition parliamentarians have had their immunity revoked this year for upsetting Prime Minister Hun Sen and senior government officials. Civil society in Cambodia notes that the government has lately taken the strongest action ever against opposition politicians and journalists through its non-independent court systems.
In October four US congressmen - Ed Royce (R-Calif), Frank Wolf (R-Va), Joseph Cao (R-LA), and Jim Moran (D-Va), proposed a Congressional resolution condemning Cambodia's wide-spread corruption, human trafficking, and violation of freedom of expression and human rights.
"The lifting of parliamentary immunity from the head of the Sam Rainsy Party is just the latest troubling sign from Cambodia's fledgling Democracy," said Ed Royce (R-Calif.) in an e-mail response to VOA Khmer on Tuesday.
"Cambodia needs to embrace political pluralism in all of its forms, and the State's continued attempts to marginalize the political opposition are of great concern," he said.
The National Assembly stripped Sam Rainsy of his immunity on Monday in a session present only by parliamentarians from Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party.
Sam Rainy has been charged with inciting a failed criminal act and misdemeanor when he led a team of villagers to uproot six wooden boundary markers in Svay Rieng province bordering Vietnam.
However, Sam Rainsy defends his act saying that he only helps people who brought to his attention a complaint about an encroachment of their rice field by Vietnamese authorities.
"If the US congress wishes to let the opposition do whatever they want, that's not the rule of law," said Phay Siphan, a spokesman at the Council of Ministers, adding that the removal of the immunity was merely to pave the way for a court investigation.
"If the court finds him not guilty, it is not a problem," he said.
Sam Rainsy is currently in Europe mobilizing political support from European parliament and international community.
Three opposition parliamentarians have had their immunity revoked this year for upsetting Prime Minister Hun Sen and senior government officials. Civil society in Cambodia notes that the government has lately taken the strongest action ever against opposition politicians and journalists through its non-independent court systems.
In October four US congressmen - Ed Royce (R-Calif), Frank Wolf (R-Va), Joseph Cao (R-LA), and Jim Moran (D-Va), proposed a Congressional resolution condemning Cambodia's wide-spread corruption, human trafficking, and violation of freedom of expression and human rights.
40 comments:
Cambodia does not want to have political pluralism, because it is hard for the Vietnamese to control Cambodia when democracy is at work.
Read what Ah Kirt Svay Siphone million dollars into swiss account said:
"If the US congress wishes to let the opposition do whatever they want, that's not the rule of law," said Phay Siphan, a spokesman at the Council of Ministers, adding that the removal of the immunity was merely to pave the way for a court investigation.
He forgot to mention that "If the US congress wishes to let the CPP do whatever they want, that's not the rule of law". So far CPP can do whatever they want to the opposition party and jounalist, but they never punishes their own people. What is a bias?
Is Ah Hun Zen dare to pull out the border post? Not at all.
CPP is sucking blood from the poors in Cambodia.
Did Mr. Ed Royce the Congressman knew the real history ?
In democratic system, all politicians are fighting to each other are very normal dailylife. They need to fight to each other so that the public can see from them who are the best for the country.
But it is illegal for any official from the government to take side of the poltical party. This official has to be fired. In any disputes between politician, only politician can get involve.
Phay Siphann is an official. He cannot make any statement about politic at all nor official from ministry of foreign affairs nor from Police and nor from military.
THe person should come out to defence illegal removal of immunity of Mr Sam Ransy is Hun Sen or Heng Sam Rin or any member of elected CPP.
Cambodian is very far from learning and from understanding democracy system.
THe removal of Mr Sam Ransy is not only illegal but is also a constitutional coup which elected member of CPP have violated very severely.
Areak Prey
Vietnam and CPP have been viotating the Paris Peace Agreement for 18 years now. The enough is enough. ??? Should Hun Xen be elected again in 2013?
Phay Siphan! Ah luke Jeat Khmer! What Judicial Court are you refering too cuz There are no Judicial Court in srok khmer! Only ditatorship backed by the savage wolf better known as Youn government! Is that the Judicial Court Ah luke jeat ang refere too? U make me sick!
The States should step in to Cambodia matter,the Cambodia conspiring with Laos and viet nam under Satellite of Viet Nam to cause chaos in Thai.If the Thai go to war with Cambodia the Thai will tremendous lose ,but the State starting now the Thai might be saved,the State won't spend so much to protect their allies and still in the control of States reputation.
More CIA to Thailand and in Cambodia select more Cambodian nationalist like the States did in Kampuchea krom.
Thanks you
Tell the congresmen as well as other Int'l outfit out there that if they want Cambodia to have democracy, then they need to talk to Vietnam instead of waisting their saliva to talk to Puok Ah Khbot Cheat!
I am pretty sure that anything Vietnam tell them to do, they will be hell bent over it.
CPP do whatever they wants is the rule of law in Cambodia, Hun Xen's rules of law!
