Original report from Phnom Penh
01 October 2009
The National Assembly voted against amendments to a new penal code that opposition proponents said would increase freedom of expression and improve justice and democracy.
Eighty-three of 101 lawmakers present voted against the amendments, to 43 of 672 different articles, in an Assembly heavily dominated by the Cambodian People’s Party.
The penal code, drafted with the help of the French government, seeks to update a combination of 1995 laws, tradition, the constitution and principles of international law.
Yim Sovann, a Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker who supported the changes, told the Assembly session: “The amendments aim to open the possibility of pulling some articles that affect the rights and freedoms of expression for people, and to provide a clear definition of each offense, because we worry there are some negative points in the draft of the penal code.”
He later said he regretted the amendments were not approved, but he hoped the president of the Assembly, Heng Samrin, would allow a full-session debate.
Sam Rainsy Party officials said certain articles in the draft law tighten the freedom of expression and public assembly, while allowing for complaints of defamation and insult that are open for abuse.
Cheam Yiep, head of the Assembly’s finance commission, told the session the amendment requests were “illegal.”
“The amendment requests contradict the internal rules of the National Assembly,” he said.
Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vatana told the session the penal code was written “to serve human rights.”
“Nothing we did is to pressure or close human rights,” he said.
Some human rights organizations have said the penal code’s negative points can be corrected during Assembly debate.
Eighty-three of 101 lawmakers present voted against the amendments, to 43 of 672 different articles, in an Assembly heavily dominated by the Cambodian People’s Party.
The penal code, drafted with the help of the French government, seeks to update a combination of 1995 laws, tradition, the constitution and principles of international law.
Yim Sovann, a Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker who supported the changes, told the Assembly session: “The amendments aim to open the possibility of pulling some articles that affect the rights and freedoms of expression for people, and to provide a clear definition of each offense, because we worry there are some negative points in the draft of the penal code.”
He later said he regretted the amendments were not approved, but he hoped the president of the Assembly, Heng Samrin, would allow a full-session debate.
Sam Rainsy Party officials said certain articles in the draft law tighten the freedom of expression and public assembly, while allowing for complaints of defamation and insult that are open for abuse.
Cheam Yiep, head of the Assembly’s finance commission, told the session the amendment requests were “illegal.”
“The amendment requests contradict the internal rules of the National Assembly,” he said.
Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vatana told the session the penal code was written “to serve human rights.”
“Nothing we did is to pressure or close human rights,” he said.
Some human rights organizations have said the penal code’s negative points can be corrected during Assembly debate.
17 comments:
No kidding. Of course they going to oppose it. How else are they going to be able to put innocent people in jail if the penal code is corrected?
the cpp is the communist people party, not cambodian people party.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Tortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Executions
Executed members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country.
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
To the credit of Sam Rainsy, this is "Chamness Chiss Kar Eing" to change from 2/3 majority to 50+1%. So let's live with it, and they must do better in 2013 election. This is democracy!!!
next term of opposition is zero point.
now on khmer at combodia live with dowl head to ear up to HUn say and no commend or cristical any thing .
do not forget that putomnear is proposal from another country to agresived our country as YUON .they had learn from alot and acknowlagde before they stay top of all khmer leader in recently.
to 5:28AM
I wouldn't say this is "Chamness Chiss Kar Eing". How was 2/3 system helped Cambodia since 1993? You need to think intelligently about this. I rather have ONE political party accounts for the fate of the country instead of pointing the finger. We should put an ended to Khmer's blame game.
Honestly, who will you credit or discredit after 5 years mandate?
of course they not going to vote for it. why would the cpp agree and allow to put thorns on their walk path.
So where the of opposition party?
lots of Khmer people got suffer from flood and where a hell of them?All of fuck you guys just only said love khmer,but now khmer people were need help so where ta fuck you are?
9:19AM
If they are in power, they would react more appropriately.
stop being an idiot! stealer.
concerns
A pleu 9:19
Aske mie kaheang and ah Hun. Ah pleu. Engcheug ban tei Srok vea engcheug.
You will done your vote on the next term.
My dear 8:18AM,
As you wished and technically you have "ONE Party system" right now. We are not Khmer blaming Khmer, but we must play boldly and swiftly (Obama's words) with the current political term to better our position in the next election.
what is the purpose of this law? is it only to serve a few privileged ones or is it going to serve all of khmer citizens? we have to be wary of politically motivated tactics of the so-called srp group of individuals.
Ah 6:21
Khmer Rouge supporter
Shut the fuck up dumb ass.
You are so stupid mother fucker.
9:19 AM,
You are really fuck up! You never seen Sam Rainsy gave medicines, foods, and clothes to flood vitims. I hope you are NOT blind like ah Hun Sen.
I am associating with any fucking Cambodian Political parties. I truly saw Sam Rainsy with many of his MPs were giving medicine, food, and clothes to those flood victims. Giving all of these gifts those who needed are good things, but politics should not be this way, it should be developping the nation, so people can go to schools, find jobs, and live in harmony! You fool!
Correction! I meant to say, I am NOT associating with any Cambodian fucking political parties....!
Post a Comment