CCHR PRESS
RELEASE – Phnom Penh, 5 December 2012
Following the Case of Mu Sochua, CCHR Releases a Briefing Note on
Parliamentary Immunity in Cambodia, including a Legal Analysis of the Relevant
Legislation
Today, 5 December 2012, the Cambodian Center
for Human Rights (“CCHR”) releases a Briefing Note that provides an overview on
the status of parliamentary immunity under Cambodian law, in light of a Court
of Appeal hearing in Phnom Penh on 3 August 2012, at which the parliamentary
immunity of a prominent opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker, Mu
Sochua, was restored. The removal
of Mu Sochua’s parliamentary immunity highlights shortcomings in the relevant
laws surrounding parliamentary immunity, which must be addressed for the
benefit of democracy in Cambodia.
CCHR President Ou Virak comments:
“There is no point having
parliamentary immunity in the first place if it can be arbitrarily removed at
the first hint of criticism of the ruling party or their cronies. Time and again we see opposition
parliamentarians trying to do their job, trying to serve their constituents,
only to have their parliamentary immunity taken away. What does immunity mean in this context? The legislation is also very unclear,
and needs clarification. We have
highlighted the gaps and inconsistencies in the legislation, to provide a basis
for reform in an area that is vital to proper parliamentary democracy.”
For more information, please contact Ou Virak via
telephone at +855 (0) 1240 4051 or e-mail at ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org or Senior Consultant Robert Finch via
telephone at +855 (0) 7880 9960 or e-mail at robert.finch@cchrcambodia.org.
Please also find this Press Release and the Briefing Note attached in PDF format, in both Khmer and English.
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