Liam Cochrane
Monda, 22nd June 2009
Cambodia's National Assembly has voted to remove the parliamentary immunity of two opposition MPs, in a move criticised by a human rights group as an attack on the role of the political opposition.
Two members of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party - former Minister of Women's Affairs, Mu Sochua and Phnom Penh municipality representative, Ho Vann - had their immunity stripped in a single show-of-hands vote by the National Assembly.
Without immunity, Mu Sochua now faces a defamation charge from the Prime Minsiter Hun Sen, while Ho Vann is being sued for defamation by senior military officials.
Mu Sochua says the decision is a sign democracy is going backwards in Cambodia and says she is prepared to go to jail, rather than pay a fine to the Prime Minister, if found guilty.
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