Ouk Phuri, member of the Cambodian Bar AssociationBy Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
14 November 2008
Citizens should lodge complaints against authorities who violate their rights or the law, a leading lawyer said Thursday.
The constitution guarantees a citizen’s freedom from abuse of authority and right to file legal complaints against it, said Ouk Phuri, a member of the Cambodian Bar Association, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”
“I’m not just telling people to file a complaint because I’m a lawyer,” he said. “We have to do it. If there’s any question, there are many lawyers that can help, such as lawyers who aid the poor.”
Cambodia’s police are widely criticized for being politically controlled or for abuses such as wrongful arrest, unlawful detention and abuse in custody.
There was a dearth of complaints filed against such abuse, Ouk Phuri said.
The constitution guarantees a citizen’s freedom from abuse of authority and right to file legal complaints against it, said Ouk Phuri, a member of the Cambodian Bar Association, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”
“I’m not just telling people to file a complaint because I’m a lawyer,” he said. “We have to do it. If there’s any question, there are many lawyers that can help, such as lawyers who aid the poor.”
Cambodia’s police are widely criticized for being politically controlled or for abuses such as wrongful arrest, unlawful detention and abuse in custody.
There was a dearth of complaints filed against such abuse, Ouk Phuri said.
With which authorities should the complaints be filed?
ReplyDeleteThe police are present down to the commune, district and provincial levels.
The courts are located in provincial capitals, so are the offices of lawyers and most of human rights defenders. Many people do not have the means and time to go to those places to file their complaints.
There should be an independent police oversight body, for instance a police complaints commission, with offices or connection with grassroots organisations across the country.
This body should be easily accessible to the public and have an easily understood complaint procedure, including a timeframe for its substansive responses to complaints against the police.
Political parties'grassroots activists should be trained to receive such complaints and file them with this oversight body on behalf of complainants. At the moment they can file such complaints with the General Inspector of the National Police at the Ministry of Interior and/or the courts of law. They can seek help from human rights defenders and/or lawyers if they can them near their places.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
What the lawyer is saying that I NEED MORE CLIENTS. Lawyers in Srok Khmer is the same like everywhere else...they're leeches. Their main goal is to make money, not to help people. Nobody does anything for free.
ReplyDeleteyou are speaking so well. but you are forget your position as a governmental attoney???
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Mr. LAO Mong Hay. I totally agree with your opinion.
ReplyDeleteKon Khmer
I had very bad experience in dealing with few Khmer Lawyers. They are the professional trouble makers. I lost confidence and hope on these few Khmer Lawyers.
ReplyDeleteHe was apro-Hun sen in recently 08's Election; don't take any considernon him... next election will see him again if he still alive, Oh man...
ReplyDelete