Opposition rejects the court decision

04 August 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

SRP and HRP MPs issued a joint statement on Tuesday to firmly reject the verdict of the Phnom Penh municipal court that was handed down on 04 August. The court decided that Mrs. Mu Sochua must pay a fine and a compensation to Hun Xen, both of which amounts to 16.5 million riels ($4,125). The opposition statement indicated that Mrs. Mu Sochua should not be sentenced by an incapable and biased court, which in the defamation lawsuit brought up by Mu Sochua against Hun Sen and Mu Sochua’s lawsuit is supported by tangible proof, rejected Mrs Mu Sochua’s lawsuit instead. Mrs. Mu Sochua is a victim but the National Assembly turned around and lifted her parliamentary immunity and thereby removing her rights to defend herself. The statement called on the international community to continue paying attention and following up on the situation in Cambodia in order to prevent the abuse of defamation lawsuits and the abuse of the judicial system to counter the critics. The international community should push the government to bring to fruitful results the judicial reform, and the government must be determined to put into place all the principles of a plural democracy system.

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