A Change of Guard

សូមស្តាប់វិទ្យុសង្គ្រោះជាតិ Please read more Khmer news and listen to CNRP Radio at National Rescue Party. សូមស្តាប់វីទ្យុខ្មែរប៉ុស្តិ៍/Khmer Post Radio.
Follow Khmerization on Facebook/តាមដានខ្មែរូបនីយកម្មតាម Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khmerization.khmerican

Sunday 22 March 2015

Cambodia OKs controversial election laws

Provisions include heavy fines for NGOs that 'insult' political parties and candidates during campaign season
March 19, 2015 AJ

"These laws undermine fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the constitution,"

Cambodian legislators approved two controversial election laws on Thursday that were promptly condemned by rights groups as undemocratic for their restrictive provisions — including a ban on NGOs from criticizing political parties during election campaigns.

The laws, which were unanimously approved, received backing from both the ruling party of strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen and his opposition.

They have been presented as an attempt to avoid the kind of post-election political deadlock that has dogged Cambodia in recent years. But civil society and rights groups have criticized the laws as ill conceived and rushed, with serious implications for free speech.

Among the criticized provisions are heavy fines and bans for NGOs that "insult" parties and candidates during campaign season, which has been reduced from 30 to 21 days.

Political parties that choose to boycott parliament could also see their seats taken away from them under the new law.

"The process by which these laws were passed raises serious questions about the intent behind them," Sopheap Chak, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, told Agence France-Presse.

"These laws undermine fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the constitution," she said, adding that the legislation received little public debate before it was passed and was "likely to restrict public engagement in the political process."


Brad Adam, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, added: "Laws like these limiting freedom of expression, association, and assembly will make it likely that any future Cambodian election is undemocratic."

Sam Rainsy, head of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), promised to address concerns by activists.

"We will try to resolve what civil society is not satisfied with," he told reporters.

The CNRP boycotted parliament for nearly a year, accusing the country's election commission of political bias and allowing Hun Sen to steal victory during July 2013 polls.

The CNRP only took up its seats in the National Assembly in July last year in return for a promise of electoral reforms. Since then the Cambodian parliament has voted to guarantee the independence of the election commission.

On Wednesday Hun Sen said the new election body would be formed next month and have nine members — four each from the ruling and opposition parties and an independent figure agreed to by both sides.

Cambodia's premier marked three decades in power in January and is regularly criticized by campaigners for ignoring human rights and stamping out dissent.

Agence France-Presse

1 comment:

Kim Ea said...

Finally the storm die down the dust subsided, the boiling spirit of change from the poor and unfortunates was swiped under the rug of the assembly house . But the power of the undefeated rule just wake up and start to unleash a ravage with malicious accusation to the change leader . a new war just start all over again . the political apathy , the insolvency and astronomical deficit flamboyant by new deception law and the NGO became irrelevant in their work to protected the right of voters Khmer . Did this shut up of Khmer opinion,or a repatromonialized rule by dictatorship and their accomplices from both parties can pushed down the sentiment of insecurity of the people ?. Right now all the defaulted fall flat back to the accuser who want dictator regime to yearned more power to people, and the ruler with tank all weapon and hundred thousand soldiers plus ghost occupiers Viet back up of hundred thousand more in secret hiding, who been terrorized Khmer citizen like enemy, became a victim of consciousness it is a strength phenomenon isn't it ? The future of Khmer desperate democratic voting right became more and more inequality and irrelevant and no one can justify the fact , because the NGO were handcuff by law , and will be punish in the extend of dictator rule of law . .