KPP President’s Defamation Suit Dismissed

Khmer Times/Taing Vida

Tuesday, 02 February 2016

KPP president Sourn Serey Ratha speaking outside of the municipal court in Phnom Penh yesterday. KT/Chor Sokunthea

Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday dismissed the suit of Sourn Serey Ratha, president of the Khmer Power Party, who accused Deputy Prime Minister and Cambodia Foreign Minister Hor Namhong of public defamation and incitement to discriminate in December, according to a court document.
 

A notification letter sent to the Khmer Power Party office yesterday said deputy prosecutor Meas Chan Piseth had decided to dismiss Mr. Serey Ratha’s suit, but declined to give a reason why. It went on to give the plaintiff the right to file an appeal within two months of the court’s decision.
 

The move is a prime example of the sort of injustice committed daily in Cambodian courts, Mr. Serey Ratha said. It illustrates the court’s unwillingness to take action when complaints are filed against powerful or senior ruling party officials.
 

“The court is a nail waiting to be hammered by the government. The ruling party orders them to stand against those who stand against them. The court clearly dares not to do anything that flies in the face of the government. This clearly shows the weakness of the Cambodian legal system,” Mr. Serey Ratha said, adding that he and his party’s representatives would file an appeal. 
 

Even if it has no hope of eliciting a just response, Mr. Serey Ratha hopes additional action will draw local and international attention to the corruption within Cambodian law enforcement and the judicial systems. 
 

Meas Chanpiseth, Phnom Penh Municipal deputy prosecutor, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
 

Mr. Serey Ratha filed his suit on December 21, 2015, after Mr. Namhong said the leader of the KPP was a terrorist during a meeting with the newly appointed US ambassador to Cambodia.
 

Kar Savuth, Mr. Namhong’s attorney, declined to comment yesterday.