HRP cries foul in Assembly

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They want us to join with another party... but we can't do that.

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Thursday, 27 August 2009
By Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

THE president of the Human Rights Party said Wednesday that his lawmakers are being silenced in the National Assembly because of their minority status and has called for international intervention.

In the disputed July 2008 parliamentary elections, the ruling Cambodian People's Party won a landslide majority, the Sam Rainsy Party became the main opposition party, and the Human Rights Party took third place with 6.6 percent of the vote and three seats.

Speaking Wednesday, HRP President Kem Sokha said the ruling CPP has dominated all parliamentary debate, preventing his own lawmakers from being heard.

"We asked [the Assembly] to listen to us, but they wouldn't allow us to express anything at all," he said. "I have raised this issue with several international diplomats - including US Senator Jim Webb - who were keen to learn about how democracy works in Cambodia."

According to current regulations, the only way a minority party can be guaranteed a voice in the National Assembly is to merge with another party to secure a minimum of 10 seats, Kem Sokha said.

"They want us to join with another party before they will allow us to express ourselves, but we can't do that," he said.

"We are an independent party. Why was this regulation created? To provide rights and freedom or to limit freedom?" Kem Sokha said.

He called for the regulation to be scrapped, saying it effecctively gags minority parties and stifles political debate.

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