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Khmer Times/Taing Vida | Thursday, 05 May 2016
The European Union (EU) has called on the government to release the Adhoc, National Election Committee and United Nations officials who have been charged and imprisoned over the sex scandal involving acting opposition party president Kem Sokha.
The call was made during the 9th Joint Committee meeting between EU representatives and the government on Wednesday.
In a statement released yesterday, it was revealed that while the committee discussed development, institution building, administrative reform, legal and judicial reform, governance, human rights and trade, EU representatives also urged for the creation and maintenance of an environment in which all political parties and members of civil society can operate freely and without fear of persecution.
Ugo Astuto, the Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service, explained the EU’s concerns with the government in the statement.
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“We raised our concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the fairness of law enforcement, specifically regarding the recent arrests of civil society representatives, and we called for their release,” Mr. Astuto wrote.
The EU also raised its concerns over the cases of detained elected politicians and activists and called for respect for pluralist democracy, freedom of expression, human rights and the rule of law.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary of State Ouch Borith responded, saying the government has never abused the judicial system.
“The judicial actions, which have been taken so far, are neither a cynical act of malice nor manipulation of the judiciary to undermine the opposition’s role, but rather actions that enforce the rule of law,” Mr. Borith said.
The EU has significantly scaled up its support of the Kingdom and from 2014 to 2020, has pledged 410 million euros under the Multi-Annual Indicative program (MIP).
Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Europe and Cambodia and investment relations have expanded considerably recently, with Cambodia’s exports to the EU reaching a record figure of more than 4 billion euros in 2015.
The EU is now the primary destination of Cambodian exports.
The scandal surrounding Mr. Sokha and his alleged mistress Khom Chandaraty escalated on Monday when four Adhoc officials were charged with bribery, while deputy secretary-general of the National Election Committee Ny Chakrya and UN official Sally Soen, despite his diplomatic immunity, were charged with conspiring to bribe a witness.
Commune Chief Sieng Chet was also charged in relation to the case.
Last week, 53 members of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) submitted a letter to King Norodom Sihamoni, asking him to intervene in the increasingly deteriorating political situation in the Kingdom.
The letter cited the ruling party’s clampdown on freedom of expression and its alleged influence on the judicial system and state institutions and the arrest of opposition party members, despite their constitutional immunity, along with environmental protection activists, unionists and political analysts who speak out against the government.
Mr. Borith claimed yesterday the CNRP persistently violates the terms of the culture of dialogue – an initiative meant to inspire discussion between the ruling and opposition parties – because of its leaders’ unethical and provocative behavior and incitement inside and outside the country, leaving the ruling CPP no choice but to resort to legal action to enhance the rule of law in Cambodia.
“I wish to underscore that, when the importance of national security and public order is concerned, illegal acts such as forgeries of official documents, hate speech and violent incitement are strongly condemned and punished,” Mr. Borith said.
The CNRP released a statement on Wednesday saying the issuing of a summons to a member of a political party who has parliamentary immunity is an “abuse of power.” Lawmakers are protected from arrest and prosecution in article 80 of the Cambodian Constitution, the statement adds.
In response, Justice Ministry spokesman Kim Sontepheap said he considered the statement lacking in legal consciousness and that those who have abused court proceedings may face legal action.
Clik here to view.
Khmer Times/Taing Vida | Thursday, 05 May 2016
The European Union (EU) has called on the government to release the Adhoc, National Election Committee and United Nations officials who have been charged and imprisoned over the sex scandal involving acting opposition party president Kem Sokha.
The call was made during the 9th Joint Committee meeting between EU representatives and the government on Wednesday.
In a statement released yesterday, it was revealed that while the committee discussed development, institution building, administrative reform, legal and judicial reform, governance, human rights and trade, EU representatives also urged for the creation and maintenance of an environment in which all political parties and members of civil society can operate freely and without fear of persecution.
Ugo Astuto, the Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service, explained the EU’s concerns with the government in the statement.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
“We raised our concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the fairness of law enforcement, specifically regarding the recent arrests of civil society representatives, and we called for their release,” Mr. Astuto wrote.
The EU also raised its concerns over the cases of detained elected politicians and activists and called for respect for pluralist democracy, freedom of expression, human rights and the rule of law.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary of State Ouch Borith responded, saying the government has never abused the judicial system.
“The judicial actions, which have been taken so far, are neither a cynical act of malice nor manipulation of the judiciary to undermine the opposition’s role, but rather actions that enforce the rule of law,” Mr. Borith said.
The EU has significantly scaled up its support of the Kingdom and from 2014 to 2020, has pledged 410 million euros under the Multi-Annual Indicative program (MIP).
Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Europe and Cambodia and investment relations have expanded considerably recently, with Cambodia’s exports to the EU reaching a record figure of more than 4 billion euros in 2015.
The EU is now the primary destination of Cambodian exports.
The scandal surrounding Mr. Sokha and his alleged mistress Khom Chandaraty escalated on Monday when four Adhoc officials were charged with bribery, while deputy secretary-general of the National Election Committee Ny Chakrya and UN official Sally Soen, despite his diplomatic immunity, were charged with conspiring to bribe a witness.
Commune Chief Sieng Chet was also charged in relation to the case.
Last week, 53 members of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) submitted a letter to King Norodom Sihamoni, asking him to intervene in the increasingly deteriorating political situation in the Kingdom.
The letter cited the ruling party’s clampdown on freedom of expression and its alleged influence on the judicial system and state institutions and the arrest of opposition party members, despite their constitutional immunity, along with environmental protection activists, unionists and political analysts who speak out against the government.
Mr. Borith claimed yesterday the CNRP persistently violates the terms of the culture of dialogue – an initiative meant to inspire discussion between the ruling and opposition parties – because of its leaders’ unethical and provocative behavior and incitement inside and outside the country, leaving the ruling CPP no choice but to resort to legal action to enhance the rule of law in Cambodia.
“I wish to underscore that, when the importance of national security and public order is concerned, illegal acts such as forgeries of official documents, hate speech and violent incitement are strongly condemned and punished,” Mr. Borith said.
The CNRP released a statement on Wednesday saying the issuing of a summons to a member of a political party who has parliamentary immunity is an “abuse of power.” Lawmakers are protected from arrest and prosecution in article 80 of the Cambodian Constitution, the statement adds.
In response, Justice Ministry spokesman Kim Sontepheap said he considered the statement lacking in legal consciousness and that those who have abused court proceedings may face legal action.