Saturday, March 20, 2010 EU lawmakers call for political resolution in Sam Rainsy’s case
EU MPs meet with opposition MPs at the Sam Rainsy Party headquarters (Photo: SRP) EU MPs meeting with Cambodian MPs from all four parties represented at the National Assembly (Photo: Ly Meng Huor, RFI) 19 March 2010 By Ly Meng Huor Radio France Internationale Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy Click here to read the article in Khmer EUlawmakers who are currently visiting Cambodia asked the government andthe National Assembly led by the CPP to seek a political solution sothat opposition leader Sam Rainsy can return back to Cambodia. Therequest was made so that Cambodia can earn more confidence from theinternational community. That was the topic raised by EU MPsduring a meeting forum with Cambodian MPs from the CPP, the SRP, theHRP and the Nationalist parties in the morning of 19 March 2010. Atthe joint parliament forum, Ivo Belet, a member of the EU Parliament,indicated that the Cambodia government and National Assembly (NA) wouldreceive additional confidence from the international community only forlooking for a way to allow opposition leader Sam Rainsy to return backto Cambodia. During today’s meeting with9 EU Mps who came to visit Cambodia for 3 days, starting from 18 March,the EU lawmakers raised about the fundamental issue of democracywhereby NA committees must include opposition voices, as well asrespect the freedom of expression etc… The EU lawmakers’ visit toCambodia at this time is to seek up to date information on the variousevolution of Cambodia’s politics and economics. However, as soonas the EU MPs were done raising this issue, Sek Bun Hok, a CPP MP anddeputy chairman of the NA law and justice committee, pushed the EUlawmakers to seek actual truth in Cambodia. Sek Bun Hok pointedout that Sam Rainsy’s case is purely a legal case. Sam Rainsy committeda crime (uprooting border stakes) and violated the law, Sek Bun Hokclaimed, therefore, the NA lifted his immunity and the lawsuit againstSam Rainsy is merely the application of the Cambodian law. Oppositionleader Sam Rainsy who is currently in France will face arrest andjailing should he return back to Cambodia. He was sentenced by thecourt to 2-year of jail time for uprooting border stakes along theCambodian-Vietnamese border. In a separate meeting with SRP MPsin the afternoon of 18 March 2010, the EU delegates indicated that thepresence of opposition leader Sam Rainsy is truly important for theupcoming 2013 general election. However, CPP MP Cheam Yiepindicated that Cambodia does not lack Sam Rainsy nor democracy. Evenwithout Sam Rainsy, Cambodia can still ratify laws as usual. -- 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. To post to this group, send email to camdisc@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to camdisc-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org To unsubscribe from this group, send email to camdisc+unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the words "REMOVE ME" as the subject.