This is so obvious! And the whole population of more than 14,000,000 people in Cambodia allow it to happen. KHMER ARE PATHETIC! COWARD!
I am glad I don't live in Cambodia. DISGRACEFUL! I HATE CAMBODIAN! ALLOW HUN XEN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS. KHMER ARE IDIOT ALLOW ONE PERSON CONTROLE ALL THEIR LIVES AND NATION.
I used to have sympathy for Khmer in Cambodia. Now, it don't worth the though. They all too coward to stand up for themself. NOTHING IS FREE!
Sam Rainsy and all his compatriots should just leave Cambodia. Let them all suffered and die. They are too coward too weak to save. The world don't need this weak genes to pass on. WAISTE OF LIVING SPACE AND BREATHING AIR.
ONLY THE STRONG SHOULD SURVIVE. KHMER IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
Hun Xen have taken 3 immunity from the oposition this year: Sam Rainsy, Ho Vann and Mu Sochua.
If th whole nation do not sacrafice attemp to save those 3 MP's immunity those 3 SRP should just give up and forget about Cambodia. Think about it, if the whole Cambodian nation can not protect just 3 SRP immunity how can SRP continue to help them. Especially now with 3 less seat in the Assembly.
ARE KHMER CITIZENS STUPID OR JUST COWARD! IF THEY ARE COWARD THEN THEY DON'T WORTH OTHER'S EFFORT TO HELP.
Sam Rainsy stay in France!
Mu Sochua come back to USA!
Ho Vann and all SRP get out the country and seek Asylum in any modern country.
FORGET CAMBODIA! COWARD KHMER DON'T WORTH TO HELP! THEY DON'T EVEN TRY TO HELP THEMSELF!
4:02AM
Thank you for your "Constructive" criticism. It seems you are very well informed of Cambodian's affair for a person who do not "Care" for Cambodia. Y bother posting your long comment here? why waist your time? u got no life or something? Get Lost...better yet..go shoot yourself. One less ignorant person to burden this planet.
what cambodia should do is to remove the head of the assembly because he does not have a head as the head of the assembly, he has a head as youn slave.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Tortures
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
Assassinated over eighty members of Sam Rainsy Party.
"But as of today, over eighty members of my party have been assassinated. Countless others have been injured, arrested, jailed, or forced to go into hiding or into exile."
Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
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.
United States must do more than word to help Democracy in Cambodia and free it from Vietnamese thief.
Hi Ed Royce,
In cambodia today, democracy is to occupy only lazy people, curious retirees, and political activists.
What interests most people is work, job, and a better life.
If Hun Sen doesn't care much about our opposition leaders, who knows USA will have to step in, just like what they have already done to Afga and Iraq etc. Hun Sen needs to change his behaviour now before it is too late. Aust
Ah Phay Siphan should come back to live in California. so the ganges can hang him in the trash can.
Why is Sam Rainsy being investigated? I thought the issue is the border markings? There should be an investigation on the border markings to see if the farmer's claims are true.
To 5:48 I wondered the same thing! we are deviating from the other topic which is the border with Vietnam besides lifting Sam Raingsy immunity and not only that we keep beating around the bushes as including the internation community for the main reason is Vietnam! Once you get rid of Vietnam or negotiate with Vietnam and it will have Domino effect for the rest of Cambodia and Laos and to deal with Puok Ah Kbot Cheat is like pouring water of duck's head or Chak teuk le kbal a Tea Banh!
Sick and tired of playing with this stupid game - you guys need to be realistic including Sam Raingsy instead of writing letter to Sihanouk?
"If the US congress wishes to let the opposition do whatever they want, that's not the rule of law," said Phay Siphan, a spokesman at the Council of Ministers, adding that the removal of the immunity was merely to pave the way for a court investigation.
Phay Siphan, you have NO logic at all...."remove an immunity" from an elected official so the investigation can follow....! Why would you and/or the CPP even thought of that. The Viet. Cong encroahced Khmer Soverign land, and the CPP including YOU agreed and voted to strip off the immunity from Mr. Sam Rainsy who action is morally right that would reasonably expected to help the well-being of the Khmer people affected by the Viet. Cong's encroachment. IS IT WRONG Phay Siphan? I learned this concepts since Pre-School. I think you (Phay Siphan, Soy Sopheap, and CPP leaders) should go back to pre-school.
On the same note, the US does not let Mr. Sam Rainsy do whatever he wants....the US Congress' actions MERELY to assist you and your leader, Hun Sen to open his one eye that Mr. Sam Rainsy's action is within the scope of his duty as an elected official and a citizen of Cambodia.
I have NEVER seen any leader(s) on this Planet that punishes his own elected official and let alone a citizen to peace the aggressor who encroached the soverign land....EXCEPT, ah kwack Hun Sen. Shame on you asshole! burn in hell!
Who cares about what the USA said when it let the KR slaughtered poor Khmer 75-79?
What a bunch of crocodile tears !!
Strip one person to one country.
I would do the same.
