The opposition joined Comfrel's conference on vote registration and voting list checking

គណបក្សប្រឆាំង ចូលរួមប្រជុំ​ចង្អៀត​ជាមួយ​ខុមហ្វ្រែល ស្តីពី​ការចុះបញ្ជី និង​ពិនិត្យ​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត​

ថ្ងៃទី 18 កញ្ញា 2012
ដោយ: រតនា
Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: អង្គការ​ខុមហ្វ្រែល បាន​បើក​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​មិនទូលំទូលាយមួយ​ជាមួយនឹង​តំណាង​គណបក្សនយោបាយ ដែលមាន​អាសនៈ​នៅក្នុង​សភា និង​គណបក្ស ដែល​គ្មាន​អាសនៈ​ក្នុង​សភា​។ កិច្ចប្រជុំ​មិនទូលំទូលាយ​នេះ បានធ្វើ​ឡើង​នៅ​សណ្ឋាគារ អ៊ឹម​ភៀរៀ​ល កាលពី​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃទី​១៨ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ ដោយ​ផ្តោត​ការពិភាក្សា​លើ​ការចុះបញ្ជី​បោះឆ្នោត ដែល​កំពុងដំណើរការ​ចុះឈ្មោះ​ពិនិត្យ​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​។​

​លោក ហូរ វ៉ាន់ សមាជិក​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា នៃ​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី បាន​ចូលរួម​ប្រជុំ​ ​ដែលរៀបចំ​ដោយ​ខុមហ្វ្រែល​នោះ បាន​និយាយថា ការប្រជុំ​នៅពេលនេះ​ពិភាក្សាគ្នា រិះរក​វិធី​យ៉ាងណា​ឲ្យ​ការចុះឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត ប្រកបដោយ​តម្លាភាព និង​គុណភាព និង​រិះរក​វិធី​ឲ្យ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ បាន​ចុះឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត​ទាំងអស់គ្នា ហើយ​ដើម្បី​ជួយ​ធ្វ​ឲ្យ​បញ្ជី​ចុះឈ្មោះ​បោះឆ្នោត​មួយ ដែល​អាច​ទទួលយកបាន​គ្រប់​គណបក្សនយោបាយ​។​

​លោក ហូរ វ៉ាន់ បាន​មាន​ប្រ​រ​សាសន៍​បន្តថា ​ការចុះឈ្មោះ​កន្លងមក មាន​ភាពមិនប្រក្រតី ជាច្រើន ដូចជា មានការ​ចុះឈ្មោះ​ឲ្យ​ជនបរទេស​ជាច្រើន ដែល​មិនអាច​ដោះស្រាយបាន ពីព្រោះ​មិនបាន​យក​ច្បាប់​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍​មក​អនុវត្ត​។

Opposition Senator Ho Vann Begins US Trip in Wake of Election

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNVQbVNh_Fs

Public Invitation to meet SRP Senator Ho Vann in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Opposition Senator Begins US Trip in Wake of Elections

Ho Vann is an SRP senator for Phnom Penh. Photo: VOA Khmer

Wednesday, 04 July 2012
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

“The election is still flawed and cheating.”

Ho Vann, a newly elected Cambodian senator for the opposition, begins a monthlong trip to the US this week to meet with supporters of the Sam Rainsy Party and update them on the current political situation.

Speaking from Lowell, Mass., Monday, Ho Vann said he was meeting with supporters to describe election irregularities from June’s polls and to seek input on next year’s election.

“The election is still flawed and cheating,” he said.

He himself was unable to properly observe voting in June, he said. Local officials did not let him know the names of voters or observe those getting voter IDs. Practices like this prevented opposition supporters from voting, he said.

Parties Want Representation in Election Committees

SRP MP Ho Vann

Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

"Opposition candidates to the provincial and national election committees saw their applications rejected by the national committee."

Members of Cambodia’s non-ruling parties on Tuesday demanded that at least some members be allowed onto the National Election Committee, which they accused of ruling-party bias ahead of local elections next year.

Hopefuls for council seats in 1,633 communes nationwide will vie for votes in an election environment that independent monitors say favors the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

As it does in national politics, the CPP has dominates the commune councils, holding nearly 8,000 of 11,500 seats.

