Monday, 08 October 2012
By May Titthara
Phnom Penh Post 
Beehive Radio director Mam Sonando attempts to speak to reporters after
his sentencing hearing in Phnom Penh last week. Photograph: Heng
Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post
In a bluntly worded statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has shot back at critics of the Mam Sonando verdict,
stressing that there were no political motivations to the case and
accusing “outsiders” of trying to pressure a sovereign court.
“Mr. Mam Sonando is the mastermind of the secessionist movement, as some key witnesses have testified against him before the court,” reads a spokesman statement dated Friday and issued in response to “adverse reactions”.
“[I]t is easy and tempting for outsiders to make sweeping unsubstantiated statements on the case of Mr. Mam Sonando. Those statements have attempted to influence the Court of Law in Cambodia, which undermines the independence and impartiality of the Court,” it continues.
On October 1, the independent radio station owner was found guilty on insurrection charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Over the course of a week, the reaction from rights groups, media watchdogs, opposition leaders, and foreign governments has been swift and damning.
Officials from the US, France and European Union offered unusually critical statements, some calling for swift appeals, while others asked for the conviction to be dropped outright.
While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said such calls amounted to political interference, rights workers said it was a farce to pretend the courts operated any differently.
“They always call for intervention from the premier because the court is biased and a tool exploited by the powerful and well off,” pointed out Am Sam Ath, senior investigator at rights group Licadho, adding that the government should heed calls for reform of the less-than-independent court system.
“Mr. Mam Sonando is the mastermind of the secessionist movement, as some key witnesses have testified against him before the court,” reads a spokesman statement dated Friday and issued in response to “adverse reactions”.
“[I]t is easy and tempting for outsiders to make sweeping unsubstantiated statements on the case of Mr. Mam Sonando. Those statements have attempted to influence the Court of Law in Cambodia, which undermines the independence and impartiality of the Court,” it continues.
On October 1, the independent radio station owner was found guilty on insurrection charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Over the course of a week, the reaction from rights groups, media watchdogs, opposition leaders, and foreign governments has been swift and damning.
Officials from the US, France and European Union offered unusually critical statements, some calling for swift appeals, while others asked for the conviction to be dropped outright.
While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said such calls amounted to political interference, rights workers said it was a farce to pretend the courts operated any differently.
“They always call for intervention from the premier because the court is biased and a tool exploited by the powerful and well off,” pointed out Am Sam Ath, senior investigator at rights group Licadho, adding that the government should heed calls for reform of the less-than-independent court system.
To contact the reporter on this story: May Titthara at titthara.may@phnompenhpost.com
7 comments:
The CPP officials claims the court in independent and follows the rule of law? The is a mockery of the justice system and to the democratic country around the world. The world already knows Hun Sen is a dictator who uses his words to jail person.
Hun Sen ordered the arrest of Mom Sonando with no evidence, and no investigation and no court procedure. Yegt the CPP officials dare to say the Cambodia court is independent.
How dare these CPP crooks says Mom Sonando is the ring leader of a secessionist group, when they dont even have enough food to feed the chickens.
this guy MAM sonando did bad things behind the door, he was deserved in jail
Shut up a little gook 9/10@3:38Am.Do you have consciences? Do you know what is right and what is wrong? can you sleep with your ugly wife at night knowing that your clans just putting an innocent father,husband,grandfather in jail unjustly? You're quilty by association with Cpp thugs.
Did Hun sen regime has proof that Mr Mam Sonondo ties to concessionist? Can proof and put what you called" Mam Sonondo did bad things behind close door? What was it?" post that bad things for the world to sees,will you?
Yobal Khmer.
This Youn CPP dog must have been whacked by Hun Sen to much. Now he's looking for this bone. Lol
Hun Sen committed war crimes during 1997 coup, crimes against humanity during K5 Plan and other crimes during the grenade attack 1997 and for the killing of actress Pisith Pilika, so he must be brought to international court and jail for life.
youn/viet more strong minded than u guys, ur mind was so poor/weak
Why don't you go live in Hanoi? Stop barking in here Do ma tambai tambai congchor....Pack your bag and hit the road ok congchor?????
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