Thursday, 21 October 2010
By Mom Kunthear and Brooke Lewis
Phnom Penh Post
Twenty opposition lawmakers stormed out of a National Assembly session addressing last month’s large-scale garment-sector strikes after Sam Rainsy Party MP Son Chhay (pictured) was prevented from putting questions directly to Labour Minister Vong Soth.
The walkout came 30 minutes into the two-hour session, when lawmakers were told Vong Soth would provide some answers to 18 questions that Son Chhay submitted last week, but that Son Chhay would not be allowed to read them out.
Nguon Nhel, first vice president of the National Assembly and chair of the explosive session, said it was unnecessary for Son Chhay to read out the questions because Vong Soth had already received them in writing.
“His Excellency Vong Soth can read the questions and answers by himself,” he said.
But Son Chhay has said Vong Soth neither read out nor answered the questions.
“I was kind enough to prepare the questions in advance so that they could study my questions and prepare their answers, and then [Nguon Nhel] said the minister could answer what he likes. This is ridiculous,” he said.
“If we ask him about the monkeys he should answer about the monkeys, and not talk about the pigs and cats and dogs.”
Vong Soth defended the government’s actions with respect to the striking workers.
He did not answer all of Son Chhay’s questions directly....read the full story in tomorrow’s Phnom Penh Post or see the updated story online from 3PM UTC/GMT +7 hours.
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