Mu Sochua NOT Arrested Despite Payment Deadline Passed

July 17, 2010
Originally posted at http://sochua.wordpress.com/

Thursday 15th July, 5pm, was the deadline for Mu Sochua’s fine due to the Court in her defamation case with PM Hun Sen. Having refused to pay the fine until the very last minute, it was expected that MP Mu Sochua would be arrested and/or some of her property ceased. However, it was announced on Thursday 16th July, via official letter sent directly to the MP, that the Court would take the amount of money due from the MP’s salary. Concerning the amount due to PM Hun Sen (for “psychological trauma”), the outcome remains unclear. Yet, as MP Mu Sochua herself declared, it is very unlikely that the government will take action by putting her in jail.

Mu Sochua is now, as ever, continuing her fight, and this certainly from out of jail now. As she declared on an SRP Press conference on Thursday (see video below): “Today I would like to declare war,” [...] “It is not a war of weapons; I declare war as a democrat against the loss of morality and justice. I would like to tell people that the CPP must be held accountable before the nation.” (www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2010071640514/National-news/sochua-at-war-with-courts.html)

In the weeks preceding the deadline, MP Mu Sochua received very strong support and this from multiple channels, at the national and international level. Earlier in the week, UN High Commissioner Pillay made a public statement, one victory! (see post here)

At the national level, a grassroot Movement of Cambodian Women emerged out of this case, and continues to grow. In the few weeks before the deadline, the movement, initiated by twenty women working on women’s rights, gathered a total of 1500 signatures from women from multiple backgrounds – garment workers, sex workers, students, teachers, farmers, housewives, radio staff, NGO staff, public officials etc. A public meeting with Mu Sochua will be organized next week, and a large gathering a few days later, where women’s groups will be invited to discuss, share their concerns, hopes, build networks, and become stronger together.

More updates will come very soon!