Ho Vann, a lawmaker for the main opposition Sam Rainsy Party, was among those who met with NEC officials Tuesday. He said there are no opposition representatives on the National Election Committee, which is charged with ensuring fair elections and investigating complaints of unfair practices. This creates a “danger” for those parties, he said.

June Textile Factory Agrees to Compensate Workers

4,000 workers, mainly women fought for compensation after June Textile factory burned down. After months of facing police, arrest and detention, the women won their fight. June factory agrees to pay compensation. Sam Rainsy Party stood with the workers all the way. Justice prevails.

Mu Sochua

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlLNIo0eys0&feature=channel_video_title

The SRP moves its main headquarter to Chak Angre

SRP members take a souvenir photo in front of the new party headquarter (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

12 July 2011
By Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Phnom Penh - The SRP moved its main headquarter on Monday from its previous location on Sothearos Street, Tonle Bassac commune, Chamcar Mon district, to its new location in Chan Angre commune, Meanchey district, along National Road No. 2.

On Monday, SRP MP Ho Vann, who directed the move, said that the reason the SRP selected 11 July for its move because it is a victory day for the SRP as prescribed by fortune tellers.

Ho Vann said that the SRP did not organize anything major for this move, only some offerings for the guardians of the land. In two weeks, the SRP will organize a major event with the participation of about 1,000 party members.

Ho Vann said: “We are proud, we are hopeful and we have stability because we have our own headquarter.” He added that the old headquarter belongs to Kom Korm, the party vice-president who rented it to the party at a modest cost.”

SRP MPs visit protesting garment workers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlLNIo0eys0

The opposition criticizes the re-opening of Pich Bridge

SRP MP Ho Vann (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)

08 Dec. 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

SRP MP Ho Vann criticized the re-opening of Pich Bridge to traffic, saying that the 100-day commemoration for the victims is not even held yet and the bridge is already opened, at least the re-opening should wait until after the 100-day memorial is observed first. On the other hand, Mr. Sok Touch, an independent political observer, said that the re-opening of the bridge is done with the aim of benefitting the [development] company. He said that, according to religious belief, prior to the 100-day memorial, the spirits still dwell on the bridge so there should not be any commercial gain that takes precedence over the spirits of the victims. He said that there should be 2 or 3 additional bridges built and that the current one be left as a historical monument and a tragic experience.

SRP MPs visit citizens living under flood from Boeuk Kak filling by Hun Xen's crony Lao Meng Khin

Confrontation betwen Boeung Kak Lake residents and security force in front of Hun Sen's mansion

French govt questions CPP tactics

Friday, 05 February 2010
Sebastian Strangio
The Phnom Penh Post

FRENCH government officials have expressed concerns about the suspension of the parliamentary immunity of lawmakers from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, according to a statement issued by the party on Thursday.

During a debate in France’s National Assembly on Thursday, the statement said, Foreign Affairs State Secretary Pierre Lellouche said that his nation “deplored” decisions stripping parliamentary immunity from SRP lawmakers Sam Rainsy, Mu Sochua and Ho Vann in 2009.

“We cannot accept these practices, which pertain to intimidation,” Lellouche said in response to a question from Chantal Brunel, chairwoman of the France-Cambodia Friendship Group at the Assembly. He added that the French government will continue to pay “close attention” and “actively follow” the situation facing the opposition in Cambodia.

When contacted on Thursday, Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the French lawmakers clearly did not know the full story behind the suspension of the lawmakers’ immunity.

“We respect if there is a concern about this situation, but for me and for the government, those [French] parliamentarians should come and learn exactly what is involved,” he said, adding that the actions had been taken in accordance with the government’s commitment to the rule of law.

“We have to implement the rule of law,” he added.

“Everybody is under one law together.”

Communiqué from the 28 Nov 2009 demonstrators in Ottawa, Canada

COMMUNIQUÉ

Canada, our adopted home, a nation which holds truths to basic principles and values of human rights, freedom and democracy, that we, as Cambodian-Canadian, once victims of past communist regimes, are able to gather to express our views freely as free men. Not in Cambodia, our former country where democracy has merely existed on paper, and in theory - NOT in real life. Freedom of speech and the press has been taken away to a larger extend, so did was our freedom to a peaceful assembly. Today’s demonstration would have landed all participants in prison, if it were held in Cambodia. As such, we could not be free in Cambodia and so the same can be said to an entire population of Cambodia who are currently waking up to a new reality of political oppression orchestrated under the criminalized defamation act.

