EU delegates met with Cambodian MPs from the four parties on 19th March to discuss economic and political situations in Cambodia as well as the issue of Mr. Rainsy's safe return to Cambodia from self-imposed exile.By Khmerization
Source: KEN
A delegation of nine European parliamentarians have on Friday 19th asked the Cambodian parliament to help facilitate the return of the leader of the opposition party, Mr. Sam Rainsy, from self-imposed exile in France after he was convicted and sentenced to 2 years jail for uprooting six wooden border stakes in late 2009, reports Khmer Express News.
The EU delegation's request followed a promise it made to the Sam Rainsy Party MPs during a meeting on the previous day that they will do their utmost to help Mr. Sam Rainsy to return safely to Cambodia.
During a meeting with MPs from the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the Nationalist Party (formerly Norodom Ranariddh Party), opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and Human Rights Party, Mr. Ivo Belet, one of the delegates, told the Cambodian MPs that the Cambodian parliament and government must build up confidence measures in order to gain the trust of the international community by facilitating the safe return of Mr. Sam Rainsy to Cambodia. Mr. Belet also said that democratic principles also require the inclusion of opposition parties in the parliamentary commissions and that freedom of expression must be upheld.
In response to Mr. Belet's concerns, Mr. Sik Bun Hok, MP from the ruling CPP and Deputy of Parliamentary Legislation and Justice Commisison, said Mr. Sam Rainsy's case is purely a legal and judicial matter as Mr. Rainsy had violated the laws by uprooting the border posts. The parliament had stripped off his parliamentary immunity in line with the Cambodian legal process, he said.
During a separate meeting with SRP MPs on 18th March, the EU delegates have expressed their concerns about the absence of Mr. Rainsy from the election process which will take place in 2013. They said Mr. Rainsy's presence in the country is important for the upcoming national election in 2013.
Mr. Cheam Yeap, another MP from the ruling CPP, said that democracy can move forward even without Mr. Rainsy because all the draft bills have been adopted and approved by the parliament even with or without Mr. Rainsy's presence.
The nine member EU delegation, led by Mr. Werner Langen, is on a visit to Cambodia from 18-20 March to assess and to evaluate the democratic and political situations as well as economic developments in Cambodia. It has met with Deputy PM and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, Deputy PM and Minister of the Council of Ministers Sok An as well as members of the civil society and members of parliament.
Source: KEN
A delegation of nine European parliamentarians have on Friday 19th asked the Cambodian parliament to help facilitate the return of the leader of the opposition party, Mr. Sam Rainsy, from self-imposed exile in France after he was convicted and sentenced to 2 years jail for uprooting six wooden border stakes in late 2009, reports Khmer Express News.
The EU delegation's request followed a promise it made to the Sam Rainsy Party MPs during a meeting on the previous day that they will do their utmost to help Mr. Sam Rainsy to return safely to Cambodia.
During a meeting with MPs from the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the Nationalist Party (formerly Norodom Ranariddh Party), opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and Human Rights Party, Mr. Ivo Belet, one of the delegates, told the Cambodian MPs that the Cambodian parliament and government must build up confidence measures in order to gain the trust of the international community by facilitating the safe return of Mr. Sam Rainsy to Cambodia. Mr. Belet also said that democratic principles also require the inclusion of opposition parties in the parliamentary commissions and that freedom of expression must be upheld.
In response to Mr. Belet's concerns, Mr. Sik Bun Hok, MP from the ruling CPP and Deputy of Parliamentary Legislation and Justice Commisison, said Mr. Sam Rainsy's case is purely a legal and judicial matter as Mr. Rainsy had violated the laws by uprooting the border posts. The parliament had stripped off his parliamentary immunity in line with the Cambodian legal process, he said.
During a separate meeting with SRP MPs on 18th March, the EU delegates have expressed their concerns about the absence of Mr. Rainsy from the election process which will take place in 2013. They said Mr. Rainsy's presence in the country is important for the upcoming national election in 2013.
Mr. Cheam Yeap, another MP from the ruling CPP, said that democracy can move forward even without Mr. Rainsy because all the draft bills have been adopted and approved by the parliament even with or without Mr. Rainsy's presence.
The nine member EU delegation, led by Mr. Werner Langen, is on a visit to Cambodia from 18-20 March to assess and to evaluate the democratic and political situations as well as economic developments in Cambodia. It has met with Deputy PM and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, Deputy PM and Minister of the Council of Ministers Sok An as well as members of the civil society and members of parliament.
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