Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
The National Assembly and the Ministry of Justice are passing the buck on the issue of who is responsible for restoring the parliamentary immunity of opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua, saying each institution is awaiting an authorisation letter from the other.
Earlier this month, the Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian called for her immunity to be restored, after the resolution of her high-profile legal spat with Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Cheam Yeap, chairman of the National Assembly’s Banking and Finance Committee, said today that the parliament cannot restore Mu Sochua’s immunity unless the Justice Ministry requests it first.
“The court requested firstly that [her immunity] be suspended, so when it happens the court must inform the parliament through the Justice Minister,” Cheam Yeap said.
But Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana said last week that in Mu Sochua’s case, the parliament has to send a letter to the Justice Ministry and that the ministry was still awaiting word.
“I am waiting for a letter from the parliament first,” Ang Vong Vathana told reporters following a legal arbitration workshop in Phnom Penh.
Mu Sochua’s legal battle with Hun Sen started in April 2009, when she filed a defamation suit against him in relation to comments he made during a speech in Kampot province, in which he allegedly made derogatory comments about her.
The premier countersued and the court ruled against her, ordering her to pay 16.5 million riels (US$4,084) in fines and compensation to Hun Sen.
Mu Sochua said today that she has refused to make a request to the courts for the restoration of her immunity, saying that if the court will not do it without prompting, they are clearly not impartial.
“My duty is not to ask for [immunity]. I do not need to ask, it is a duty of the law enforcer,” Mu Sochua said.
“Samdech Prime Minister has said that if you exit by any way, you must enter by the same way. Now will this be re-enforced or is it political discrimination?”
Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, said the Ministry of Justice had to write to the National Assembly, since it made the initial request to remove Mu Sochua’s immunity.
“It is not necessary for the person concerned to ask,” he said today.
15 comments:
Why would you request for something that they can take away so easily. I don`t get it? Do you really need something symbolic?
Khmer Constitution is predictably and universally worst than a childish joke!
Khmer Constitution is predictably and universally worst than a childish joke!
need to exam srp, their ambition in wanted to be the next cambodian prime minister can put cambodia at risk given they are incompetent, disorganized and a tendency to run away to hide in france, etc... they think if they violate khmer law that they can just resign and run away to hide and to seek refuge overseas with the money they steal. so, be careful to vote for them, cambodia! they can't be trusted because they have homes overseas in france and elsewhere. they are corrupted people and fake people who's allegience is not cambodia that their adopted homeland, really! always question them!
Well every time you ask or take issue with such questions you help to put them under the spotlight.
It's probably a futile exercise on the questioner's part given that this regime does not accept responsibility for wrong doings or rectifying precedural or insitutional defects, given the fact that most vital political decisions are ultimately subject to Mr. Hun Sen's approval, and in other cases, to his masters in Hanoi.
Yet, just like Ms Mu's libel case, this subject of her suspended immunity has the potential to discredit the tyrant(s) before both national and world opinions.
What else can Cambodian opposition MPs do?
did you know that sam rainsy dreams that one day he'll be put in power in cambodia by france or american. i don't think khmer people like him, though! that's the reality in cambodia, really! and he keeps barking about cambodia! how hypocritical can he get, really! hey, this is not the dark ages, ok! khmer people will only vote for the one they trust and love, not the one that always running away and hide in france or america, ok! show khmer people the resume because cambodia now changed and khmer people want to see the resume of their leaders, not put in power by some colonizers, etc, that was history already! we learn from history, too, you know! god bless cambodia.
in cambodia, khmer will vote for their leaders, they don't prefer their leaders being placed in power by some foreign power, etc, you know! that was history already, now cambodia is changed, ok! please know the difference between dark age history and now, cambodia has changed a lot since then, really! please get educated and be well informed. only khmer people's vote will count, no exception, you know! god bless cambodia.
Cambodia law?
Most lawyers in cambodia are graduated from {Communist vietnam]if you against them, you will be through in jail, or get shot.It's happening in cambodia.Don't you know? I have friends,brother,sister,and relatives,who is living under THE hun sen regime.They laugh at me.And they told me in cambodia LAW was used only for poor.THE rich and CPP clans they don't need law.They always about above the law.
make is difficult, if they run and way to hide in france, then it shows their true color! thenm, their leadership capability is in question! who needs a weak, ineffective, corrupt leader like that, really! get lost already, ok!
these leaders' failure is that they do not know how to work along with each other. in other words, they lack people's skill, social skills, psychological skill i.e. the human communication skill, really! yes, they say 99% of the time, failure in a work relationship or any type of relationship is lack of communication and understanding, etc..., really! cambodia should emphasize social and communication skills in college studies, you know! it could make a world of difference, you know!
At least 3 of the above posts belong to NGuyean Van Doung, aka MIKE
Sam Raing Sy must of made him and his gang very nervous
Keep up the good work, every body of SRP, Mom Sa Nong Do and Mr. Rong Chhun etc. May lord Buddha bless you all and destroy all the traitors
We know you all risk your life to protect our home land for our children and the children of all traitors who cutting our lands to Your.
Your = Yourn
Dear Dr. Hun Sen and Ten Thousands stars Dr. Hun Manet,
Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why?
Why do you and all of your relatives involve alot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?
Why do you murder cambodian K5,1997events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?
If you are so good why do you and your families murder cambodians? Why? and Why?
If you are so good why do about 90%cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionair and millinor? Why? Why?
Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?
What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?
If you are so good Why do you block KI from cambodians?
Don't you and your families scare of hell for ethernity?
When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?
Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big ass lady and his belove Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!
Khmers victim of 1997 and K5
PS
If Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet remove the tablet it is show they are extremely coward and his star are just joy stars given by his daddy not by patriotism. Dr. Hun Manet is very coward as his daddy they only aim to kill innocent cambodians that all. Dr. Hun SEn and Dr. ten stars Hun Manet are very great at bullying cambodians and killing Cambodians but cowardly toward Thai and Viet.
Seriously where is the win win policy of Dr. Hun Sen represent. The country is getting smaller and shamer by Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet.
To khmer news @ 11:33 PM
Heh you asshole, go advertise your stuffs in Thailand and Vietnam, ok! Cambodia is not interested about your sick freak shows.
2:02AM! for your information: Lawyer is not the one put people in jail, the jud does!
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