SRP lawmaker Mu Sochua leaves the Supreme Court following a hearing on June 2. (Photo by: Pha Lina)Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
THE opposition Sam Rainsy Party has apparently backed away from an earlier pledge to pay 16.5 million riels (around US$3,928) in fines and compensation on behalf of parliamentarian Mu Sochua, stating instead that she will have the final say in the matter.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court levied the fine and damages against Mu Sochua when it found her guilty of defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen in August last year, a ruling that was upheld by the Appeal Court in October and the Supreme Court on June 2.
The Kampot province parliamentarian has consistently stated she would rather go to jail than pay the fees, and SRP officials previously supported her stance.
On Sunday, acting SRP spokesman Kimsour Phirith said the party decided at a meeting on Thursday that it should pay the fines in order to prevent Mu Sochua’s fight with Hun Sen from affecting the SRP’s work.
Mu Sochua noted in an email, however, that she had not authorised the payment.
On Monday, Kimsour Phirith said the party would allow her make the final decision.
“SRP is leaving the final decision to Her Excellency Mu Sochua … since she is the victim of the lawsuit. If she has decided to face jail and absolutely not pay the fine, it is her business,” he said. “[We] must respect her rights as an individual.”
He added that the SRP raised the issue of the payment last week in an attempt to promote stability and demonstrate political maturity.
The defamation case arose after Mu Sochua filed her own lawsuit against Hun Sen, claiming he defamed her during a speech in Kampot in April.
Mu Sochua said on Sunday that she would be returning to Cambodia on July 5.
On June 17, National Treasury President Ker Bunleng issued a letter ordering Mu Sochua to pay a fine of 8.5 million riels to the treasury within two weeks, or by July 1.
The treasury did not set a deadline for the 8 million riels in compensation that make up the balance of money Mu Sochua owes.
Ker Bunleng could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Sok Roeun, deputy prosecutor at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said that if Mu Sochua fails to pay the fine by the July 1 deadline, the treasury will notify the court, which will then take legal action to obtain the money after issuing a final 10-day ultimatum.
“If Mu Sochua refuses to pay, [we] will force her,” he said, and added that the lawmaker could ultimately end up in jail.
Tith Sothea, a spokesman for the Press and Quick Reaction Unit at the Council of Ministers, said Monday that the issue of whether the SRP or Mu Sochua agrees to make the payments or not is of little consequence to the government.
But he said Mu Sochua’s political life could be affected by the decision she makes.
“If Mu Sochua decides not to pay and agrees to jail, this will be her political life story,” he said, adding: “This is the SRP’s business.”
Phnom Penh Municipal Court levied the fine and damages against Mu Sochua when it found her guilty of defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen in August last year, a ruling that was upheld by the Appeal Court in October and the Supreme Court on June 2.
The Kampot province parliamentarian has consistently stated she would rather go to jail than pay the fees, and SRP officials previously supported her stance.
On Sunday, acting SRP spokesman Kimsour Phirith said the party decided at a meeting on Thursday that it should pay the fines in order to prevent Mu Sochua’s fight with Hun Sen from affecting the SRP’s work.
Mu Sochua noted in an email, however, that she had not authorised the payment.
On Monday, Kimsour Phirith said the party would allow her make the final decision.
“SRP is leaving the final decision to Her Excellency Mu Sochua … since she is the victim of the lawsuit. If she has decided to face jail and absolutely not pay the fine, it is her business,” he said. “[We] must respect her rights as an individual.”
He added that the SRP raised the issue of the payment last week in an attempt to promote stability and demonstrate political maturity.
The defamation case arose after Mu Sochua filed her own lawsuit against Hun Sen, claiming he defamed her during a speech in Kampot in April.
Mu Sochua said on Sunday that she would be returning to Cambodia on July 5.
On June 17, National Treasury President Ker Bunleng issued a letter ordering Mu Sochua to pay a fine of 8.5 million riels to the treasury within two weeks, or by July 1.
