A Change of Guard

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Tuesday 23 March 2010

Chheang Vun: Sam Rainsy will receive his parliamentary immunity back if court found him not guilty


By Khmerization
Source: Kampuchea Thmey

A senior government official said that opposition leader Sam Rainsy and other opposition MPs without parliamentary immunity will have their immunity reinstated if the court found them not guilty of the charges, reports Kampuchea Thmey.

Mr. Chheang Vun (pictured), Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told reporters during a conference at the Le Royale Hotel in Phnom Penh on 19th March that the parliament had stripped off Sam Rainsy's parliamentary immunity because he had committed a criminal offence by uprooting six wooden border stakes in Chantrea district of Svay Rieng province on 25th October 2009. If the court found him not guilty of the charges, Mr. Rainsy will have his immunity back, said Mr. Chheang Vun.

However, Mr. Sam Rainsy was convicted and sentenced in absentia to 2 years jail on 27th January by the Svay Rieng Court and on 12th March, the government filed additional charges that will see him sentenced to 18 years jail if convicted. Mr. Sam Rainsy had lodged an appeal against the conviction.

Mr. Chheang Vun said Mr. Rainsy will get his immunity back, like Mr. Ho Vann, if the court had exonerated him of all charges. "His Excellency Sam Rainsy's case is a case that we have told everybody that it is an issue of him breaking the law by uprooting border posts which are public properties. And it is a judicial matter that was inscribed in the constitution that in the case that the Justice Ministry sends a request the parliament will lift the immunity (of a certain MP) to pave the way for the Justice Ministry to instruct the court, which is one power among the three powers of separation, to perform its duties. If later the court find him not guilty, like Mr. Ho Vann's case, the parliament will reinstate his parliamentary immunity back", he said.

Mr. Chheang Vun's comments came at a time when a nine-member EU delegation is on a 3-day visit to evaluate political and democratic situations in Cambodia from 18-20 March. During the meeting with MPs from all political parties, including MPs from the ruling Cambodian People's Party, the EU delegation had expressed the importance of Mr. Rainsy's presence in the country and during the upcoming elections in 2012 and 2013.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL, I doubt HUN SEN regime dare to against EU and UN..

I think they put presure on Hun Sen's administration that's why they said if Mr. Sam Rainsy found not guilty his immunity will be given back.

Anonymous said...

This guy is just another youn server.

Anonymous said...

WHAT GOOD IS IMMUNITY IF CAN BE TAKEN AWAY AS EASILY.

THE FACT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY IS ONLY FOR THE BEST PROTECTION OF THE HUN SEN'S OFFICIALS. THEY MEANS NOTHING TO THE OPPOSITIONS. THERE'S NO PROTECTION!

Anonymous said...

Chheang Vun just said like this to make the EU delegation happy or to stop them from putting too much pressure on Hun Sen government. Chheang Vun's comments are just for good publicity. Rainsy has been sentenced to 2 years jail and additional charges are on the way, so what does Chheang Vun's comments mean? Nonsense!