18 signatory countries signed the paris peace accord promise to watch and safe guard peace for cambodia.
It only takes one country vietnam too fool everyone.
This regime cpp/hanoi system. People are guilty! until proven innocent.
Dear Rep. Ed Royce: Talk isn't enough, please take concrete action immediately . Communist regime Hanoi is behind Hun Sen . Hanoi is the mastermind, everything is from Hanoi.
Cambodian people will perish like Champa.
There will be civil war for true khmer in the arm force will not continue to let youns, spy, and traitor get away.
Its just a matter of time.
OH! I am so glad to hear this react from US Congressman. I should US no longer care about the democratic anymore since Obama avoid not to meet Dalylama
Ah San rainsy have problem, always go to foreign, he never face with what he did... this is his habit
Vietcong monument= Cambodian independence monument!
If King Sihanouk claimed that he liberated Cambodia from France and AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave can also claimed that it is the Vietcong who liberated Cambodia from Khmer Rouge! Yeh..Yeh..the Khmer Rouge is also Khmer! So the Vietcong liberated Cambodia from Khmer people? This is just another Vietcong logic that I will never understand!
4:02 AM,
Your comment is such a refreshment for Cambodian.
Good one!
9:58 AM,
Ah Youn banged your Mom in her anal and now she scares. Make sure, tell your whore Momther to face ah Youn. ah Pleu!
9:58AM, Mr. Sam Rainsy do not run. He done no problem. What he done is very ethical to help our poor innocent Khmer.
What he running from is your unethical government's judgement. Oh.. sorry, your government have no judgement. This is why Mr. Rainsy run for the momment. Smart man!
Also your government have no heart and soul. Hun Xen do what Youn said and then poor Khmer must do what Hun Xen said.
Ok. Hun Xen and all CPP are sold out, "kbot cheat".
How about all the Khmer citizens? Should they all stand up to face them?
Ghandi was not won alone, by himself!All citizens must united to fight together as ONE!
We have Sam Rainsy. Where's is the rest of the nation?
To Khmer in Cambodia, OPEN YOUR EYES AND EARS! HAVE A HEART HAVE A SOUL! YOU SHOULD CONTROLE YOUR OWN DESTINY, FUTURE! NOT HUN XEN AND HIS CPP OR ANYONE ELSE. WAKE UP! WAKE UP! BE STRONG! RATHER DIE TRYING!
TRY TO HELP YOURSELF TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR ABROAD TO HELP YOU.
Why would they stripped Rainsy's immunity for this issue? This is not a political issue. It sounds like someone is pulling the CPP strings. They CPP is trying to hide something.
It's never late to learn if you have intention to help khmer Empire.
Go with ECCC in Phnom Penh,we were survivors,we will support you.
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful."
"Pay no attention to the faults of others,
things done or left undone by others.
Consider only what by oneself is done or left undone".
Hun Sen must not forget that we put politics aside to support him because he seems caring for Cambodia interest like in the case of Preah Vihear and the Thailand lambasting Cambodia. However,in a capacity as a leader of nation, he must not punish his own people for doing the same thing with Vietnam. We can do hard politics with foreign countries not with your own people.
If the situation Happen in developed country like USA, Canada or Australia.
The first think the GOVERNMENT of the day will do is to form a parlarmintary committee to investigate the accuracy of the "Opposition leader" claimed/remark. Not removing his immunity and put him to court, this approach is BACKWARD in dealing with issues OF NAITIONAL INTEREST. Unless the CPP INTERST is NOT NATIONAL. Then the current action to lift Opposition leader immunity is valid.
The role of Opposition party is to ensure thhat the Government of the Day DONT FALL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING. In the case of Cambodia it "BLIND" and fallen ASLEEP ON IT JOB OF GOVERNMENT the country for the interest of Khmer people NOT to benefit it Neighbour Thailand or Vietname
If the Hun rejected Thai PM when they wanted his friend Thaksin. Why can't Hun Sen do the same when when Vietnam wanted Sam Rainsy for his board statement, why didn't Hun Sen make the same stand with Vietnam and show them his TOUCHNESS like he is with Thailand.???
Why is is Hun sen Strong on One eye and weak on the other?
If he a man of Principle then he not applying it correctly.
open up ur eyes people there's some degree of democracy in Khmer...AH SAM RAngsy is sayhin Khmer democracy is failing for his political agenda, I'm amazed that some dumb people/politicians buy his sorry ass excuse
2:00 PM,
I am amazed that stupid fuck, and punk ass like you are so fucking retarded....oh, well fucking stupid retarded like you see no different than ah kwark jouy marai..hun shit.! fuck you and burn in hell...mother fucker!
4:02pm you a fuckin idiot.go fuckin yourself, you don't deserve to be khmer.
sincere congrat to RP Ed royce. At least you dare to rise voice against tyrany and injustice in cambodia while majority of your colleges keep silent and by any meant support this tyranic khmer rouge yuon rules
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