As Cambodian-Canadian, we come together on this November 28, 2009, to express our deepest concerns to the deterioration state of democracy in Cambodia once enjoyed under UNTAC. Furthermore, to call on our great Canadian government and donors’ countries to put an end to the systemic violation of human rights and freedom orchestrated by the Cambodian authorities. It is the only way to ensure long term peace and stability of the country as well as the region as stipulated under the spirit of signed Paris Peace Accord 1991.

Since the Cambodian executive body has effective control over three branches of the government, it has used the courts to effectively criminalize anyone on defamation charges, placing strict restriction on freedom of speech, the press and expression. Several journalists and other critics of the government have been imprisoned as a result of such practices.

The stripping immunity from elected members of parliament (MP), Mr. Sam Rainsy, Mrs. Mu Sochua, and Mr. Ho Vann, is a way to intimidate and silence opposition critics. It discourages people’s representatives from speaking out critical of government policies. Furthermore, it prevented them from fulfilling their elected roles and responsibilities.

These are the reasons which led to our gathering today:

1. Cambodia has no real separation of powers, only in theory.
2. Cambodian National Assembly functions merely as a rubber-stamp institution
3. Cambodian Courts are systematically biased - NOT an independent body.
4. Legal professionals are subjected to government intimidation as in the case of MP. Mu Sochua vs. PM Hun Sen.
5. Journalists and government critics have been jailed or killed while others remain outside the country, convicted in absentia on bogus defamation charges.
6. Cambodian government has aggressively acted to seal the mouths of its critics and its political oppositions through its highly vague defamation act.
7. On-going land evictions have caused severe hardship on Cambodian victims across the country.
8. International Emergency aids were selectively and intentionally given to only the government’s party members and their families while denying others belonging to an opposition groups (reported on Radio Free Asia).
9. Stripping immunity from elected members of parliament without any regard for the rights or any concerns of the people whom they represented at their districts.
10. Political killings and persecution still remain problematic for those who seek to involve in the process. One opposition activist has been recently axed to death, while many have fled overseas to escape jail times convicted on defamation charges.

WITH ABOVE FORE-MENTIONED, WE SEEK INTERVENTIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND DONORS’ COUNTRIES TO PROCEED WITH THE NINE-POINTS RESOLUTIONS BELOW:

1. Reconvene on the signed Paris Peace Accord of 1991.
2. Pressure Cambodian government to respect its international obligations signed under the Paris Peace Accord of 1991.
3. Pressure Cambodian government to end the erosion process of civil liberties by calling for an end to its authoritarian policy and practices.
4. Call for an immediate restoration of immunities to all elected members of the National Assembly: Mr. Sam Rainsy, Mrs. Mu Sochua and Mr. Ho Vann.
5. Take all necessary steps to force for an overhaul to the highly corrupted Cambodian judiciary system. It’s a must, since the court itself has been totally corrupted through a well managed patronage scheme - Reward and Punishment.
6. Call for releases of all imprisoned journalists and an end to political persecution.
7. Condemn the flawed defamation law which has been used unconstitutionally to suppress people’s rights and freedom on issues critical to corruption and government’s improper activities.
8. Call for an end to forced land evictions.
9. Revoke as well as NOT providing Visa entries into the country by any corrupted official, including any human rights violators.

On this day, November 28, 2009, on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, we, as participants in this demonstration, with strong belief and conviction to the cause of human freedom and liberties in Cambodia, hereby submitted this petition for your utmost attention and consideration.

US asked to take tough action on Cambodian human rights [-Cambodia in denial]

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy will be the third member of parliament to lose his immunity this year following an allegedly pulling out border markers with Vietnam (Photo: Eurasie)

Hang Chakra (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
13 November 2009

A prominent US human rights group on Friday urged the US to take tough action on Cambodia for its harsh moves against government critics.

“Human Rights Watch urges [US President] Obama to openly challenge Prime Minister Hun Sen’s increasing authoritarian practices, in which he and other ruling party officials use violence, threats, and the country’s notoriously corrupt judiciary to silence and imprison opposition party members, journalists, land rights activists, and other government critics,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

The statement was made just two days before President Barack Obama is due to meet Asean leaders on Sunday, after attending the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Singapore.

