Opposition Leader’s Immunity Restored

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
11 March 2009

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Tuesday saw his parliamentary immunity restored, after he paid around $2,500 in outstanding election-period fines.

The National Assembly’s Permanent Committee voted to restore his protective status, which had been revoked since Feb. 26 following his refusal to pay fines stemming from allegedly disparaging remarks about ruling party leaders during 2008 election campaigning.

Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay welcomed the decision, calling it a “correction” of the committee’s earlier decision, “which they should not do again in the future.”

Opposition leaders had said the revoking of immunity by Permanent Committee was unconstitutional, a position rejected by lawmakers of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

“What the opposition raised seems to look down on the 12 members of the committee,” said CPP lawmaker Cheam Yiep, who is a member of the Permanent Committee. “I have been a member of parliament for a long time and have enough experience and competence.”

Cambodia Restores Opposition Chief's Immunity [-The CPP only knows the law of the jungle]

Wednesday March 11st, 2009

PHNOM PENH (AFP)--Cambodia's parliament has restored opposition leader Sam Rainsy's immunity from prosecution after he paid a fine for defaming premier Hun Sen's party, a lawmaker said Wednesday.

The politician was stripped of his protection last month after accusing the Cambodian People's Party, or CPP, of corruption during elections last year and then failing to pay a $2,500 fine.

His Sam Rainsy Party eventually paid the fine to the country's National Election Committee hours after his immunity was lifted.

Lawmaker Cheam Yeap said the parliamentary permanent committee had voted Tuesday to restore parliamentary protection to Sam Rainsy.

"Immunity of Sam Rainsy has been restored," Cheam Yeap said.

The opposition leader, who is abroad, had called the removal his immunity "unconstitutional," saying under Cambodia's charter, at least two-thirds of lawmakers were needed to approve stripping legal protection of a parliamentarian.

However Cheam Yeap said the decision was made in accordance with the law.

The CPP took 90 seats of the 123 up for grabs in the July ballot, while the Sam Rainsy Party received 26 seats.