Counter-attack on Mu Sochua [-CPP MPs are using any excuse to lift opposition MP's immunity]

(Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

25 April 2009
By Pen Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

The dispute between Hun Sen and SRP MP Mu Sochua is cranking up.

A government lawyer sent a lawsuit against the opposition MP following the war of words between Hun Sen and her. Ong Yentieng, Hun Sen’s advisor, told the media that the lawsuit was sent to the Phnom Penh municipal court in the afternoon of 24 April. Without providing details on the cause of the lawsuit, Ong Yentieng said that CPP MPs will meet to lift Mu Sochua’s immunity, if the tribunal would ask for it, in order to ease the investigations.
On Thursday 23 April, Mu Sochua, accompanied by Kong Sam Onn, her lawyer, held a press conference at the SRP party headquarters, she indicated that she would sue Hun Sen for defamation. “My lawsuit does not involve conflicts between a MP and the PM. This is not about an issue of rank. But, as a woman, I am suing Mr. Hun Sen,” Mu Sochua said. According to Kong Sam Onn, this lawsuit is based on Article 63 of the current penal code which could include a fine of 1 to 10 million riels ($250 to $2,500).

Regarding this dispute, during his travel to Kampot on 04 April, Hun Sen attacked “a woman” whom he declined to name her name: “In this province, there is a woman known to be a provocateur. She tripped on someone, but she accused him of unbuttoning her blouse,” Hun Sen claimed. Mu Sochua declared that she was indignant of Hun Sen’s speech. She said that Hun Sen was referring to her dispute with a CPP activist which dated to July 2008. During the general election campaign in Kampot, the SRP candidate tried to stop a car bearing the army license plate which took part in the CPP procession. Her goal was to take a picture of it to use as a proof to her complaint to the National Election Committee (NEC). During the altercation, Mu Sochua said that she sustained violence from the CPP activists. A button of her blouse popped out also. Obviously making allusion to this incident, according to Mu Sochua, Hun Sen’s aim was to attack her. But, the [coward] Hun Sen said that he did not name anyone. Therefore, the government decides to attack the SRP MP.

When reached over the phone by Cambodge Soir Hebdo on Saturday 25 April, Mu Sochua said that she is prepared for a legal fight with Hun Sen in this case. She also confirmed that her lawsuit will be brought to the court on Monday 27 April.

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217 army officers promoted

Reported by Khmerization

217 army officers from Division 3 based on the border frontlines in Preah Vihear had been promoted in a promotion ceremony held on 21st April 2009, reports everyday.com.

In a ceremony presiding over by Gen. Kun Kim (pictured), Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army, 13 army officers had been promoted to colonels, 46 had been promoted to the ranks of lieutenant-colonels, 61 promoted to majors, 87 promoted to captains, 76 promoted to first lieutenants and 54 army officers had been promoted to second lieutenants.
Gen. Kun Kim said in the ceremony that these promotions are in response to the competence and the successes achieved by these officers for their roles in the defence of the Cambodian nation.

He said Division 3 is an army unit directly attached to the Command Headquarter and is an army division that the government trusted the most.

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Property dispute between Kith Meng and Kith Thieng led to one dead bodyguard

23 April 2009
By Sun Ly
Khmer Nation News
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

A source revealed that on the eve of the Khmer New Year, a shooting took place between two powerful oknhas (rich tycoons) who are also siblings. The shooting led to one person dead and created a stir. Police officers who went to intervene in the incident, when they heard the names of the two okhnas, they all became scared.
The same source added that on the eve of the Khmer New year, Kith Meng went to the Rock Karaoke center for entertainment, but there, he had a dispute with Kith Thieng, his older brother and the owner of the rock center, in a VIP room. Following the intense dispute, the shooting took place.

An unofficial source indicated that the shooting between the two brothers could involve property dispute between the pair. The same source added that the shooting between the rival siblings led to the death of one of Kith Meng’s bodyguards and significant damage in the VIP karaoke room.

The two brothers could not be reached over the phone to provide clarifications on this shooting case.

Past shootings that occur in Phnom Penh involving rich people, or offspring of powerful government officials, or bodyguards of powerful government officials led to a great stir and fear among the city dwellers. For example, in the case involving the bodyguard of Kep Chuktema, the city governor, and the bodyguard of Chhoeun Chanthan, Chea Sim’s bodyguard chief, in the city center on 18 March 2009, Kep Chuktema’s bodyguard was injured and Chhoeun Chanthan’s bodyguard died in a pool of blood. Up until now, the cops have not even found the shooting bodyguard to send to jail yet because they are afraid of touching their superiors. This case clearly shows the impotence of the Phnom Penh police force led by police commissioner Touch Naroth.

However, when poor children played with plastic toy guns or when they are involved in shootings in public places, the cops always bring them in to sentence them. In these latter cases, the cops would then write reports to their bosses to make themselves look good. However, when it comes to sons of rich tycoons or government officials, or powerful tycoons shooting each other in anarchy in public places, the cops are never seen arresting the culprits and take them to jail, nor sentence them according the law, even when the cops know full well the identity of these perpetrators. This shows that the cops apply the law on sons of the poor people who are not related to the powerful government officials, but when it boils down to the offspring of powerful officials, the cops hesitate to touch them.

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Mu Sochua could face immunity stripping

Mu Sochua (Photo: Phnom Penh Post)

25 April 2009
By Khim Sarang
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

SRP MP Mu Sochua said that she could face immunity stripping, followed by her arrest because she dares sue PM Hun Sen.

Kampot province MP Mu Sochua made this declaration after the [pro-CPP] CTN channel announced last night that government lawyers will counter-sue her back regarding her defamation lawsuit.
Mrs. Mu Sochua said that she has no worry even after receiving the news that Hun Sen will sue her back.

Mrs. Mu Sochua sadi: “I have nothing to be scared about. Quite to the contrary, I want to see justice. I am a victim twice in this case, my rights are violated twice: first, during the election campaign and my case in the court did not reach a conclusion yet, and now come this second case. I am maintaining that Mr. Hun Sen, whom I am suing, defamed me and there are sufficient proofs to that effect.”

Mrs. Mu Sochua is currently suing Hun Sen, asking for 500 riels ($0.13) in compensation because the latter defamed her during a speech where he did not name her directly. In that speech, Hun Sen said that there was a MP who, during the election, lost a button on her blouse by herself, but she accused others of attacking her instead.

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