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Phnom Penh, Feb. 20, 2017 (dpa/NAN) The Cambodia’s parliament on Monday passed a controversial bill allowing the government to abolish political parties whose members have been convicted of criminal charges, a senior opposition lawmaker said.
The planned law change also bars party leaders from their positions if convicted of crimes.
While corruption remains a major problem in Cambodia, charges of criminal defamation, libel and incitement are regularly lodged against members of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the country’s largest opposition party.
Prime Minister Hun Sen recently sued CNRP party head Sam Rainsy for one million dollars over critical remarks he made.
“The CNRP, which holds a minority position in the National Assembly, said ahead of the vote that they would boycott the passing of the bill.
“Hun, seems to be determined to win the next round of elections at any cost after he was nearly unseated in 2013, Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director of Human Rights Watch said.
Robertson said that the passage of these amendments marks the final consolidation of absolute power in the hands of PM Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
“Hun election strategy is clear: bulldoze what’s left of Cambodia’s democratic institutions by using laws like this one.
“He is simultaneously intimidating civil society into silence with arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders and threats to de-register troublesome NGOs,” he said.
The law change, which modifies the 1997 Political Parties Law, comes at a particularly tense time in Cambodia, as the country prepares to hold rural elections on June 4.
They also plan to hold the national elections in 2018. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Sadiya Hamza