Sam Rainsy counter-attacks to preserve his parliament immunity

(Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

25 Feb 2008
By A.N.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French

The Kampong Cham MP contested the constitutionality of the NEC’s decision to condemn him to pay a 10 million riels ($2,500) fine for disparaging the CPP leaders during the 2008 legislative campaign.

Threatened by Hun Sen to lift his parliamentary immunity, opposition leader Sam Rainsy does not intent to be intimidated by it.

Sam Rainsy’s office just reacted through a communiqué: Sam Rainsy lodged a complaint with the Constitutional Council regarding “the unconstitutionality/illegality” of the NEC’s decision which was subsequently validated by the same Constitutional Council. “Those decisions are pertaining to a "criminal offence" that is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tribunal under the Supreme Court,” the SRP communiqué stated.

As stipulated by the law, 17 MPs wrote to the Constitutional Council to support Sam Rainsy’s procedure. Finally, Sam Rainsy also wrote to Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly, to inform him about his procedural steps.

Sam Rainsy was fined by 10 million riels ($2,500) by the NEC for disparaging the CPP leaders during the 2008 election campaign.

SRP’s Procedural Steps to Prevent the Lifting of Sam Rainsy's Parliamentary Immunity

February 25, 2009
Source: SRP

DEMARCHE TO PREVENT
THE LIFTING OF SAM RAINSY'S PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY

The following demarche was made today to prevent the lifting of SRP President Sam Rainsy's parliamentary immunity:

1. Sam Rainsy lodged a complaint at the Constitutional Council pointing to the unconstitutionality/illegality of recent election-related decisions made by the National Election Committee and the Constitutional Council. Those decisions are pertaining to a "criminal offence" that is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tribunal under the Supreme Court.
2. As required by the law, a number (17) of National Assembly Members wrote to the Constitutional Council to support Sam Rainsy's legal complaint.
3. Sam Rainsy wrote to National Assembly President Heng Samrin to inform him about the SRP demarche.

Read the three documents in Khmer at http://tinyurl.com/byqx7f

SRP Cabinet