Cambodian NA Rejects Mu Sochua’s Claims

The Commission of Foreign Affair, International Cooperation, and Information of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA) on Monday rejected and dismissed remarks made by Mu Sochua, a Sam Rainsy Party Lawmaker (SRP), at the Human Commission of Tom Lantos in the US recently. This NA rejection came following Mu Sochua’s claim that human rights and democracy in Cambodia is worsening. She alleged that the kingdom’s court system is not just, as she lost a defamation case against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. “Removing the parliamentary immunity of Mu Sochua and Ho Vann followed by Article 80 and 88 of the Cambodian Constitution and Article 8 to 12 of the 2006 Lawmaker Statute,” noted the NA statement which DAP News Cambodia obtained. “We reject and dismiss the remarks of Mu Sochua,” the statement said. “Sam Rainsy himself did not acknowledge election result and refused to attend 9 commissions of the NA.” The NA disagreed with Human Right Commission of Tom Lantos, which apparently only invited Cambodian opposition officials, not allowing members of the Camb-odian Government to attend. This action, said the NA, showed that the event was undemocratic and unbalanced. It could put strain on the relationship between Cambodia and US. “We condemn Mu Sochua’s sayings as they are to cheat the national and international view,” the statement iterated. Meanwhile, the NA welcomed and supported US Assembly Foreign Affair Commission Director Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, saying he knew the real democracy of Cambodia. After she lost her case against premier Hun Sen at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Mu Sochua filed with the Appeal Court, and then travelled to the US to try to publicize the situation in Cambodia.