NGOs condemn Mu Sochua attack

The Mekong Times

Violence against female parliamentary candidates is discouraging women from entering politics, claims a joint NGO statement issued yesterday.Staff from the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC) and the Committee of Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) were among those to condemn “inhuman acts” such as a reported assault upon Mu Sochua, secretary-general of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party and parliamentary candidate for Kampot province.“According to Licadho in Kampot province and CPWP [Committee to Promote Women in Politics] staff who have met the bystanders, Ms. Mu Sochua’s hands were twisted so hard by a driver and his two associates that her two blouse buttons were removed in front of the public,” the statement said. “Worse, the scuffle lasted for 30 minutes without any intervention from the competent authorities.” Apparently, the assault came after Mu Sochua attempted to photograph a car with army number plates taking part in electoral campaigning.The attack contravenes women’s rights enshrined in the Cambodian Constitution and violates election law, the statement continued, as well as undermining the government’s development principles.“Such an assault in public has spoilt her [Mu Sochua’s] dignity and nobility as a Khmer woman and can be an intimidation and barrier to women involving themselves in politics.”Secretary General of the National Election Committee, Tep Nytha, yesterday agreed that anyone using state property during electoral campaigning is “violating the election law, and if any political party which saw those using such property should take a picture of them as evidence to make a complaint to the commune committee to solve the case.”But he said that Mu Sochua’s use of her “authority” to block vehicles is “beyond her authority [as] a parliamentary candidate,” recommending that charges of physical abuse be investigated by the courts.“I want to reaffirm that the NEC has power to tackle only issues associated with elections such as the use of state property and overuse of rights by political representatives. So, the court will solve complaints associated with [physical abuse] such as the spraining of arms … People who violate [election law] should be warned or deleted from voting lists or fined 5 million riel [around US$1,250] to 25 million riel [around US$6,250].”Tep Nytha pointed out that violence has been low in this electoral campaign compared to 2003, although authorities are investigating “two politically motivated crimes.” “When we obtain precise evidence,” he concluded, “we will publicize it.”