Hun Xen warns opposition from calling his autocratic regime a "dictatorship"

PM warns opposition of citing 'autocracy'

Thursday, 06 August 2009
Sam Rith
The Phnom Penh Post

PRIME Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that any opposition member who calls Cambodia an "autocracy" will be met with a lawsuit by the Cambodian People's Party.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh, the prime minister told opposition members to exercise "caution" when describing the Kingdom.

"Be cautious about using [the] improper language of dictatorship, for sometimes there will be legal action," Hun Sen said.

"This regime rules according to the constitutional monarchy and the principle of liberal democracy and pluralism," he said.

Hun Sen did not name particular opposition members, but referenced opposition in the Sam Rainsy Party.

Yim Sovann, a lawmaker and spokesperson for the SRP, said that the prime minister's comments amounted to another threat against members of the SRP and its parliamentarians.

He said that housing evictions by armed forces of the ruling party and the suppression of peaceful demonstrations "has never happened in a democratic country".

"I am not accusing the prime minister, but he may very well realise himself: What is the country's rule? Is it democracy or autocracy?" Yim Sovann said.

"Look at Thailand, whose citizens have enough rights to express their opinion by holding peaceful demonstrations. Such a culture is not allowed in Cambodia."

Not a 'dictatorial regime': Hun Xen, a dictator-in-denial

Not a 'dictatorial regime'

Aug 5, 2009
AFP

PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIAN Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday warned critics that they risked facing legal action if they called the country a 'dictatorial regime'.

'Be careful with the language of 'dictatorial regime'. Be careful, (or) one day legal action will be used,' Mr Hun Sen said during a graduation ceremony in the capital Phnom Penh.

The premier's warning appeared to be aimed at those who allege senior Cambodian officials have over the past several months used defamation lawsuits against critics to impede freedom of expression in the country.

'This is a constitutional monarchy... Don't curse it as a dictatorial regime - be careful!' Mr Hun Sen said.

'(And) when legal action is used, you guys would say freedom of expression is prohibited, but your expression is wrong,' he added.

Mr Hun Sen's remarks came a day after a court found outspoken opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua guilty of defaming him and ordered her to pay more than 4,000 dollars in fines and compensation.

Local human rights group Licadho said the verdict was 'predictably unjust, and shows yet again how the courts are controlled by the government and used as a weapon against its political opponents'.

There have been three defamation or disinformation convictions against Cambodian government critics in just over a month, the United Nations human rights office said Wednesday.

New York-based Human Rights Watch recently alleged Hun Sen's government aimed to silence political opposition and critics with a 'campaign of harassment, threats, and unwarranted legal action.'

Hun Xen's regime is a constitutional democrazy?

Hun Xen’s reaction to opposition criticisms

05 August 2009
DAP news
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday morning, Hun Xen sternly warned the opposition party which criticized his government leadership as dictatorial. Hun Xen said that the use of such words could be hit by the law, because his regime is a constitutional democracy, therefore, the opposition should use decent words. Hun Xen’s warning was made during the distribution of diplomas for Build Bright U. students at the education institute building.

Hun Xen also praised the progress of the KR Tribunal (KRT), in particular the Cambodian judges and prosecutors who are working well with the KRT. At the same time, Hun Xen also appealed to people living along the Mekong River to be careful during the water level rising season. Hun Xen also appealed to the authority involved to prepare materials and equipments to face the imminent danger.

At the same time, Hun Xen also called on the population to wear safety helmet and installed rearview mirrors on their motorcycles. He said that the authority will not stop cracking down on those who contravene the law. Hun Xen also ordered civil servants, soldiers, cops to set the example by wearing of safety helmet. Hun Xen’s program ended at 10:30 AM.