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Khmer Times/Taing Vida Monday, 12 September 2016
Acting opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was convicted on Friday for refusing to appear as summoned in a prostitution case against him, yesterday publicly criticized the judiciary by saying the ruling was politically motivated and warned of mass demonstrations if the ruling party kept blocking talks on political resolution.
Mr. Sokha was found guilty under article 538 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to five months in prison.
According to officials, the conviction disqualifies him from running in commune elections set for next year and national elections the following year.
He now faces arrest, but it is unclear when authorities will try to take him into custody.
Speaking to supporters at the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) headquarters, Mr. Sokha said the judiciary was a political tool of the ruling party used to pressure the opposition and human rights activists.
“How do we rely on the judicial system? Not only in my case, but also other opposition MPs, human rights activists and land activists,” he said.
“Judges and prosecutors, to maintain their positions and happiness, are willing to violate procedures and persecute innocent people,” he said.
However, Mr. Sokha still hopes he can resolve the matter through political discussions with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
He added that the CNRP will ask the UN and the international community to provide mechanisms for justice in Cambodia and announced his last choice would be mass demonstrations across the country.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
“I cannot sleep and let others tie my hands and feet, or close my mouth and nose until I die. I have been extremely patient this whole time,” he said.
In a statement on Friday, the CNRP strongly rebuffed the court’s verdict and said it would continue its political campaign to demand the charges against Mr. Sokha, other leaders, human rights activists and election officials be dropped.
If the demand receives no response, the party would stage peaceful mass demonstrations.
CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said talks between the two parties could only occur after court cases involving CNRP leaders, officials and activists were processed and completed to avoid any decisions that violated the judicial system.
“Our stance is the same – we cannot negotiate right now. I think the opposition party has the right to hold mass demonstrations, but they must respect legal procedures and if any illegal action happened, the government and authorities would take legal action to secure public order,” he said.
At the start of Friday’s hearing, where Mr. Sokha was represented by his lawyers, the court clerk announced a decision by Appeal Court president You Bunleng to allow the case to proceed, rejecting Mr. Sokha’s lawyers’ requests to have the case stopped.
Multiple legal documents allowing the court to conduct the hearing on Mr. Sokha were read during the hearing. They included warrants and approvals from Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vantha and National Assembly President Heng Samrin.
Justice Ministry spokesman Kim Sontepheap issued a letter on Saturday stressing that Mr. Sokha had not fulfilled his obligation on behalf of people who are summoned and as a good citizen in society, instead he escaped and became a criminal.
“If he [Sokha] appeared to his summons, no matter how he answered, he would not have become a criminal. As a politician, he should be a good example to the people,” he said.
Mr. Sontepheap added that Mr. Sokha would have one month to appeal the verdict from the day of the announcement as stated in article 382 of the Criminal Code.
Chan Chen, one of Mr. Sokha’s five lawyers, said they had decided to appeal the verdict but had yet to set an actual date.
“The verdict has seriously affected our client and we will definitely appeal the verdict. Once we do it, the sentence cannot be implemented until the Appeal Court proceeds with the case and decides on it,” he said.
Last Wednesday, US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward Royce wrote a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen expressing great concern about the continued deterioration of democracy in Cambodia.
“Since holding elections in 2013, we have seen significant attacks on human rights, as members of the political opposition and activists have been arrested, jailed and beaten,” the letter said, also referencing the attack on CNRP member Nhay Chamreoun in October and the murder of popular political commentator Kem Ley in July.
“Today, the government of Cambodia’s targeting of opposition party leadership – through the persecution of CNRP president Sam Rainsy and the recent harassment of de facto leader Kem Sokha – completely undermines the legitimacy of upcoming elections.”
Clik here to view.
Khmer Times/Taing Vida Monday, 12 September 2016
Acting opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was convicted on Friday for refusing to appear as summoned in a prostitution case against him, yesterday publicly criticized the judiciary by saying the ruling was politically motivated and warned of mass demonstrations if the ruling party kept blocking talks on political resolution.
Mr. Sokha was found guilty under article 538 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to five months in prison.
According to officials, the conviction disqualifies him from running in commune elections set for next year and national elections the following year.
He now faces arrest, but it is unclear when authorities will try to take him into custody.
Speaking to supporters at the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) headquarters, Mr. Sokha said the judiciary was a political tool of the ruling party used to pressure the opposition and human rights activists.
“How do we rely on the judicial system? Not only in my case, but also other opposition MPs, human rights activists and land activists,” he said.
“Judges and prosecutors, to maintain their positions and happiness, are willing to violate procedures and persecute innocent people,” he said.
However, Mr. Sokha still hopes he can resolve the matter through political discussions with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
He added that the CNRP will ask the UN and the international community to provide mechanisms for justice in Cambodia and announced his last choice would be mass demonstrations across the country.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
“I cannot sleep and let others tie my hands and feet, or close my mouth and nose until I die. I have been extremely patient this whole time,” he said.
In a statement on Friday, the CNRP strongly rebuffed the court’s verdict and said it would continue its political campaign to demand the charges against Mr. Sokha, other leaders, human rights activists and election officials be dropped.
If the demand receives no response, the party would stage peaceful mass demonstrations.
CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said talks between the two parties could only occur after court cases involving CNRP leaders, officials and activists were processed and completed to avoid any decisions that violated the judicial system.
“Our stance is the same – we cannot negotiate right now. I think the opposition party has the right to hold mass demonstrations, but they must respect legal procedures and if any illegal action happened, the government and authorities would take legal action to secure public order,” he said.
At the start of Friday’s hearing, where Mr. Sokha was represented by his lawyers, the court clerk announced a decision by Appeal Court president You Bunleng to allow the case to proceed, rejecting Mr. Sokha’s lawyers’ requests to have the case stopped.
Multiple legal documents allowing the court to conduct the hearing on Mr. Sokha were read during the hearing. They included warrants and approvals from Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vantha and National Assembly President Heng Samrin.
Justice Ministry spokesman Kim Sontepheap issued a letter on Saturday stressing that Mr. Sokha had not fulfilled his obligation on behalf of people who are summoned and as a good citizen in society, instead he escaped and became a criminal.
“If he [Sokha] appeared to his summons, no matter how he answered, he would not have become a criminal. As a politician, he should be a good example to the people,” he said.
Mr. Sontepheap added that Mr. Sokha would have one month to appeal the verdict from the day of the announcement as stated in article 382 of the Criminal Code.
Chan Chen, one of Mr. Sokha’s five lawyers, said they had decided to appeal the verdict but had yet to set an actual date.
“The verdict has seriously affected our client and we will definitely appeal the verdict. Once we do it, the sentence cannot be implemented until the Appeal Court proceeds with the case and decides on it,” he said.
Last Wednesday, US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward Royce wrote a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen expressing great concern about the continued deterioration of democracy in Cambodia.
“Since holding elections in 2013, we have seen significant attacks on human rights, as members of the political opposition and activists have been arrested, jailed and beaten,” the letter said, also referencing the attack on CNRP member Nhay Chamreoun in October and the murder of popular political commentator Kem Ley in July.
“Today, the government of Cambodia’s targeting of opposition party leadership – through the persecution of CNRP president Sam Rainsy and the recent harassment of de facto leader Kem Sokha – completely undermines the legitimacy of upcoming elections.”