An enraged Chiem Yeap threatened non-CPP MPs who walked out of NA session

Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Opposition walkout during Nat’l Assembly debate

Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A small number of SRP MPs walked out of a National Assembly debate on Tuesday because they were not pleased with the debate on the draft law to approve government expenditures for 2004. Even though with the SRP MPs walkout, the law was passed on 62 to 13 votes.

The walkout enraged CPP Chiem Yeap. He told The Cambodia Daily by phone that lawmakers should stop walking out of parliament session without the authorization from Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly. However, Chiem Yeap said that CPP MPs can walk out because they received the authorization from Heng Samrin, whereas the SRP MPs do not have such right. Chiem Yeap threatened to cut salaries, blame them, inform their constituencies, and remove them from the National Assembly session, all MPs who will walk out from the session in the future.

Reason for SRP Tuesday walkout

Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Chea Poch, SRP MP, said that the reason which led him to walk out from the National Assembly during mid-session on Tuesday, was because he wanted to protest on the draft expenditures law [for 2004]. He told The Cambodia Daily that the walkout is a warning to the government not to send such law for approval [3 years later]. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who led the group of SRP MPs in the walkout said that he walked out from the session because such law is not important and is not necessary, if the law is important, he would have stayed. SRP MP Ho Vann said that he and his colleagues have the rights to walk out during the session because “we are living in a democratic society.” He said that there is nothing wrong to walk out of the session. CPP MP Chiem Yeap said that the walkout is contrary to the National Assembly internal rules which prohibit the walkout during mid-session. Chiem Yeap said that those MPs who are not happy with the draft law should just not vote for it rather than walk out.