CALD Resolution No. 1 S. 2005

CALD Resolution No. 1 S. 2005

CALD Resolution asking for the immediate and unconditional restoration of the parliamentary immunity of Messrs. Sam Rainsy, Cheam Channy and Chea Poch; and, the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Cheam Channy from his detention

Noting that Mr. Sam Rainy, MP, leader of the opposition of the Kingdom of Cambodia and two other parliamentarians, Messrs. Cheam Channy and Chea Poch, were stripped of their parliamentary immunity on February 3, 2005 by the Cambodian National Assembly;

Alarmed that the vote was taken by a show of hands, in violation of the Cambodian National Assembly’s own regulations and procedures and was held behind closed doors after asking journalists and diplomats to step out of the assembly hall;

Aware that Mr. Sam Rainsy, former Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats (CALD), is now in the United States and Mr. Chea Poch is in a neighboring country while Mr. Chean Channy was arrested and is currently detained by the Cambodian military in Phnom Penh;

Convinced that the reasons given by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and its coalition partner, the royalist FUNCINPEC, to justify the lifting of said parliamentary immunity were of questionable basis; and, as observed by Forum Asia Democracy, the “obviously trumped-up crimes (are) clearly aimed at stifling the opposition”;

Mentioning that the Committee of Human Rights of the International Parliamentary Union states that “parliamentary immunity is designed to protect parliamentarians from possibly groundless proceedings or accusations that may be politically motivated”;

Concerned that the lifting of parliamentary immunity of oppositionist legislators creates a dangerous precedence that weakens the legislature as an institution and as a separate branch of government whose independence and credibility are essential in any democratic country;

Bothered that this action further undermines whatever democratic gains have been made in Cambodia;

Noting that U.S. Senator McConnell described the move of the ruling coalition as “outrageous and unacceptable” and urged the US State Department to respond “in a forceful and appropriate manner”;

Be it therefore resolved that the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats ask for the immediate and unconditional restoration of the parliamentary immunity of Messrs. Sam Rainsy, Cheam Channy and Chea Poch; and, the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Cheam Channy from his detention.

For the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats:

Hon. Bi-Khim Hsiao, MP

Secretary General

Taipei, Taiwan February 10, 2005

Categorised in: Resolutions

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