Phnom Penh Post
By Meas Sokchea
Former S-21 interrogation and detention facility
prisoner Chum Mey speaks in front of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in
Phnom Penh in 2012. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post [Bou Meng, another ex-Tuol Sleng inmate has already distanced himself from Chum Mey's action]
Tuol Sleng survivor Chum Mey on Tuesday is expected to follow through on
plans to call for a mass protest against opposition lawmaker Kem Sokha
for allegedly calling the Khmer Rouge torture centre where Mey was
detained an invention of the Vietnamese.
Calls for the demonstration come in the absence of an apology by the Cambodia National Rescue Party acting president, who says a May 18 recording of him doubting the authenticity of the prison was manipulated by the ruling party.
Days later, Prime Minister Hun Sen used the allegation to propose that Cambodia criminalise genocide denial. Members of the National Assembly practically fell over themselves to submit a draft version on May 31.
The law, which calls for fines of at least one million riel ($250) and prison sentences of six months to two years for those who deny that the Khmer Rouge committed genocide, will be debated in the National Assembly on Friday.
National Assembly spokesman Chheang Vun told the Post yesterday that the legislation would not be used retroactively to convict Sokha.
“This law that the permanent committee has decided to propose will not point only at Kem Sokha. It’s something we do for our whole country, from today to the future,” he said. “Therefore, if Kem Sokha does not say anything more, he will not be guilty, but if he says more, he will be guilty and this law will be enforced.”
Several additional Tuol Sleng, or S-21, survivors also threw their weight behind Mey’s protest over the weekend. Survivor Bou Meng, however, has said he will “remain neutral” on the issue.
CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said the proposed law is a ploy of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to gain support ahead of the national elections on July 28.
“The ruling party is making an unclean problem before the election,” he said.
In a statement yesterday, opposition leader Sam Rainsy – who is living in France to avoid several convictions on charges some believe to be politically motivated – blamed Hun Sen for creating “tensions for political gains”.
“Hun Sen is distorting the truth, manipulating justice and bullying the Cambodian people,” Rainsy, who has stayed largely silent about the Tuol Sleng scandal, said yesterday in his statement.
additional reporting by Mom Kunthear
Calls for the demonstration come in the absence of an apology by the Cambodia National Rescue Party acting president, who says a May 18 recording of him doubting the authenticity of the prison was manipulated by the ruling party.
Days later, Prime Minister Hun Sen used the allegation to propose that Cambodia criminalise genocide denial. Members of the National Assembly practically fell over themselves to submit a draft version on May 31.
The law, which calls for fines of at least one million riel ($250) and prison sentences of six months to two years for those who deny that the Khmer Rouge committed genocide, will be debated in the National Assembly on Friday.
National Assembly spokesman Chheang Vun told the Post yesterday that the legislation would not be used retroactively to convict Sokha.
“This law that the permanent committee has decided to propose will not point only at Kem Sokha. It’s something we do for our whole country, from today to the future,” he said. “Therefore, if Kem Sokha does not say anything more, he will not be guilty, but if he says more, he will be guilty and this law will be enforced.”
Several additional Tuol Sleng, or S-21, survivors also threw their weight behind Mey’s protest over the weekend. Survivor Bou Meng, however, has said he will “remain neutral” on the issue.
CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said the proposed law is a ploy of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to gain support ahead of the national elections on July 28.
“The ruling party is making an unclean problem before the election,” he said.
In a statement yesterday, opposition leader Sam Rainsy – who is living in France to avoid several convictions on charges some believe to be politically motivated – blamed Hun Sen for creating “tensions for political gains”.
“Hun Sen is distorting the truth, manipulating justice and bullying the Cambodian people,” Rainsy, who has stayed largely silent about the Tuol Sleng scandal, said yesterday in his statement.
additional reporting by Mom Kunthear
5 comments:
Befor too long , another new law will be on Assembly floor
( per Hun Phuc request ) :
Because Vietnam saved Khmers from the genocidal regime
of the Khmer Rouge , Those who are against the free flow of Vietnam immigrants , must be imprisoned up to 10 years & be fined up to 1000 million Riel .
I regret that Chum Mey, a respected Khmer Rouge victim, has now allowed himself to be used as a political pawn of the ruling CPP and a bad politician like Hun Sen. I admire Bou Meng fore declaring his neutrality.
Chum Mey is a chkae Youn. This Youn chkae have no brain, and only smell the money from Hun Sen.
Hun Phuc learned and applies Yuon's dirty tricks !!!
Hu Phuc learned and now applies Yuon's dirty tricks !!!
Post a Comment