The treasury did not set a deadline for the 8 million riels in compensation that make up the balance of money Mu Sochua owes.
Ker Bunleng could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Sok Roeun, deputy prosecutor at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said that if Mu Sochua fails to pay the fine by the July 1 deadline, the treasury will notify the court, which will then take legal action to obtain the money after issuing a final 10-day ultimatum.
“If Mu Sochua refuses to pay, [we] will force her,” he said, and added that the lawmaker could ultimately end up in jail.
Tith Sothea, a spokesman for the Press and Quick Reaction Unit at the Council of Ministers, said Monday that the issue of whether the SRP or Mu Sochua agrees to make the payments or not is of little consequence to the government.
But he said Mu Sochua’s political life could be affected by the decision she makes.
“If Mu Sochua decides not to pay and agrees to jail, this will be her political life story,” he said, adding: “This is the SRP’s business.”
25 comments:
នេះនែ តុលាការអាខ្វាក់ ខុសនិងត្រូវ ស្រាច់តែមាត់វាម្នាក់
This stupid lady bury herself in the hole...thing has already quiet, and she kept creating more problems toward her ownself...? what's stupid lady!!!!
She'll go to jail for a few days to make her point, then an arrangement will be made to pay the fine and she'll get out. The event will definitely boost her political capital and prestige.
Sadly, this was not a result of any real action concerning illegal land grabbings, child prostitution, or fighting poverty, but a spat between the "strong man" and the "strong woman."
SIHANOUK,HO CHIMINH,MAO ZETONG ARE KILLERS
"Offensive acts come back upon the evil doer, like dust that is thrown against the wind."-Buddha
May Buddha bless you my sister.
MU SOCHUA should know from the fact that even if HUN SEN killed anybody ,his judges ,his court will never find him guilty.If they do,they all will be fired and perhaps send all of them to PREY SAR for sure or will be shot by the unknown assassin.
Everybody should know now that HUN SEN is the law of the land.Even the king obey his orders.
One thing that can order him around and he can't resist is his own shit.When it come the dictator has to go.
Neither she is not going to pay nor she spends time in jail . Someone in PP already feels the stingray bite from WA DC.
Cambodia Town
Long Beach, Ca
The law will prevent Mu Suchua for running MP office. Thus, We would gain 1 more seat for next parliamentarian election. This is a good opportunity for our CPP.
New Phally
As this writer previously suggested this case is essentially a personal issue and should be left to Ms Mu herself and her conscience to decide.
Had the lawsuit been lodged in her party's name then the party would have every right to arbitrate on her behalf. The purported remarks made by the other party (Mr Hun Sen) were also of a personal nature even though they were punctuated between other issues raised by someone holding public office.
It is important that the Opposition party recognises this distinction between private and party affairs or privileges as pertain to individual members within it. Otherwise, it risks compromising on its democratic stance, leading the public to perceive its image unfavourably rather than that of a genuine liberal parliamentarian movement that seeks to divorce the nation's polity from its accustomed one-party totalitarianism and patronage system (see the CCP's recent endorsement of its premiership candidacy - could the CPP have endorsed any other candidate as long as its current Dear Great Leader signals his intention to remain at the helm?).
Were Ms Mu to go to jail in light of all the circumstances - public and personal - leading to this outcome she would do so knowing that the world will stand beside her in solidarity with her sacrifice and ordeal endured as a result of the regime's disregard for basic humanitarian principles and social rights, among which is the right to defend one's dignity as human.
The regime could also unwittingly turn her into a national martyr and an international heroic icon with potentially far reaching repercussions for its welfare and survival even if her main protagonist has shown himself repeatedly immune to public outcries against his evident lack of ethical accountability for his public actions.
School of Vice
11:56 Anonymous said...
Ah Hun Sen is a Khmer dictator in this era.He will die soon like ah Saddam Hussein.
