A Change of Guard

សូមស្តាប់វិទ្យុសង្គ្រោះជាតិ Please read more Khmer news and listen to CNRP Radio at National Rescue Party. សូមស្តាប់វីទ្យុខ្មែរប៉ុស្តិ៍/Khmer Post Radio.
Follow Khmerization on Facebook/តាមដានខ្មែរូបនីយកម្មតាម Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khmerization.khmerican

Friday 21 November 2014

PM defends judiciary [Mr. Hun Sen talks about the strengthening the rule of law, but the killers of protesters and garment workers on 3-4 January 2014 still roam free] លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ឆ្លើយ​តប​ចំពោះ​ការ​ចោទ​ករណី​តុលាការ​ចាប់​សកម្មជន​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង

Prime Minister Hun Sen gives a speech during a presentation ceremony at the National Institute of Education
Prime Minister Hun Sen gives a speech during a presentation ceremony at the National Institute of Education yesterday morning. Heng Chivoan
Wading into the debate for the first time, Prime Minister Hun Sen dismissed allegations yesterday that the recent arrests of land activists, monks and opposition members were politically motivated, and said there is nothing he can do to secure the detainees’ release from prison.
Following days of criticism over the judiciary’s alleged lack of independence, the premier warned critics to “be careful with their words”.
Speaking to hundreds of students at a graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education, Hun Sen said that while July marked the end of the country’s political deadlock, it did not put an end to the judiciary’s authority.
“I would like to confirm that the political agreement on July 22 was not an agreement to finish the legal procedure of the courts in penal cases,” he said.
The prime minister said that “it is not good to put gasoline on the fire”, explaining that critics should “let the court work on its legal process in order to strengthen the rule of law and democracy”.
The government and judiciary have come under fire for a spate of arrests, charges and convictions in recent days, dealt at breakneck speed and on the basis of seemingly little evidence.

The detainees include 10 land activists, three monks and members of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party. Seventeen members of the CNRP have been charged since July for their alleged role in a protest that turned violent. Four are currently imprisoned.
On Tuesday, a father and daughter who claim to have been victims of a string of abuses – including having snakes thrown into their home – over the course of a long-term land dispute with a politically connected company were arrested and imprisoned.
A group of NGOs yesterday issued a joint statement condemning the “arbitrary arrests” of the pair who, if convicted, could be dealt jail terms of between six months and two years.
Earlier this week, Surya Subedi, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, said the courts were being used “again and again as a tool of the executive”.
“The lack of judicial independence is one of the central obstacles to achieving the just, inclusive society that Cambodians strive for. The recent conduct of the courts demonstrates once again the need for an independent judiciary in Cambodia,” he said.
But Hun Sen was adamant yesterday that the cases are out of his control.
“The government has no right to order the judiciary, if [it did], I could order [the court] to free those who were arrested,” he said, adding that, according to Cambodian legal procedure, the court will give the defendants 60 days to appeal their cases, and after the final verdict, he will have the right to request their pardon.
Observers suggested to the Post last week that cases have been intentionally rushed through the court, so that the government could place the blame on the judiciary.
They also said that the spate of action is likely linked to negotiations over the National Election Committee, with the ruling party using it to pressure the opposition to adhere to its demands.
But yesterday Hun Sen said it was the opposition that should not use the current court cases as a sticking point for the negotiations.
CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann dismissed Hun Sen’s claims that he could not intervene in the court proceedings.
“Civil society and the international community say there is a political motivation, so therefore there must be a political solution,” he said. “Everyone knows that the court is not independent.”
Legal expert Sok Sam Oeun drew the same conclusion.
“We can see that the judiciary is not independent, [so] we can only conclude that [the arrests are politicised].”

1 comment:

Kim Ea said...

Khmer who live in communist killer regime , can't forget the brutality of this dictator brand ( call ANGKAR ) on Khmer lives . They torture us , kill us in any brutal methods worst than animals , without any due process . The communist law is their angkar word , may be Khmer did not forget when they said to us and their pears " we gain nothing if we save them , and we lost nothing if you eliminate them " . For now they create judicial system following the Khmer constitution but all judges and their ministry employees are under heavy control by foreign puppets or the hole judicial process is under mouth peace of one and only one man Hun Sen . He can order to destroy or viciously kill any one who oppose him . I said like this is not an accusation or over exaggerate thing against him , but just refer to his word in the past . He said in a speech , that he can destroy or use any court to put all Khmer who dare challenge with his authority in prison any time he want . Did he lie to himself or all Khmer victims lie ? do the judgment .