CALD Resolution No. 2 S. 2009

CALD Resolution No. 2 S. 2009

CALD Resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional restoration of the parliamentary immunity of Hon. Mu Sochua, MP and Hon. Ho Vann, MP

Noting that Madame Mu Sochua and Mr. Ho Vann, members of the opposition of the Kingdom of Cambodia, were stripped of their parliamentary immunity by a vote of the Cambodian People’s Party-dominated National Assembly on June 22, 2009;

Noting that 91 parliamentarians out of 111 MPs present in the National Assembly session voted to lift the two opposition MP’s parliamentary immunity;

Aware that Madame Mu Sochua filed a case against Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen on grounds of defamation due to the gross disrespect and insults made by the latter, and the case having been previously dismissed, Mr. Hun Sen has filed for defamatory remarks against Madame Sochua and her lawyer and raised the issue of stripping her parliamentary immunity;

Aware that Mr. Ho Vann is being sued for defamation by senior military officials over allegations that he insulted the quality of their university degrees;

Affirming the resolution of the Committee of Human Rights of the International Parliamentary Union underscoring the fact 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 opposition legislators is intended to intimidate and silence CPP’s critics and that such action can result to a perilous precedent that weakens the legislature as an institution and as a separate branch of government whose independence and credibility are indispensable in any democratic country;

Bothered that this action further undermines whatever democratic progress has been made in Cambodia;

Noting that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement that “the taking away of, or threat of taking away of, parliamentarian immunity is a threat regarding the lawmaker and seriously affects democracy”;

Be it therefore resolved that the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats call for the immediate and unconditional restoration of the parliamentary immunity of Hon. Mu Sochua, MP and Hon. Ho Vann, MP.

For the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats:

Dr. J.R. Nereus O. Acosta

Secretary General
Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats

June 23, 2009 Manila, Philippines

Categorised in: Resolutions

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