According to this article, the SRP want to pay this fine "last week in an attempt to promote stability and demonstrate political maturity" That mean this whole mess started by Mu Sochua is pushing Cambodia into instability and demonstrating her political immaturity.
past: Hun Xen sold chicken!
present: Hun Xen sold land!
It's so stupid that the victim has to pay the crime. No need to think hard even the kid can understand there is no justice at all for Mrs. MU under the stupid regime of akwak.A ki Tex, a tola ka, ajudge, they are all ignorant, uneducated,and they all gangsters.
Tith sothea, you are in wrong tract!.Learn to speak to duty bound rather than insert your own comment.
What would happen to SRP is entirely sorted out between them.
" If MU Sochua decides not to pay and agrees to jail,this will be her political life story",he said,adding:This is the SRP's buisiness.
You have to learn to know your limit in your field,Have you ever study mathematics?
Don't be too quick to jump into your own conclusion.
Tith sothea, you are in wrong tract!.Learn to speak to duty bound rather than insert your own comment.
What would happen to SRP is entirely sorted out between them.
" If MU Sochua decides not to pay and agrees to jail,this will be her political life story",he said,adding:This is the SRP's buisiness.
You have to learn to know your limit in your field,Have you ever study mathematics?
Don't be too quick to jump into your own conclusion.
The Dream of Khmer for democracy in Cambodia under Hun Xen (former Khmer rouge) reign has no place Cambodia. Why? because this country turn from communist into dictatorship(olgashie state) with Papa Sihanouk's idea.
The evil regime will never exist for ever, when the time is comming they will be destroy. Look back to the history in the past. Lenin and Calmarx's these deschriebed that: " where has oppresion , there will be revolt".
But most of communists in Cambodia they know it well or they read only Dollar' these not Linin's these ?
Khmer
Khmer Rouge in Cambodia has never know waht is the democracy but on the paper is the best once, pratic into wrong way.
Hun Sen will not die soon. He has to get money from Mu Sochua first. As long as he receive money, he will to visit Hok Lundi.
Is it disgraced Mu Sochua belong to SRP or SRP is belong to Mu Sochua? Actually, in Parliamentarian systerm likes in Cambodia, all MPs and party members have to respect the party's decision and follow the party's line. What is the benefit by not paying the fine? Is it for better or for worst by going to jail and destroy her political career in this way?
SRP firmly supports disgraced Mu Sochua-no fine to be paid is so nice to please its extremely supporters against PM Hun Sen, but at the same it's also a nice trick to remove Mu Sochua from SRP in the next election. However, we will see Mu Sochua's real colour whether she will pay the fine or not when she arrived back to Cambodia.
In my point of view, I am still believe that disgraced Mu Sochua will pay the fine by using SRP's decision as her pretext to save her ugly face.
Khmer in Sydney CBD
Mu Sochua indeed has proven she is "Cheng Klang" as Hun Sen has supposedly called her.
If I could vote for her I would.
She has proven she is tougher than fleeing Sam Rainsy.
You go lady!
She has proven she is a person of priciple.
Much braver than the many male collegue politicians.
Hun Sen, you must feel really tough to strong-armed the corrupted court to intimidate a woman like Mu Sochua.
Your mother must be really proud of you.
If I were you I would find a way to court this Mu Sochua lady to join CPP and work for me.
She is rare asset!
New Phally,
You are the most clueless and idiotic poster I ever read.
Do you know what you just said?
You just told everybody that Cambodia is a Communist state, you idiot.
What opportunity are you complaining about? CPP has all power to put more fake Khmers in the House, are you nut or you are Yuon yourself?
Kim Sourphirit might put his statement in a wrong place. SRP needs or no need maturity is still the same, the CPP will never given any value to SRP or Sourphirit himself.
So saying without paying money to the court is the immaturity of SRP is explicitely reflecting to the claim that Sourphirit is immature.
Best
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