12 October 2007
By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
A princess bearing the “Ang Duong” family name believes that, in the case of Venerable Tim Sakhorn, the former abbot of the Phnom Den pagoda, located in Kirivong district, Takeo province, (who is citizen of) an independent and sovereign kingdom with a reigning king, the government should be able to help its own citizens.
Princess Ang Duong Nim Sophine said that many lawyers should be found to help protest (this case). “When we talk about humanitarian action, about the nationality issue, all the way to Preah Karuna (King-Father) and to the Yuon government, and they don’t listen to us, we must seize the law. The law stipulates that any individual who is charged, wherever that individual is, he has the right to a lawyer, just like right now, we must have two lawyers: one International lawyer and a local lawyer (for the KR Tribunal). If Mr. Tim Sakhorn has no money, he has the right to ask, as a Cambodian citizen and a citizen of the World, he can ask (for a lawyer). There must be two lawyers for him, and two lawyers for his father,” the princess said.
During her stay in Cambodia for the past 6 months or so, Princess Ang Duong Nim Sophine noted that major institutions in the Cambodian government, currently, do not have the independence to resolve the problems faced by its own people.
The princess added that the former monarch, Hero-King Norodom Sihanouk, as well as, the reigning king, want to help, but they cannot do it. “I see that for the Cambodian King, it is not that he does not want to take the crusade to defend his people, but, he seems to be under some kind of intense pressure, he is under a strong pressure: whatever he wants to do, he must ask the permission from Samdach prime minister. In the Constitution, it is stipulated that the King has the right to pardon during (certain) occasions, such as during the Pchum Ben celebration, during his birthday, he must take care of these issues, but (when) he did it, he must ask their permissions (from Hun Sen), they refused, what can he do? The issue leads to nowhere.”
There is no reaction from the government yet about the opinion expressed by the princess.
Princess Ang Duong Nim Sophine said that many lawyers should be found to help protest (this case). “When we talk about humanitarian action, about the nationality issue, all the way to Preah Karuna (King-Father) and to the Yuon government, and they don’t listen to us, we must seize the law. The law stipulates that any individual who is charged, wherever that individual is, he has the right to a lawyer, just like right now, we must have two lawyers: one International lawyer and a local lawyer (for the KR Tribunal). If Mr. Tim Sakhorn has no money, he has the right to ask, as a Cambodian citizen and a citizen of the World, he can ask (for a lawyer). There must be two lawyers for him, and two lawyers for his father,” the princess said.
During her stay in Cambodia for the past 6 months or so, Princess Ang Duong Nim Sophine noted that major institutions in the Cambodian government, currently, do not have the independence to resolve the problems faced by its own people.
The princess added that the former monarch, Hero-King Norodom Sihanouk, as well as, the reigning king, want to help, but they cannot do it. “I see that for the Cambodian King, it is not that he does not want to take the crusade to defend his people, but, he seems to be under some kind of intense pressure, he is under a strong pressure: whatever he wants to do, he must ask the permission from Samdach prime minister. In the Constitution, it is stipulated that the King has the right to pardon during (certain) occasions, such as during the Pchum Ben celebration, during his birthday, he must take care of these issues, but (when) he did it, he must ask their permissions (from Hun Sen), they refused, what can he do? The issue leads to nowhere.”
There is no reaction from the government yet about the opinion expressed by the princess.
