Assembly Resumes Demonstration Debate

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
19 October 2009

The National Assembly on Monday restarted debate on a demonstrations law that critics charge will erode freedoms of speech and assembly.

Seventy-six of 103 lawmakers, all of them from the dominant Cambodian People’s Party, approved the second chapter of the draft law, with members of the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties voting against.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said the law would allow the government to oppress “democrats.”

Proponents of the law, which sets rules on when demonstrations can and can’t be held, say it is necessary for preventing unrest.

“This law is important, important for us to follow the law and carry it out for people who do not respect the law,” Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, told reporters after Monday’s session.

Critics find faults in places like Chapter 2, Article 7, which requires the announcement of peaceful demonstrations five days ahead of its scheduled date, and Article 14, which limits the number of demonstrators in any gathering to 200 people.

“This law closes democracy for those who want peaceful demonstrations,” Sam Rainsy said.

Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, said the law remained unclear on the precepts of national security and public disorder that would be used by authorities to allow or prevent demonstrations.

Debate on the demonstration law follows the passage earlier this month of a modern penal code.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, rights group and opposition members urged the passage of two laws that would strengthen the judiciary.

Big Brother state of Cambodia: You may demonstrate only if ...

A draft law for the right to demonstrate under study

05-10-2007
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The government has concocted as draft law “clarifying the procedures for the organization of demonstrations.”

The Council of Ministers adopted on Friday 05 October the draft law on non-violent demonstrations. The draft law which contains 30 articles was written by the Ministry of interior, as a consequence of the Cambodian Constitution which assures the right to strike, the right to non-violent demonstrations, the freedom of expression and assembly by the citizens. According to Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, the “new draft law is better than the old one. All the procedure is detailed.” Therefore, according to the law, the demonstrators must submit a request for authorization from the authorities involved in view of the organization of a demonstration. To this request, the authorities must give the green light before the demonstration is allowed to take place. The demonstrations are systematically prohibited on holydays, such as the birthday of the king, the National Independence day, the water festivals, etc… Furthermore, demonstrations will not be authorized if the authorities believe that, clearly, the assembly planned could be a source for public unrests. “Six months after the adoption of the law, the cities and provinces must set aside a specific location for these potentials demonstrations. If less than 200 people must assemble, there will be no need to ask for an authorization,” Khieu Kanharith explained.