(Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)
April 24, 2009 ABC Radio Australia In Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen is set to be sued for defamation by one of the Kingdom's leading female opposition politicians. Mu Sochua wants little more than an apology but the move to challenge Cambodia's "Strong Man" in the courts is seen as unprecedented. Presenter: Robert Carmichael Speaker: Mu Sochua, Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian Click here to listen to the audio program in English (Windows Media) CARMICHAEL: Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen is not a man to be taken lightly. He takes pride in his reputation as a strong man, and is regarded here with a mixture of fear and respect. He has also reportedly never been sued. But that could soon change. Unless Hun Sen retracts recent comments, a female opposition MP will begin a court action against him before the end of April. Mu Sochua is a senior MP in the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, or SRP, the largest opposition party. Before she joined the SRP she was the minister for women's affairs in the coalition government. The SRP is a constant thorn in the prime minister's side, regularly criticizing him and his ruling Cambodian People's Party for not cracking down on corruption and abuses of the law. The comments made by the prime minister and broadcast nationally didn't use Mu Sochua's name directly, but she says she was clearly the target. Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith says the prime minister is not concerned about the case, and says Mu Sochua is simply presenting herself as a victim and trying to discredit Hun Sen. Khieu Kanharith says the MP is simply trying to get noticed by the media, and stresses that Hun Sen did not actually name anyone in his speech. But, he adds, if Mu Sochua feels she has been insulted, she is entitled to seek remedy through the courts. So what actually happened? Referring to a land grab case in the southern province of Kampot - which Mu Sochua represents - Hun Sen said that those villagers who wanted their case resolved by him ought not to go to 'the opposition female MP'. Five villagers were injured when the army threw them off their land and burned down their homes - another reminder of the ongoing problem of impunity and land rights in Cambodia. During his speech, says Mu Sochua, Hun Sen referred to her as 'cheung chat' - a derogatory term that she says conveys the meaning of a hustler, somewhere between a gangster and a prostitute. That, she claims, was in response to an event during last year's general election when she was campaigning for the SRP and was allegedly assaulted by an army general, losing buttons off her shirt. She sued the general, and that case is now headed for the Appeal Court. Mu Sochua says that the prime minister ought not to have said anything that could influence the judges in that case. Her chances of getting justice now, she says, are ruined. Which is why MPs from the two opposition parties sent a letter to the president of parliament demanding that Hun Sen either provide proof for his words or retract his statements. Mu Sochua admits that a retraction and apology are unlikely. So next week her lawyer will file the case in the municipal court in Phnom Penh. So why is she taking on the prime minister? MU SOCHUA: This is the first time, and I do this on behalf of Cambodian women. I do it on behalf of women in general, because women who are raped, who are assaulted - verbally, sexually, physically and so on - who don't have a voice, cry in silence, are ruined inside. This is a symbolic case and also an unprecedented case. ROBERT CARMICHAEL: Mu Sochua says she is concerned that her move could prove dangerous. To offset the perceived dangers she has lined up some influential friends. Her office features a photograph of her with US secretary of state for foreign affairs, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mrs Clinton is also linked with US organisations that have pledged Mu Sochua their support in this matter, as are a number of other US politicians and celebrities. MU SOCHUA: It is dangerous - if you consider all the killings that have taken place of people who are strong activists, who are human rights activists, and members of the opposition. ROBERT CARMICHAEL: So what does she want out of the case? Simply an apology and 500 riel in damages - a symbolic sum of around fifteen Australian cents. Mu Sochua admits it is unlikely that she will win her case, but says if she does she will frame the red 500 riel banknote and hang it in her office in honour of women around the world who are exploited. ------------------- Opposition MP Mu Sochua files lawsuit against Hun Sen on grounds of defamation 23-04-2009 By Duong Sokha Ka-set At a press conference held on Thursday April 23 at the headquarters of her formation, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) in Phnom Penh, opposition MP Mu Sochua announced she would file a complaint with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court via her lawyer. This lawsuit is filed against Cambodian prime Minister Hun Sen, for defamation. The SRP representative intends to protest against words the head of government said about her, on April 4th, as she was away in the Kampot province where she was re-elected. Hun Sen is said to have publicly declared that Mu Sochua's behaviour was "provocative" and that she "lunged towards a man to kiss him, so much so that the buttons [of her blouse] popped out". "I have nothing against Samdech the Prime Minister. As a Member of Parliament, I respect him. But the words of Samdech the Prime Minister said in public affect my honour and my dignity as a Khmer woman. With this complaint, I only want justice and honour, as a Khmer woman", the former FUNCINPEC-affiliated Minister of Women's Affairs said. She added that she only claimed a 500-riel (0.12 dollar) compensation as a token, and a public apology on the part of the head of government. According to Kong Sam Onn, Mu Sochua's lawyer, the lawsuit will be submitted to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday April 24th. "How is it possible to file a lawsuit against him [Hun Sen] when he is a Member of Parliament, the prime Minister and the vice-chair of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) [...]? The Constitution does say that Khmer citizens stand equal before the Law", the lawyer said, hoping that his request would be accepted by the Court. Reached on Thursday by Ka-set, the spokesperson for the government and for the ruling party Khieu Kanharith(CPP) claimed that as he was himself with the prime Minister when the latter pronounced his speech in Kampot, he could assure that he did not pronounce her name. "We are awaiting her complaint. But Samdech [Hun Sen] did not say her name", the government spokesman and Minister of Information added. "What she [Mu Sochua] is doing here is reacting for her own reputation". The prime Minister, indeed, did not directly pronounce the name of the opposition MP, but her lawyer say he added elements of evidence to the case file showing that the prime Minister did indeed have those words in Kampot and that his declaration directly aimed at his client. In his speech, Hun Sen was making an allusion to a case pitting the SRP MP against a military general in Kampot. He was condemned by the National Election Committee (NEC) to pay out a 10-million riel fine to Mu Sochua) for having attacked her and torn her blouse as she was trying to prevent him from using a car of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) to crusade in favour of the CPP as part of the July 2008 legislative elections. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. 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