“This statement is unrealistic and untrue. It has a political intention to attack the government,” said Phay Siphan, secretary of state and spokesman for the Council of Ministers.

Phay Siphan said that what was raised in the statement is ruthless and not honest with a “bad intention to unfairly slander the government of Cambodia”.

But opposition party welcomes the statement.

“I thank Human Rights Watch for helping to remind the US President Barack Obama who is the leader of a superpower to pay attention to the rights and freedom of Cambodian people and democracy in Cambodia,” said Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, calling the government to accept criticism.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy will be the third member of parliament to lose his immunity this year following an allegedly pulling out border markers with Vietnam. Two other opposition parliamentarians Mu Sokhua and Ho Vann have been stripped off their immunity for criticizing premier Hun Sen and military officers.

The editor of an opposition Khmer Mchas Srok newspaper was sentenced to one year jail term for writing on corruption issues.

SRP MP Ho Vann's visit to Pennsylvania, USA

(All Photos: SRP Pennsylvania)

Meet SRP MP HoVann and Men Monyratana in Philadelphia

We would like to extend our invitation to everyone for the opportunity to meet Mr. Ho Vann and Mrs. Men Monyratana. Mr. Ho and Mrs. Men is human rights advocate, member of the National Assembly, elected Member of Parliament from Phnom Penh, Mr. Ho and from Prey Veng, Mrs. Men. Please come and join dinner with Mr. Ho and Mrs. Men on Sunday October 25, 2009 at Grand King Buffet from 3:00PM – 5:00PM.

Return of SRP MP’s immunity is a complicated affair

SRP MP Ho Vann (L) and SRP MP Mu Sochua (R)

17 October 2009
By Sopheap
Khmer Express News
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The parliamentary immunity of 2 SRP MPs – Kampot MP Mu Sochua and Phnom Penh MP Ho Vann – which was lifted on 22 June 2009 stemming from defamation lawsuits brought up by Hun Xen (in the case of Mu Sochua) and 22 high-ranking army officers (in the case of Ho Vann), has not been restored yet.

The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel), an election watchdog group, issued a report for August and September titled: “Complications in the return of parliamentary immunity to MPs” in which it indicated that these complications stem from the lack of clear law providing the procedure for such return. Such shortcoming led to MPs, politicians, government officials and legal scholars to provide diverging opinions.

Prey Veng SRP MP Yem Ponharith is also of the same opinion. He indicated that, according to the spirit of Article 16 of the MP statute law, MP should automatically receive their parliamentary immunity without the need for a parliamentary vote to return it back to them.

Prey Veng CPP MP Cheam Yeap said that MPs receive their parliamentary immunity once they gave their oath at the start of their office position. He claimed that the removal of the parliamentary immunity was initiated by a request from the tribunal to the ministry of Justice, but if it should be restored back, the court should also ask the ministry of Justice to tell the National Assembly to vote to return the parliamentary immunity to the MP back.

Koul Panha, Executive Director of Comfrel, indicated that rule to lift or return the parliamentary immunity for MPs should be clearly stated in a law. The National Assembly seems to decide as it pleases: the parliamentary immunity could be lifted by the permanent committee of the NA, or that it requires a 2/3 votes from the NA to restore the parliamentary immunity back, but in fact, there is no law to stipulate all the above.

Currently, the NA seems to function under the rule that whichever way was used to lift the parliamentary immunity, the same way must be used to restore it back. Even Hun Xen himself made this claim.

Mrs. Mu Sochua was sued by Ky Tech on behalf of Hun Xen on 27 April 2009. She was accused of defamation. Ho Vann was sued by a lawyer representing 22 high-ranking army officers on 30 April 2009. He was also accused of defamation. Both MPs saw their parliamentary immunity lifted on the same day on 22 June 2009.

Return of Immunity a Matter for Assembly: [CPP] Lawmaker [Cheam Yeap]

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
25 September 2009

“We just took away the raincoat to make [them] wet equally to others, and we’ll just give them back the raincoat, that’s all” - CPP Cheam Yeap

A lawmaker for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party said Thursday the National Assembly could easily return parliamentary immunity to two opposition members if the courts drop their cases and make a request.

