Government defends opposition lawmaker's expulsion [The Cambodian government told the U.S to mind its own business]

Chheang Vun, CPP's lawmaker.

 

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- The National assembly defended its decision to expel 28 opposition lawmakers Monday.

The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) lawmaker Chheang Vun, chairman of the parliament's foreign affairs commission, said that the parliamentary committee stripped 28 opposition lawmakers, 25 legislators from the Sam Rainsy Party and 3 from the Human Rights Party, of their salaries and parliamentary status last Wednesday because they violated the Law on Political Parties by simultaneously holding membership in two parties at the same time.

"According to the Law on Political Parties, the article 15 states that a Cambodian citizen must not simultaneously hold membership in more than one political party, but if he/she holds membership in more than one party, his/her membership in the last political party is valid," Chheang Vun added.

"Based on this law, the parliament's committee terminated their parliamentary status and salaries because those lawmakers quit their old parties to join the newly formed opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party in order to run in July's general election," he said.

The explanation was made after the United States on Saturday expressed a deep concern over the expulsion.

"Such a decision starkly contradicts the spirit of a healthy democratic process," Jen Psaki, spokesman of the US Department of State, said in a statement.

"We strongly support a political process that includes the full participation of all political parties on a level playing field," she said. "Stripping the salaries and parliamentary status of opposition party legislators deprives the Cambodian people of their voice and hurts the democratic process in Cambodia. "

She said that full participation of all elected representatives was essential to the democratic process.

"We urge the National Assembly leadership to allow all elected members to fulfill their commitment to serve the Cambodian people," she said.

Chheang Vun said that the US's statement Saturday  was "unacceptable" and and it interferes the the internal affairs of Cambodia.

"Cambodia is a sovereign state, so the US cannot order Cambodia to go left or right," he said. "Cambodia has its own laws. We are strengthening democracy through law enforcement, we do everything based on laws; therefore, the US's statement is unacceptable."

"I appeal to the US to reconsider its statement," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong expressed his disappointment about the comments made by the US and other foreign diplomats regarding the upcoming general election in July, at a meeting with Alison Burrows, new Australian ambassador to Cambodia.

"This is the interference of Cambodia's internal affairs," he said. "As a democratic country, Cambodia would do all its best to ensure a transparent and democratic election on July 28, and urged foreign observers to monitor the election."