Source: Freedom House (USA)
Cambodia’s proposed law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) contains provisions that place troubling restrictions on the ability of NGOs to organize and function effectively. Freedom House calls on the Cambodian government to abandon the law in its current version as it is fundamentally flawed.
A second draft of the proposed law, which has been in the works for some months, was unveiled by the Cambodian government late last week. The latest version of the law still contains a mandatory registration provision, which would ban all activities of organizations that are not officially registered with a signed memorandum of understanding with the government. The draft is also vague in scope and contains ambiguous language that could make it easier for the government to arbitrarily shut down civil society groups or deny registration. Additionally, the current draft has no option for an appeals process—which had been present in the original version—leaving an organization with no recourse once it has been rejected by the government.
“The proposed law, in its current form, undermines the very basis of an independent and vibrant civil society and would have a chilling effect on democratic development in the country,” said Paula Schriefer, Freedom House director of advocacy. “While we understand that all governments have a legitimate interest in preventing criminal activity and regulating organizations that become legal entities, these regulations should not be used as a tool to undermine fundamental freedoms related to association, expression, and assembly. Such rights are protected under the Cambodian Constitution and under the international treaties to which the Royal Government of Cambodia is a signatory.”
Last Tuesday, select NGO and association representatives met with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to raise concerns about the latest version of the law, which failed to incorporate their recommendations that the law be more transparent and consistent with existing constitutional protections.
“Despite the willingness of civil society groups to engage in good faith with the government when the first draft was first released last year, the process of consultation has been pure window dressing with recommendations from the NGO community blatantly ignored,” Schriefer continued.
Cambodia is ranked Not Free in Freedom in the World 2011, Freedom House's survey of political rights and civil liberties, and Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2010.
3 comments:
SenVarman's constitutional law is perfectly suitable for only the CPP, but not reasonably or poliSickally for all Khmers.
Soon or later, ye couldn't even verbally talk with your own children about lacking of food and ye would be died soon!
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 10,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 10,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 10,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 10,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
Pailin people must make the great revolution!
Let's get all the weapons that Khmer Rough's regime have been hiding under the mountains to fight for freedom of real democracy of Cambodia.
Let's fight and push to The capital city today!
If we don't dare to die today our children won't escape poverty from generation to generation. They are selling Cambodia to be richer! THey are making us poorer and sufferer everyday. That's enough talk! Let's fight!
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