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| Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the Cambodia Defenders Project. (Photo: by Heng Reaksmey) |
“This can be a problem, because if the government restricts [NGO activities], it can be difficult for civil society to operate.”
The government is continuing with a draft law to oversee non-governmental organizations, but the head of a prominent legal group says the legislation is unnecessary and open to abuse.
The law on NGOs has been distributed to organizations for their input ahead of a government forum, said Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the Cambodia Defenders Project, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”
The law will require NGOs to provide financial reports and action plans to the government.
“This can be a problem, because if the government restricts [NGO activities], it can be difficult for civil society to operate,” he said.
Civil society organizations contribute significantly to national development, he said, on issues like freedom of expression and legal representation. The Cambodia Defenders Project has had lawyers handle up to 3,000 cases, he said.
The current draft has provisions that should be eliminated, such as the involvement of the government in appraising the work of international organizations, he said.
Callers expressed skepticism the law would do any better for civil society groups.
“This law will only serve for additional restrictions on civil society’s work,” said Kong Kea, a caller from Takeo province.
4 comments:
i hope they would debate about it, instead of always pointing fingers at gov't for wanting to limitor regulate the unpleasant rhetorics, etc in the so-called name of freedom of speech, etc...
How Cambodians live
in a dictatorship
country which they can't express themselves freely.
The govt creates Laws to restrict and distress the civil societies to operate their activities in the
country.
The govt makes,tapes NGO
mouths and activities.
shut up already! nobody can stop you from running your dirty mouths. they just want people who like to run their mouth like diarrhea to know about slandering, libel cases and know what is appropriate of time and place and person, etc... in other words, no hostility, no dirty politics, no personal attack; only contructive criticism should be allowed, really! a hint: ranting at a judge is contempt of court, you'll lose, ok! can't win with rules and regulations and law, etc, you know! that's all! now wake up, ok!
Hey this guy is too old now. I knew him at the border and he's about my age or younger than me, but now he looks so older than me.
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