Opposition lawmakers Mu Sochua and Ho Vann, from the Sam Rainsy Party, had their immunity suspended by the Assembly in April, at the request of the court, as both faced defamation charges.

CPP lawmaker Cheam Yiep told “Hello VOA” Thursday the Assembly could vote to restore the immunity after the cases are dropped.

“We just took away the raincoat to make [them] wet equally to others, and we’ll just give them back the raincoat, that’s all,” he said.

Mu Sochua has so far been fined $4,500 in a suit brought by Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Ho Vann was acquitted this week of defamation charges brought by 22 military officials.

The National Assembly returns to session Oct. 1, but it has so far received no request to restore immunity.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy called on the National Assembly to restitute the parliamentary immunity to MPs Mu Sochua and Ho Vann

15 September 2009
Khmer Sthabna
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Two opposition MPs, Mrs. Mu Sochua and Mr. Ho Vann, who lost their parliamentary immunity (on 22 May 2009) and who was sentenced in defamation and disinformation lawsuits, seem to have difficulties looking for arrangement with high-ranking CPP officials to obtain their agreement to restitute their parliamentary immunity back. The National Assembly is currently controlled by CPP MPs.

On 10 September, Kampot SRP MP Mu Sochua unabashedly criticized the Cambodian government and the Cambodian parliament in front of US Congressmen, and she asked the US Congress to intervene with the Cambodian parliament to restitute her immunity back, as well as that of MP Ho Vann.

However, on 14 September, during the Prek Kdam bridge inauguration, Hun Sen said that those who tell lies about Cambodia, they will go to the lowest level of hell. Furthermore, those who live outside Cambodia, they can actually watch on the Cambodian TV showing the various achievements and they will not be fooled by these lies [KI-Media note: All the TV stations in Cambodia are controlled by the CPP].

Hun Xen said that these people should stop lying because they can go to hell, as this is the Pchum Ben season, and [after going to hell], they will never be able to return back.

Ou Virak, President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), told reporters at the National Assembly building (15 September 2009) that, regarding defamation lawsuits, the court should not ask for a lifting of parliamentary immunity from MPs, and this action does not have a clear basis besides serving as an act of intimidation.

Ou Virak added that Mrs. Mu Sochua and Mr. Ho Vann must automatically receive their immunity back without having to wait for the restitution of their immunity by the National Assembly, even if their immunities have been lifted already by a request made by the court because tens of thousands of people voted for them, but unfortunately [with these defamation and disinformation lawsuits], these MPs lost their ability to fulfill their mandate as representatives of the people.

Sam Rainsy told reporters in front of the National Assembly (on 15 September 2009) that a large number of democrats demand for the restitution of the parliamentary immunity for these two SRP MPs, because MPs have the right to talk about any issue without having to face pressure or the lifting of their immunities. Sam Rainsy indicated: “Therefore, we demand for a restitution of the parliamentary immunity for the MPs who lost them.”

Sam Rainsy indicated that the CPP with 90 seats at the National Assembly can stir storms and thunders as much as they want.

Hun Sen used to say that the lifting of SRP MP Mu Sochua is as easy a peeling a banana, but its restitution is difficult because the opposition does not have the necessary votes to restitute it back. However, Hun Xen told the SRP to replace [Mrs. Mu Sochua] with someone else, then maybe this could receive support from the National Assembly.

SRP MPs Mu Sochua and Ho Vann visit the Cambodia community in Long Beach, California

On September 12, 2009, SRP MP Mu Sochua (L) and SRP MP Ho Vann (R) visited the Cambodian community in Long Beach. At the start of the talk, Mrs. Mu Sochua asked the audience to light up a candle for justice (All photos sent by Reader M.P. from Long Beach)
Mrs. Mu Sochua addressing the crowd
Mrs. Mu Sochua watched a video with the attendants to the talk
MP Ho Vann watched a video with the crowd
SRP MP Mu Sochua
MP Ho Vann and MP Mu Sochua listened to questions asked by participants to the talk
Mrs. Mu Sochua replied to questions asked to her. Mrs. Mu Sochua clearly confirmed that she will be returning to Cambodia, her homeland, on September 21, 2009
Mr. Ho Vann listening to questions asked by the public.
MP Mu Sochua replied to questions asked by the public