Mu Sochua is a Khmer An San Su Kyi or not?

Political Analysis Today;

Jailing Mu Sochua will produce many side-effects such as pressure from the international communities, mass demonstration by Cambodian people, and martyred Mu Sochua will become Khmer An San Su Kyi inevitably.

Op-Ed by Khmer Young

This July 5th, 2010 early morning, she landed in Pochentong international airport of Cambodia to what she had promised to come back to Cambodia despite gradual pressures from Hun Sen's government about arresting her to put in jail if she rejected to pay the penalty from a countersuit case filed by Hun Sen.

This legal scheme begun by a lawsuit filed by Mu Sochua to sue Hun Sen regarding his speech at Kompot mentioned the derogative word such as "satrey cheung klang or strong leg woman", "strip off her bra by herself but accused other..." etc This speech was broadcasted countrywide via TVK, a government TV channel. Everyone perceived well that a woman mentioned in his speech is no one else but MP Muchua. Through the mass media, MP Sochua was known to the publice for her sharp speech and active advocate for farmers and human rights in Kompot province, which is her constituency.

However, Mu Sochua's lawsuit was disregarded by the Phnom Penh court; but Hun Sen's countersuit was considered by the court as relevant. Subsequently, the case was brought up to the supreme court which Mu Sochua expected to receive a balanced judgement from this highest court. At the end, the supreme court ruled over this case by accusing that Mu Sochua is the defamer. She is fined to pay both prime minister Hun Sen and national treasury in an approximate amount of 4000$.

Cambodian people and world watchers are astonished by this final ruling of the supreme court.

Mu Sochua has firmly kept her conscience not to pay this fine. Whenever she authorizes to pay the fine required by the law, it means she accepts her fault of defaming the premier. Observers see that Mu Sochua is a victim, not a perpetrator. A victim should not be transformed into a perpetrator. She is one of the Cambodian woman who has been perpetually harassed by men verbally, physically and financially. Khmer culture of patrimony has been deeply embedded in this society. Not only premier who made a joke and sexily referred to a woman in his speech in Kampot, many other Cambodian men have traditionally practiced this.

Mu Sochua's decision to challenge a powerful man has drawn attention from Cambodian people nationwide and people worldwide. This decision is very significant:

• She is a Khmer woman, not different from other women, have continuously been dominated and superiored by men. Her long life struggle for women rights and gender quality have surpassed all her personal happiness.
• Cambodian court has been continuously criticized by the experts and international communities about its partial inclination towards the powerful and bourgeoisies. Recently, UNs special rapporteur Subedi also mentioned the narrow political space and lacking justice in a traditional court in Cambodia. Mu Sochua has realized this very well, and she would like to sacrifice herself for the justice of all Cambodian people especially to retain an independent and impartial court for bright future of Cambodia.
• This decision might carry political message for the Sam Rainsy Party, but if we closely investigate this case, this decision will benefit the Cambodian People's Party more because the patrimony system in the court will be cleaned and the CPP will be fully accredited.

Chronically, the supplemental treaty of border marking between Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995 has visibly put Cambodian dissents into hostage while this controversial lawsuit between Hun Sen and Mu Sochua will put all Cambodian people into hostage if Mu Sochua accepts herself as a culprit. So, the solution must be admitted into the course by withdrawing the countersuit or jailing the woman.

Jailing Mu Sochua will produce many side-effects such as pressure from the international communities, mass demonstration by Cambodian people, and martyred Mu Sochua will become Khmer An San Su Kyi inevitably.

Regards,

KY