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| Sam Rainsy, leader of Cambodia's opposition Sam Rainsy Party, speaks during a campaign rally in Kandal province, Cambodia, July 11, 2008 (Photo: REUTERS) |
Phnom Penh March 01, 2011
Cambodia’s highest court on Tuesday upheld a two-year jail term imposed on the exiled leader of the opposition, Sam Rainsy. The verdict came after he uprooted border markers on the country’s boundary with Vietnam more than a year ago, claiming Cambodian farmers were losing land to their more powerful neighbor.
Judges at the Supreme Court said Tuesday that opposition leader Sam Rainsy must serve the two-year sentence that was handed down last year by a lower court.
Sam Rainsy, who lives in self-imposed exile in France, was convicted of racial incitement and damaging public property in the October 2009 incident on the border with neighboring Vietnam.
Senior members of the Sam Rainsy Party, or SRP, said on Tuesday the verdict had come as little surprise. One of them, veteran SRP legislator Son Chhay, says the courts are there to do the bidding of the ruling party.
"We all predicted the Supreme Court will maintain the verdict to send Sam Rainsy to two years in prison," he says. "And we have no hope that the judicial system in Cambodia or the court itself will be able to make any reform to gain some confidence from the public in any near future."
The ruling party’s motive, says Son Chhay, is to ensure that Sam Rainsy is unable to take part in the next election, which is scheduled for 2013.
As matters stand with Tuesday’s ruling, there is little chance that Sam Rainsy can now participate, unless, that is, a political compromise can be reached.
Son Chhay says the international community, which has invested billions of dollars in Cambodia’s political stability, has failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
“They seem to be being fooled that the case of Sam Rainsy is an individual case, that it isn’t reflecting the whole need for maintaining the democratic environment in the country," he says. "That is a big mistake, the donors, especially the Western countries, who have provided so much assistance to Cambodia, should look into the issue of Sam Rainsy more seriously.”
During his recent trip to Phnom Penh, the United Nations human rights envoy Surya Subedi said public figures should become more tolerant and should stop using the courts against their critics.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy faces more legal problems.
Last year, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he displayed a map at a press conference that the government claimed misrepresented the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.
At the time, the government said that his actions amounted to disinformation and the falsifying of public documents.
The issue of the country’s border with Vietnam is a sensitive one for the government. Prime Minister Hun Sen maintains close relations with Hanoi, and many Cambodians are distrustful of their more powerful neighbor.
7 comments:
Sam rainsy , you one best of the best in criticism other, did you see any wrong doing at all in your SRP company? where the donated maney from us, I did ask Reosy keo communt cheif from SRP he never got a dem from you. Are we need leader who master in devided and criticise us? on,no, and no isn't it right?
Sam Rainsy is a good man. Only, CPP, YUON's DOG like yourself or smell like DoG. Ask the the stuppid question. You can ask A HUN SEN about the money, why do not you? Afraid. How much you give to him, $50 or $25 while you alreday eat.
What a stupid like you.
Sam Raingsy,who is on indefinite vacation in Paris for all these times, I heard the rumour that he stiil receives his pay from the Nat.Ass?
Is it true? How nice to be a politician in Nom Benh!
Sam Raingsy,who is on indefinite vacation in Paris for all these times, I heard the rumour that he stiil receives his pay from the Nat.Ass?
Is it true? How nice to be a politician in Nom Benh!
socheata, Heng soy, and all scumback KI team, sacrava lop,Sam rain idiot sy , you are one best of the best in criticism, did you see any wrong doing at all in your SRP company? where the donated money from us, I did ask Reosy keo communt cheif from SRP he never got a dem from you. Are we need leader who master in devided and criticise us? no,no, and no isn't it right?. 1-criticism,2- jeleousy,3- anger, and4- hatred,5- reveng,6- negative view, are evil preaching, only those lowest life and scumback that we see oftenly using it, how opposition leaders so dump did not see the piont? any one out there can tell me how we reap the result from thes 6 ghosts?. you load your brian with 6 ghost it will harm you everyday, wasn't it rigth? your word are not good Ghost90 you are ghost either? Rain idiot sy, Soo Cheat ta, Heng soy, all of you belong to destructive madness man team.
Dear Mr Sam Ransy,
People are watching at your stand for Cambodian landscape.
One day, you have said that Cambodian court is not independent.
One day, you are still caring about the court in Cambodia about your court case set up by CPP to kill your political life in Cambodia. Therefore, you need to stand on one belief to allow Cambodian to believe in you.
I urge you to call all your elected members to flee out to USA or France and tell the world that CPP members are not democratic and they are not respecting democratic system. If you cannot get all your elected members to flee out from Cambodia, your political life will not be very far. I am still supporting your leadership but I suspect if your elected members are still supporting you or not that is very important. Please times are flying very fast. If you are still stay outside of Cambodia, your party will die very soon.
Areak Prey
Sam Rainsy is smelling the Jasmine Revolution is next for Cambodia. Gadaffi is out of power, Hun Sen will be next?????
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