German government announces freeze in KR tribunal funding

Members of a German parliamentary delegation, led by lower house Vice President Wolfgang Thierse, greet CPP, Funcinpec and NRP parliamentarians Monday at the National Assembly. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)

Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Written by Brett Worthington
The Phnom Penh Post

Funds held back until corruption allegations addressed; Berlin delegation also stresses democratic role of Cambodian opposition.

A DELEGATION from the German parliament, or Bundestag, said Monday that the German government will not donate more cash to the Khmer Rouge tribunal until lingering allegations of corruption are resolved.

"We will continue supporting the KRT provided corruption allegations are cleared up," said lower house Vice President Wolfgang Thierse, who led the delegation that met with representatives from the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

Earlier Monday, the delegation met with all the Kingdom's major political parties. The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), its junior coalition partner Funcinpec and the beleaguered Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) met the delegation at the National Assembly.

In a late change to the announced schedule, the Democratic Movement for Change (DMC) - composed of the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties - declined to attend the National Assembly meeting and met with Thierse late Monday, a move Thierse described as "fair" at a press conference.

Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) Deputy Secretary General Mu Sochua said the National Assembly was an inappropritate place for her party to meet with Thierse.

"We are not part of any parliamentary commissions [at the assembly], so we would rather not be involved with that meeting," she said.

Human Rights Party (HRP) President Kem Sokha said that the CPP had invited his party to attend a meeting at the National Assembly but the HRP wanted their own separate meeting.

"There was going to be no chance for discussion," he said. "The government and opposition parties should have separate meetings."

Thierse said that during his meeting with the prime minister Monday, he raised the importance of opposition in a democracy, especially in parliament, citing the example of the German house, where the opposition controls key commissions, meaning all parties have to work together.

The delegation will stay in Cambodia for five days, flying to Siem Reap today where they will meet with members of the German Apsara Conservation Project, the group working to restore Angkor Wat.

Wolfgang Thierse to Hun Sen: Bring an end to corruption and promote democratic pluralism!

Germany's Thierse calls for end to corruption during Cambodia visit

Mon, 02 Feb 2009
DPA

Phnom Penh - The Vice-President of Germany's Parliament, Wolfgang Thierse, used his visit to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Monday to tell the country's leaders they must bring an end to corruption and promote democratic pluralism. Thierse met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, members of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, opposition parties, civil society groups and religious leaders and visited Cambodia's UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal, where four former leaders of the genocidal regime are currently facing trial for crimes against humanity.

"During discussions with the prime minister I reiterated our concerns about the state of democracy in Cambodia and the worrying level of corruption," Thierse told reporters.

"Corruption is a major concern because it prevents the law from being properly applied. There is not a lack of laws in this country, but rather a lack of law enforcement."

Thierse said his meetings with opposition parties - which hold just a handful of seats in Cambodia's parliament - highlighted the need for a range of political parties in Cambodia's burgeoning democracy.

"Having an effective opposition is extremely important for any democracy. In Germany, for example, a member of the opposition heads the treasury committee, which is the most important parliamentary committee," he said.

Thierse confirmed that Germany would continue to contribute funding to the Khmer Rouge tribunal, but said the government needed to satisfactorily investigate allegations of corruption on the Cambodian side of the court.

Vice president of German parliament to visit Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Wolfgang Thierse, Vice President of the German Parliament, will officially visit Cambodia from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4 to beef up the friendly bilateral relations, said an official press release here Thursday.

Wolfgang will respectively pay courtesy calls with Senate President Chea Sim, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, and Prime Minister Hun Sen, said the release from the National Assembly.

The vice parliamentarian president will also meet representatives of the political parties which have seats at the National Assembly, as well as representatives from the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) and other national and international institutions, it added.